Jaguars vs. Texans score, takeaways: Trevor Lawrence and Co. hold on; C.J. Stroud sets rookie record in loss

Jacksonville keeps its spot atop the AFC South after Houston's game-tying FG comes up just short

The Jacksonville Jaguars retained their top spot in the AFC South as they defeated the rival Houston Texans in Week 12, 24-21. C.J. Stroud and Co. defeated the Jags in Jacksonville in Week 3, and Trevor Lawrence got his revenge on Sunday.

They call football a game of inches, and that certainly rang true on Sunday, as Matt Ammendola's 58-yard field goal attempt, that would have tied the game at the end of the fourth quarter, hit the bottom crossbar and bounced out. 

Stroud, who threw for 304 yards in the loss, surpassed Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (3,224) for the most passing yards by a rookie in the first 11 games.  

Lawrence, meanwhile, put together his second straight impressive performance, completing 23 of 38 passes for 364 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Calvin Ridley caught five passes for 89 yards and a touchdown, and Christian Kirk also had 89 receiving yards on four catches.

Stroud couldn't lead a game-winning drive this week, but he turned in another great showing with two touchdowns through the air and a team-high 47 rushing yards plus another touchdown on the ground. 

Nico Collins was his favorite target, as he caught seven passes for 104 yards and one touchdown. 

Check back soon, as this article will be turned into a takeaways piece which dives more deeply into what went down in Houston on Sunday. 

Why the Jaguars won

Jacksonville's offense ruled the day. The Jags put up 445 total yards, scored points in every single quarter, went 7 of 13 on third downs and punted just two times all game. Lawrence's 364 passing yards were four from tying his career high, and his four completions of 40-plus yards are the most in a single game in three years. 

Why the Texans lost

It really felt like we were in for some more Stroud magic at the end of the game, but a couple of issues held the rookie QB back from recording his third career game-winning drive. 

For one, the Texans had to use two timeouts before their final drive. Houston called one in the red zone on its first drive of the second half as the play clock winded down when the offense wasn't ready, and then the Texans had 12 men on the field on the Jaguars' punt with 3:07 left in the fourth quarter. Houston did have the two-minute warning to lean on at the end of the game, but it would have been interesting to see what the Texans could have accomplished with three timeouts AND the two-minute warning. 

Secondly, Stroud took two sacks on the final drive. The second sack was more costly, as it took Houston from the 37-yard line to the 46-yard line. Ammendola's kick came from the 39-yard line, so if he had the privilege of taking it from the 37-yard line, it probably would have been successful.

Texans fans are going to be upset about the multiple questionable penalties committed by the secondary on third downs in the second half, but Houston was still in the mix at the very end.

Turning point

We were holding our breath deep into the fourth quarter. Ammendola's kick came up just short. 

Play of the game

Tank Dell is a stud, and already has more receiving touchdowns than Andre Johnson and DeAndre Hopkins had in their rookie seasons with seven. Sunday, the first-year pass catcher made a pretty incredible reception where he jumped and cleared a defender:

Check it out from this angle:

What's next

The Jaguars return home next week, and will play host to the Joe Burrow-less Cincinnati Bengals on "Monday Night Football." As for the Texans, they will remain in Houston and face Russell Wilson and the Denver Broncos. 

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No good. The field goal attempt hit the bottom crossbar. 

 
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Ammendola on to try a 58-yard field goal. Would be a career-high. Jags take a timeout. 

 
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Texans at the opposing 40 with 40 seconds to go. 

 
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Texans call their final timeout after Stroud is sacked on first-and-10. Josh Allen and Travon Walker got to the QB. Loss of 9. 

 
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C.J. Stroud magic. He picks up 31 yards on two passes to Nico Collins and Robert Woods. First down. 

 
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Texans facing a second-and-25 after the two-minute warning. 

 
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Stroud scrambles for 17 yards on first down, and Tre Herndon is called for defensive holding. 

 
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Oh man! DeMeco Ryans just called his second timeout of the half on fourth-and-7! They had 12 men on the field, which is why he signaled for the T, but yikes. 

One timeout remaining for Houston.

3:07 remaining in the game. 

 
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On third-and-7, Lawrence goes DEEP down the right side of the field for Zay Jones. Jones goes up over Stingley and catches the pass .. but can't get his feet down! Fourth down. 

 
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With 3:13 remaining in the fourth quarter, the Jaguars are facing a third-and-7. Trevor Lawrence takes a timeout.

Keep in mind Houston had to burn a timeout early in the third quarter 

 
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C.J. Stroud quickly marches the offense 55 yards down the field on five plays, and the rookie QB finds Nico Collins for a 17-yard TD. Ammendola's XP trims the lead to 3 points. Here we go.

JAX 24 HOU 21 4:44 remaining in the game. 

 
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Wow! Xavier Hutchinson, welcome to the game. The rookie catches a 34-yard pass. I believe it's his second reception on the season. 

 
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Door is open for the Texans

McManus misses a 55-yard field goal, and Houston gets possession back at its own 37-yard line.

JAX 24 HOU 14 7:05 remaining in the fourth quarter

 
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Texans go for it on fourth-and-1, and they pass the ball. Stroud can't connect with an open Dalton Schultz down the left side of the field. 

Texans had two plays to gain one yard and they passed on both third and fourth down. Hmm. 

Jaguars take over at the HOU 46. 9:15 remaining in the fourth quarter. 

JAX 24 HOU 14

 
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On the fourth-and-6 from the HOU 35, McManus is good from 53 yards out. It's now a two-score game with 11:20 remaining in the fourth quarter.

10 plays, 54 yards, 3 points

JAX 24 HOU 14

 
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On fourth-and-1, Pederson elects to go for it. Lawrence converts up the middle, but JAX is flagged for illegal formation. 

 
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Texans have 7 penalties for 49 yards in case you were curious. 

 
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A defensive holding penalty gives the Jags a first down on third-and-7. The Texans have been getting crushed by penalties here in the second half. 

 
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C.J. Stroud is limping a bit after taking a late hit on second down. He's sacked by Josh Allen on third-and-6. Texans to punt the ball away. 

 
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CALVIN RIDLEY. Catches a TD strike over the middle to end the eight-play, 75-yard drive. Doug Pederson goes for two, and Lawrence hits Ridley again! 

JAX 21 HOU 14 4:29 remaining in the third quarter.

We got a game. 

 
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Oof Thomas called for DPI AGAIN. Pass looked almost uncatchable. Sets up JAX with a first-and-goal from the 1. Brutal. 

 
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Oh man, make up flag? Refs get Tavierre Thomas for DPI on Evan Engram. And that flag came out LATE

 
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Unreal. Most since Derek Carr back in 2020

 
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Jaguars come out swinging on this possession. Lawrence hits Calvin Ridley for a gain of 45! 

 
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By the way, C.J. Stroud is the game's leading rusher. 31 yards on five carries plus a TD 

 
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C.J. Stroud runs in a 1-yard touchdown on third-and-goal. Texans get their first lead of the game. Caps a 7-play, 46-yard drive

JAX 13 HOU 14 8:10 remaining in the third quarter

 
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Texans now in the red zone. Big 22-yard gain from Nico Collins across the middle. 

 
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Missed call by the officials, and it hurts the Jaguars. Stingley picks off Lawrence after Engram is held in the slot. YIKES.

 
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Jaguars OL Cam Robinson (knee)
Texans OL Tytus Howard (knee)

Both downgraded to OUT

 
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Jaguars get the ball to start the second half, and Lawrence delivers a strike to Calvin Ridley out on the right side to convert a third-and-10. Good start. 

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