Davis Mills wanted to be the hero entering the fourth quarter of Sunday’s contest against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Challenge complete after his 14-yard touchdown run with 31 seconds remaining.
Behind a 26-0 differential in the fourth quarter, the Houston Texans secured a 36-29 victory over the Jaguars at NRG Stadium, thus saving the season and moving them to 2-1 in the division record. Mills threw two touchdown passes in the final quarter and scored the go-ahead points in the closing minutes to complete the 19-point fourth-quarter comeback.
The Jaguars (5-4) tried to put the game in the legs of Cam Little on the final drive, but Trevor Lawrence was sacked by Will Anderson Jr. and fumbled. Defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins scooped up the ball and ran 32 yards for the first defensive touchdown on the season by the NFL’s No. 1 scoring defense.
Houston (4-5) trailed 29-10 with 12 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter before a 12-yard touchdown pass to Jayden Higgins helped cushion the score. Mills found Dalton Schultz for his first TD of the season on a 7-yard pass with seven minutes to go.
The defense allowed Jacksonville to score field goals, but mostly kept them out of the end zone, besides a Parker Washington 10-yard touchdown reception in the first half. Travis Etienne Jr. capped off a six-minute drive with a 2-yard touchdown run in the third quarter.
Washington also took back a 72-yard punt return for a touchdown, giving Jacksonville an early 17-0 lead. Lawrence finished with 158 yards, a touchdown and an interception while rushing for another 36 yards. Jakobi Meyers, who was acquired at the deadline from Las Vegas, led the team with three receptions for 41 yards.
The defense for Houston dismantled Lawrence and the Jaguars’ offensive line in the second half, headlined by All-Pro defensive end Danielle Hunter. He finished with four sacks while Will Anderson picked up the fifth and final one of the afternoon.
Derek Stingley Jr. picked off Lawrence ahead of halftime, thus ending a potential positive drive following a Texans’ 1-yard touchdown run from rookie Woody Marks. The combination of Marks and former Pro Bowler Nick Chubb totaled 130 yards on the ground and averaged 5.9 yards per attempt.
The Texans hit the road to take on the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium next Sunday. With a win, Houston would move to 5-5 ahead of its primetime matchup against the Buffalo Bills on Thursday Night Football.
This article originally appeared on Texans Wire: Instant analysis: Texans mount 19-point comeback behind backup Davis Mills, defeat Jaguars
Reporting by Cole Thompson, Texans Wire / Texans Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
