The Jacksonville Jaguars have spent the first part of the 2026 season turning run defense into a weapon, and that’s a bad sign for the Houston Texans heading into Sunday’s AFC South matchup.
Jacksonville hasn’t allowed an opposing player to run for 40 yards in any of its first five games. Per Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk on NBC Sports, that makes the Jaguars the first team since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger to do it.
The gap between Jacksonville and everyone else has been huge. Opposing running backs have managed just 210 yards on 83 carries against the Jaguars, a 2.5-yard average per attempt. The closest anyone has come was Denver Broncos running back Jonah Coleman, who finished with 39 rushing yards.
The streak doesn’t stop there, either. Including last season’s playoff game, Jacksonville has now gone 23 straight games without giving up a 75-yard rusher. Last year, Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor set the high-water mark against the Jaguars with 74 rushing yards in one game.
What makes the run defense stand out is how steady it’s been from week to week. This isn’t the product of one shutdown afternoon; it’s been a pattern. Opponents haven’t been able to get their ground game moving, which has made it harder for them to control the ball or settle into comfortable passing situations.
That’s where Houston runs into a real problem. The Texans come into Week 6 ranked 31st in the NFL with 395 rushing yards, so this game pairs one of the league’s toughest run defenses with an offense that has had trouble producing on the ground.
For Houston, the challenge is figuring out how to threaten Jacksonville’s front without letting the Jaguars dictate everything. If the Texans can’t establish even a believable rushing attack, the offense gets easier to read and the pressure shifts heavily onto the passing game.
For Jacksonville, the job is staying locked in on the same discipline that’s carried them through the opening five games. The streak is historic, but the bigger payoff is practical: it helps the Jaguars control opponents and steer them away from what they want to do.
Sunday gives Jacksonville another chance to prove that edge against a division rival. If Houston can’t solve the problem, the Jaguars’ run defense could wind up shaping the AFC South race.
In Other News...
Jaguars Just Sent A Clear Message On Brian Thomas Jr
The Jaguars have made their stance on Brian Thomas Jr. pretty clear, even with other NFL teams showing interest in the young receiver. Despite a limited role in the offense this season, Jacksonville is not entertaining trade talks for Thomas, according to Jonathan Jones of The Athletic, and the move says plenty about how the team views his place in the long-term plan.
For a roster trying to position itself as a legitimate Super Bowl contender, keeping a player with Thomas upside matters more than dangling him for short-term help. The decision leaves the Jaguars choosing continuity over a possible market-driven move, and it suggests they see enough value in holding onto him even if his volume has not yet matched the outside attention. [Read more 🡒]
Texans Fans Will Notice A Different Broadcast Team In London
The Texans and Jaguars will take their matchup to Wembley Stadium in London for Week 6, giving the game a different kind of stage and a different kind of viewing experience for fans back home. It will also come with a fresh broadcast crew, as Bob Wischusen and Louis Riddick are set to handle the call for the international game.
For viewers used to hearing the same voices week after week, the change is a notable one, especially in a game that will air at 9:30 a.m. ET. It will be the first NFL broadcast of the season for both Wischusen and Riddick, adding another small wrinkle to a morning matchup that already stands apart on the league calendar. [Read more 🡒]
Jaguars Rookie Receiver Is Earning A Bigger Role For One Clear Reason
Josh Cameron has already done enough in his first five games to get Jacksonvilles coaching staff paying closer attention. The sixth-round pick has caught eight of 12 targets for 117 yards and two touchdowns, while also chipping in on special teams, and offensive coordinator Grant Udinski has been quick to point to more than just the box score. What has stood out is the rookies physical tools and the speed with which he has started to grasp the Jaguars offense.
For a young receiver, that kind of trust usually comes from handling the details, and Cameron has given the staff reason to believe he can do more than line up in one spot and run a simple route tree. Udinski has praised Camerons ability to learn multiple receiver positions and make the subtle route adjustments that depend on defensive coverage, which is often the difference between staying on the field and watching from the sideline. In a room where versatility matters, that understanding could be the clear path to a bigger role. [Read more 🡒]