It’s an AFC South divisional matchup in Jacksonville on Sunday that potentially has major implications even though it’s only Week 3. The 0-2 Houston Texans will take on the 1-1 Jaguars. Kickoff is set for 1:00 PM ET on CBS. Let’s take a look at this Texans-Jaguars preview and predictions.
Houston has started 0-2, just like they did in 2023. Since 2000, 118 teams have started the year 0-3. Only one of those teams has made the playoffs. It just so happens it was the 2018 version of the Houston Texans, but your odds aren’t very good if you start 0-3 to make the postseason.
Jacksonville started the season off with a convincing win over the Carolina Panthers in Week 1. They went to Cincinnati last week and got into a slugfest. After Joe Burrow left the game, backup Jake Browning came in and led the Bengals back to win over the Jaguars. Brian Thomas Jr has looked sluggish through two games and is starting to raise alarm bells.
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Houston Texans at Jacksonville Jaguars Preview and Predictions
Travis Etienne Jr Over 57.5 Rushing Yards (-115)
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers ran all over the Texans last week, especially late when they really wore them down. Bucky Irving and Rashaad White combined for 136 yards on the ground. Etienne got a bad name with the last coaching staff, but this staff seems to be impressed with him. After racking up 143 yards in Week 1, the team traded “co-starter” Tank Bigsby to the Eagles.
Etienne put up another 71 yards against the Bengals last week. Now his backup, rookie Bayshul Tuten, has been battling a shoulder injury and was limited in practice all week. Etienne should get the bulk of the work; he’s hit this number in both games, and the Texans got gashed last week.
Jaguars -1.5 (-108)
I’ve been big on the Jaguars since the offseason, and I’m not going to jump off that train now. They’ve looked much improved over the team we’ve seen the last few years as Liam Coen gets things settled. I would have liked to see them be able to close out against the Bengals last week, but I still like them in Week 3.
The Texans haven’t looked like a good team. Their offensive line is atrocious, and the entire offense has looked off sync. Their defense got taken to the woodshed late in the fourth quarter Monday night. They are coming off a short week and going on the road in the Florida humidity in September. Give me the Jaguars, and the Texans will have to try to be only the second team to start 0-3 and make the playoffs.
