The Houston Texans are heading into Week 6 with a clear ask for Woody Marks: carry the backfield load and make it count against one of the league’s stingiest run defenses.
That job got a lot bigger once veteran running back David Montgomery was ruled out of the trip to London after the groin injury he suffered last weekend against the Tennessee Titans. With Montgomery staying behind, Marks is in line for a bigger workload against the Jacksonville Jaguars than he saw a week ago, when he put up 19 touches for 85 all-purpose yards and had by far his best outing of the season.
That performance hinted that Houston’s ground game might have more to offer than it has shown for most of the year. But the Jaguars are a rough team to find momentum against, and this matchup looks like a major test for both Marks and the Texans’ run game as a whole.
Jacksonville has been punishing opponents on the ground through five games. The Jaguars are allowing the fewest rushing yards per game in the NFL at 63.8, own the lowest rushing yards over expected mark at -0.84, have given up only three rushing touchdowns, and rank second in rushing yards allowed after contact at 1.97.
Those numbers alone make this a tough assignment. The Texans’ own rushing production only adds to the challenge.
Houston enters Week 6 with the second-fewest rushing yards per game in the NFL at 79.0, behind only the Green Bay Packers. The Texans are one of four teams with a run-stuffed rate above 20 percent, and they’ve managed just 10 runs of 10-plus yards.
That lack of pop has forced C.J. Stroud and the passing game to shoulder more of the burden. Stroud has largely held up well given the situation, but asking that formula to solve everything against a defense like Jacksonville’s is a dangerous place to live.
There is some encouragement in the way Houston has looked up front and in the run game recently, but the reality is simple: if the Texans are going to get the kind of ground production they need, Marks has to deliver.
The main keys for him are straightforward. He has to be efficient with the carries he gets, and he has to bring some explosiveness to a run game that desperately needs it.
Marks has shown he can hit big plays as both a runner and a receiver, but that upside has often come with stretches where the efficiency disappears or the offensive line leaves him with little room to work. That’s when the ugly numbers show up, including plenty of days where he’s averaged 3.0 yards per carry or less.
This season, that has happened twice already - Week 2 against the Cincinnati Bengals, when he averaged 1.7 yards per carry, and Week 3 against the Indianapolis Colts, when he finished at 3.0 yards per carry.
If Marks can absorb a heavy workload and still create a few chunk plays against a defense this disciplined, Houston will have something to build on. If not, the Texans run the risk of seeing another quiet ground game drag the offense down with it.
For a team still trying to find its footing on offense, that makes Marks’ day in London feel especially important.
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 🡒]
Caden Bullock Just Raised The Stakes For Texans Vs Jaguars
The Texans finally snapped their losing streak with a win over the Tennessee Titans, but Caden Bullock is already pointing the conversation toward a much tougher challenge. The safety said the upcoming matchup with the Jacksonville Jaguars will tell a lot more about where this team stands, and it is easy to see why the spotlight is shifting so quickly.
Houston enters the week at 1-4, while Jacksonville sits at 4-1 and has the kind of early division resume the Texans are still chasing. For a team trying to turn one needed win into real momentum, this game feels less like a follow-up and more like a measuring stick. [Read more 🡒]