Jacksonville falls to 0-4 after a disappointing defeat in Houston, with quarterback Trevor Lawrence failing to lead a late comeback.
In a crushing blow to their hopes of a turnaround, the Jacksonville Jaguars suffered a heartbreaking 27-24 loss to the Houston Texans on Sunday, dropping their record to 0-4. Quarterback Trevor Lawrence, who was making his first career start against a former No. 1 overall pick in C.J. Stroud, struggled to find his rhythm throughout the game.
After a promising start that saw the Jaguars take an early 10-0 lead, the Texans rallied to take control of the game. Stroud connected with receiver Nico Collins for a 75-yard touchdown on the opening drive of the second quarter, sparking a scoring outburst that gave Houston a 21-14 halftime lead.
Jaguars' Last-Second Loss to Texans Deepens Woes
In the third quarter, Lawrence and the Jaguars offense faltered, failing to sustain drives and ultimately punting on their first four possessions. Meanwhile, the Texans extended their lead with a field goal, making it a 24-14 advantage heading into the final period.
With time running out, Lawrence finally found his stride, leading the Jaguars on a 75-yard touchdown drive capped by a 25-yard strike to Christian Kirk. However, the ensuing two-point conversion attempt failed, leaving the Jaguars still trailing by two.
On the ensuing Texans drive, Stroud calmly guided his team into field goal range, setting up Ka'imi Fairbairn for a game-winning 47-yard kick with just seconds remaining.
For the Jaguars, Lawrence finished 29 of 50 for 273 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception. His struggles were evident throughout the game, as he was sacked four times and threw several errant passes.
Meanwhile, Stroud was efficient in his NFL debut, completing 20 of 35 attempts for 318 yards and three touchdowns. His connection with Collins proved to be a major factor in the Texans' victory.
The Jaguars' defense, which had shown signs of improvement in recent weeks, struggled to contain the Texans' passing attack. Stroud spread the ball around to multiple receivers, with Collins, Brandin Cooks, and Phillip Dorsett all making significant contributions.
The loss drops the Jaguars to 0-4 on the season, while the Texans improve to 1-3. Jacksonville will look to break their losing streak next week when they host the Indianapolis Colts, while Houston will face the Los Angeles Chargers on the road.
