For the first time since 2018, the Houston Texans are 0-3.
With two red zone interceptions from C.J. Stroud and a fumble by Nico Collins, the Jacksonville Jaguars outlasted the Texans in a 17-10 battle at EverBank Stadium. Houston’s offense finished with less than 300 yards and finished with a 30 percent success rate on third down.
Jalen Pitre’s fourth-quarter interception led to Stroud’s lone scoring drive, a 49-yard touchdown pass to Collins. After the Collins’ fumble, Brian Thomas Jr. made the play of the afternoon with a 46-yard pick to set up the Jaguars inside Houston’s red zone. Travis Etienne scooted his way into the end zone for a 10-yard score and the lead.
There were more issues than just a few explosive plays, but the final 20 minutes decided the outcome. How did we get here? Texans Wire has the recap for you on everything that happened to cause the worst start in seven seasons.
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Wow. Just wow
C.J. Stroud found Christian Kirk on fourth down to keep the drive alive. Woody Marks made three defenders miss to set up a third-and-1 with just under 20 seconds left on the clock. On third down, Aireontae Ersery missed Josh Hines-Allen, who jolted the ball out of Stroud’s hands at the last second, who watched as the ball fall into the hands of Antonio Johnson to seal the win.
Time for a hero moment
Two big third-down attempts by the Jaguars’ offense secured a spot in the red zone. Travis Etienne walked his way into the end zone for a 10-yard score and the touchdown lead.
Just….why
C.J. Stroud and the offense started at midfield after a fourth-down stop from the defense. The offense was humming with a pair of first-down grabs from Christian Kirk. On third down, Stroud found Nico Collins to put the offense inside the red zone, but Tyson Campbell punched out the ball after crossing the line of scrimmage. Devin Lloyd recovered the ball, marking the sixth takeaway of the young season for Jacksonville.
Jalen Pitre pick
The Texans are right back in this game with a big-time interception from Jalen Pitre at midfield. Houston is down, but all it takes is one play to get right back in the game.
Collins connection
One play later, the Texans have tied it. With a 49-yard touchdown pass to Nico Collins, Houston could actually pull out a win on the road and keep its winning streak alive in Duval.
Blame Stroud? Not on that drive
A three-and-out for Houston? Without question. Was this on C.J. Stroud? Not even a little bit. Every receiver was blanketed and the offensive line broke free. Nothing you can really do other than say ‘good job’ defense.
A drop saves Houston
For as bad as the Texans’ offense has been, Brian Thomas Jr. has given chances for a response. On third down, the second-year target dropped his third pass of the afternoon on an easy grab from Trevor Lawrence that would have moved the chains. Instead, a punt comes from Logan Cooke.
Stroud gives it back
After a big third-down gain to Nico Collins, the Texans head into the red zone for the first time since the second quarter. But C.J. Stroud stared down Christian Kirk, underthrew the pass and saw the ball land in the hands of Jaguars cornerback Jourdan Lewis for a red zone interception.
Everything that could go wrong for Houston has at EverBank Stadium.
After 3
The Texans have four first downs and 117 yards of offense. Yet somehow it’s still a game.
Texans fans have seen enough
If the fan base had its way, offensive coordinator Nick Caley would be fired before he got on the plane Sunday evening. Through 11 quarters, the Texans have two touchdowns and 31 total points. They’ve yet to score a red zone touchdown and C.J. Stroud has been pressured on over 47 percent of dropbacks. Everyone seems to be fed up with the offensive scheme, which turns back to the first-time play-caller.
Bad, Bad Bad
Even when the Texans make plays, they shoot themselves in the foot. Defensive end Derek Barnett was called for a leverage penalty on a Jaguars field-goal attempt, giving Jacksonville first down at the Houston 18. The defense got another stop, leading to a Cam Little 39-yard field goal to extend the lead by a touchdown.
Not a good update
Derek Stingley Jr. is out for the rest of the game with a rib injury.
Halftime
Enough. Just play defense the rest of the season
Even if C.J. Stroud isn’t the problem, he’s not the solution. Two penalties on the offense in three plays set up a punt at midfield. Because it was fourth down, the Jaguars
Terminator gets sack No. 4 in Game 3
At least the Texans have Will Anderson Jr., who looks like an All-Pro through nine quarters of action. On a third-and-long, the Pro Bowler made it even longer with a 13-yard loss, pinning Jacksonville back inside the 10.
Another three-and-out
The offense is unwatchable. All it takes is a Cover 0 blitz and Houston is cooked. C.J. Stroud’s pocket awareness has completely unraveled. There’s no life on the ground and the offensive line is getting cooked on nearly every play. There are bad offenses and then unwatchable ones.
This is the latter with a third three-and-out.
Another brawl brewing in Duval
The Texans forced a punt on three plays, but it was the punt that became the storyline of the drive. Jaylin Noel picked up a few yards, but after the play, another fight occurred. Linebacker Christian Harris and a pair of Jacksonville defenders began shoving each other on the Jaguars’ sideline before officials broke up the play. It took several minutes before both sides were flagged for a penalty, thus negating the yardage.
