Jaguars Still Lead The South But This Loss Exposed A Bigger Problem

In a nail-biter against Houston, the Jaguars learned valuable lessons in defensive vulnerabilities and division standings.

The Jacksonville Jaguars got the kind of game-changing lift they were hoping for from Travis Hunter in Week 6. They just didn’t get the result to go with it.

Houston walked it off with a field goal at the buzzer, flipping the script on Jacksonville a week after the Jaguars had won in dramatic fashion of their own. This time, the Texans had the final say, and the Jaguars were left sorting through what went wrong - and what still stood out.

Hunter delivered the biggest individual bright spot. Down 10 in the fourth quarter, Trevor Lawrence hit him for a 26-yard gain to move Jacksonville to the Houston 30, and the drive ended with a seven-yard touchdown pass to Hunter.

Then, on Houston’s next possession, with the Texans trying to stretch the lead back to two scores, Hunter read the route, undercut it, and came away with an interception of CJ Stroud in the end zone. Jacksonville tied the game later with a field goal.

Even in defeat, it was a showcase of the kind of two-way presence the Jaguars envisioned when they traded up to take him No. 2 overall last year.

For all the flash Hunter provided, the Jaguars’ defense had a rough afternoon. Jacksonville came in with one of the league’s toughest units, especially against the run, but Houston still put together 114 rushing yards and averaged 4.6 yards per carry.

The damage through the air was even more jarring. Stroud averaged 9.2 yards per attempt, Jaylin Noel averaged 26.8 yards per catch, and Nico Collins averaged 24.7 yards per reception.

Two more Texans also landed catches of at least 16 yards, and Houston finished with more than 400 yards of offense at 7.2 yards per play. In the final minute, Jacksonville couldn’t prevent the Texans from getting into range for the winning kick.

The loss did not knock the Jaguars out of first place in the AFC South, but it did keep the race much tighter than it could have been. The NFL Network broadcast noted that if Jacksonville had won and dropped Houston to 1-5, the Jaguars would have had more than a 90% chance of winning the division. Instead, the Texans improved to 2-4 and stayed within reach of the 4-2 Jaguars, while if the Colts win, they would sit just one game behind Jacksonville in the win column.

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