NFL preview:
Houston Texans and Jacksonville Jaguars square off in important divisional match-up
Coming into the match-up with identical records (both overall and in their division), the Jacksonville Jaguars (4-4) and Houston Texans (4-4) prepare to square off on Sunday 14 November. With both teams
trailing the division-leading Tennessee Titans by just one game, these AFC South foes know that this weekend could prove monumental in terms of gaining ground in the tight division race.
The Jags, who are rested coming off of last week’s bye, have a shot to capture their fourth consecutive victory at home over the Texans. And there’s no concealing the fact that Jacksonville is ready to make
some waves in the AFC South, which the Indianapolis Colts have dominated recently, winning six of the past seven divisional titles.
“Last home divisional game, coming off a bye week on a weekend we gained ground in our division, I don’t think there’s going to be any underestimating the importance of this game,” the Jags’ defensive end,
Aaron Kampman, told the media this week.
On paper, it shouldn’t prove that difficult for Jacksonville quarterback David Garrard to lead his offence past a Houston team that statistically holds the NFL’s worst defence. Garrard has been hitting his
stride recently, completing his first 12 attempts and accounting for five total touchdowns (four through the air, one on the ground) in the Jags’ most recent win, a 35-17 romping of the discombobulated Dallas Cowboys on 31 October.
Still, the Jacksonville play-caller knows the name of the game is momentum. “We have to be able to build on it,” Garrard said. “We can’t just have one big game and turn around the other way. We have to be
able to build on the confidence that we have now.”
The Texans, meanwhile, have dropped back to back games against the Indianapolis Colts (30-17, 1 November) and San Diego Chargers (29-23, 7 November), falling out of first place in the division in the process.
They look to bounce back by making a few changes, particularly on the defensive side of the ball.
Houston plans to move second-year linebacker Brian Cushing, who had been filling in for injured middle linebacker DeMeco Ryans, back to his original position on the defence’s strong side. The move aims to
assist the Texans’ pass rush, which has struggled to produce recently, recording just two sacks over the last two contests.
“I didn’t feel like anything was wrong, I just didn’t feel like I was really playing the game that I can,” Cushing said of his recent production (or lack thereof). “And now I’m moving back to SAM and doing
the things that I’m good at, which is playing the edge and rushing the passer and doing those kinds of things.”
Houston also hopes to increase its turnover margin in the marquee match-up, something that they’ve struggled with all season long. The Texans have only forced eight turnovers this season, just one more than
the league low posted by the winless Buffalo Bills.
Still, both teams come into the game aware that focus and execution will ultimately win out. It’s simply a matter of who can take better advantage of their opportunities. And that seems likely to be the Jaguars.
Prediction: Houston 17, Jacksonville 31
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