Finally on the board
By far the best drive by the Texans’ offense so far. After starting 0-of-3 on third-down conversions, C.J. Stroud was perfect on the attempts, including finding Nico Collins for a pickup of 18 yards. With the personal foul against former Texans safety Eric Murray, the Texans tacked on an extra 10 yards and a new set of downs. In the red zone, the third-year pass couldn’t connect with Dalton Schultz in the back of the end zone, resulting in a 33-yard field goal from Ka’imi Fairbairn.
Texans injury update
Another punt
Houston’s defense is at least making this a game. While Trevor Lawrence found his way forward for a first down with a pass to Parker Washington, three plays later ended with another punt. The only problem? Houston has no offensive life, so it’s hard to envison the passing attack doing much with the ball in its own territory.
One quarter down
New Week, same offensive result
It could be that C.J. Stroud is holding the ball for too long. It could be that the wide receivers aren’t getting open consistently and when they do they drop the pass. It very well could be the offensive line’s inability to win in pass protection. It doesn’t matter. The Texans have their second three-and-out drive with -7 yards of offense on three plays.
Jags stirke first
With a short field, the Jaguars connected through the air behind Trevor Lawrence, who found tight end Brenton Strange, and wide receivers Brian Thomas Jr. and Parker Washington for first downs. In the red zone on third down, Lawrence tried to connect with Dyami Brown, but the pass was overthrown. However, a pass interference call was made against Derek Stingley Jr., which kept the drive alive and put the ball at the 1-yard line. Rookie running back Bhayshul Tuten crossed the goal line on the ensuing play.
Fairbairn, Far Right
A pair of first downs from the offense set up Houston in field goal range, but a batted pass and loss of yards with Nico Collins cost the Texans a chance to keep the drive alive. From 52 yards out, Ka’imi Fairbairn’s attempt travel slightly right, barely missing the upright and giving the Jaguars’ exceptional field postion.
Hey, look, repeat!
The Jaguars wanted to play copycat with Houston and go three-and-out to start the afternoon. Houston will receive the ball at midfield.
Three-and-out
A run by C.J. Stroud for a gain of five yards, an overthrown pass to Nico Collins and a short play to Christian Kirk were all she wrote on the opening drive. The good news? Tommy Townsend’s punt pinned the Jaguars deep into their own territory.
Texans take the field on offense
The Jaguars won the toss and will begin on defense. Houston will have a chance to improve the offense with new wide receiver Christian Kirk.
Texans inactive list
Here’s a look at the Houston Texans’ inactive list, with the return of Christian Kirk to the lineup. Braxton Berrios is being ruled a healthy scratch following the emergence of wide receiver Jaylin Noel.
Locked in before a must-win
QB1 in the building
What TV channel is Texans vs. Jaguars on?
The Texans and Jaguars will air live on CBS.
Texans vs. Jaguars start time
Kickoff for the Texans’ regular season opener against the Jaguars is scheduled for Noon CT, as the two division rivals gather at EverBank Stadium for the showdown between two teams who lost to the eventual conference champions.
Texans vs. Jaguars prediction
Texans’ regular-season schedule 2025
Below is Houston’s regular-season schedule.
Week 1: Sunday, September 7, 3:45 p.m. CT: at Los Angeles Rams – L 14-9
Week 2: Monday, September 15, 6 p.m. CT: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (MNF) – L 20-19
Week 3: Sunday, September 21, Noon CT: at Jacksonville Jaguars
Week 4: Sunday, September 28, Noon CT: vs. Tennessee Titans
Week 5: Sunday, October 5, Noon CT: at Baltimore Ravens
Week 6: Sunday, October 12: Bye Week
Week 7: Monday, October 20, 9 p.m. CT: at Seattle Seahawks (MNF)
Week 8: Sunday, October 26, Noon CT: vs. San Francisco 49ers
Week 9: Sunday, November 2, Noon CT: vs. Denver Broncos
Week 10: Sunday, November 9, Noon CT: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
Week 11: Sunday, November 16, Noon CT: at Tennessee Titans
Week 12: Thursday, November 20, 7:20 p.m. CT: vs. Buffalo Bills
Week 13: Sunday, November 30, Noon CT: at Indianapolis Colts
Week 14: Sunday, December 7, 7:20 p.m. CT: at Kansas City Chiefs
Week 15: Sunday, December 14, Noon CT: vs. Arizona Cardinals
Week 16: Sunday, December 21 at 3:20 p.m. CT: vs.Las Vegas Raiders
Week 17: TBD: at Los Angeles Chargers
Week 18: TBD: vs. Indianapolis Colts
Texans preseason schedule 2025
Below is Houston’s preseason schedule.
This article originally appeared on Texans Wire: Jaguars vs. Texans: Two costly red zone turnovers lead to 0-3 start for Houston
Reporting by Cole Thompson, Texans Wire / Texans Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
