The Houston Texans got the result they needed against Tennessee, but Caden Bullock isn’t treating that win like a turning point just yet.
After Houston broke its skid with a victory over the Titans, the safety pointed to Sunday’s trip to Jacksonville as the barometer that really matters. Bullock didn’t dismiss the win, but he made it clear the Texans were supposed to handle Tennessee.
“It was good, I mean, we did what we were supposed to do, like, no offense, it was Tennessee, so we were supposed to go out there and dominate,” Bullock said. “I'll say this is the real test this week.”
That’s the reality for Houston right now. A 1-4 start has left the Texans with almost no margin for error in the AFC South, and one win over a struggling opponent doesn’t erase the early damage. The Titans gave them a chance to stop the bleeding, but the Jaguars will tell a much fuller story.
Jacksonville comes in at 4-1 and has put itself in strong position to control the division. Houston, by comparison, is still trying to steady itself after a disappointing opening stretch. The Texans entered the season expecting to compete for the AFC South title, but consistency has been hard to find on either side of the ball.
That’s what makes this matchup so revealing. Houston has shown it can take care of business against a team it was expected to beat. Now the challenge is doing it against a division rival that has looked far more complete through the first five weeks.
For Bullock and the Texans defense, the assignment is straightforward: prove the Tennessee performance was real and not just the product of facing a weak opponent. Limiting Jacksonville’s passing game and keeping explosive plays in check will go a long way toward answering that question.
Houston’s offense will also have to hold up its end. The Texans can’t afford to let the Jaguars control the tempo, especially with so much still unresolved about Houston’s overall form.
Sunday’s game carries more weight than just another divisional meeting. A win would give the Texans a chance to chip back into the race.
A loss would make the climb even steeper. Either way, Bullock already knows what kind of test is waiting.
In Other News...
Texans Head To London With Two Key Holes They Can't Ignore
The Texans head into their London matchup with Jacksonville already short-handed, and the timing makes the injury report especially hard to ignore. David Montgomery is staying home with a groin issue, while Jalen Pitre will also miss the trip after suffering an AC joint sprain in the previous game. For a team trying to settle in overseas and keep its footing in the AFC South race, losing one piece tied to the ground game and another central to the secondary is a tough early hit.
Montgomerys absence leaves Houston thinner in the rushing attack, and Pitres status creates an immediate concern for a pass defense that will be tested by a division opponent with plenty of familiarity. Games in London tend to reward the team that adjusts cleanly, and the Texans now have to do that without two key contributors who would normally help steady both sides of the ball. How Houston handles those gaps will go a long way toward shaping the tone of the trip. [Read more 🡒]
Texans London Trip Hit An Early Snag Before A Carefully Planned Week
What was supposed to be the start of a carefully managed week in London turned into a longer morning at the airport for the Texans, who had to switch planes after a mechanical issue delayed their departure from Houston. DeMeco Ryans said everyone was safe, and the inconvenience came before a trip the team had already mapped out with arrival timing and wellness measures designed to keep players ready for the game.
C.J. Stroud still found value in the extra time together, noting the travel can help a team bond before a big road week. For Houston, the early snag did not change the destination, but it did serve as a reminder that even a well-planned international trip can start with a little turbulence before the football part of the business begins. [Read more 🡒]
Texans Need Woody Marks In A Spot That Just Got Tougher
With David Montgomery dealing with a groin injury, the Texans are headed into Week 6 with a much heavier workload likely falling on second-year back Woody Marks. Marks earned that opportunity the hard way in the previous game, handling 19 touches and producing 85 all-purpose yards, enough to show Houston it can lean on him when the offense needs steadiness out of the backfield.
The challenge now is the matchup. Jacksonville brings one of the NFLs better run defenses, which makes this a tougher spot for Marks and a Texans ground game that may need to be efficient rather than explosive. Houston does not have the luxury of easing into it, and how Marks holds up in that environment could say plenty about how the Texans plan to manage the backfield moving forward. [Read more 🡒]