Jacksonville Jaguars vs Houston Texans: Complete Match Recap & Key Player Stats
The Jacksonville Jaguars delivered a much-needed breakthrough on September 21, 2025, defeating the Houston Texans 17–10 at EverBank Stadium in front of an electric home crowd. The win ended Jacksonville’s long home drought against Houston — their first since 2017 — and came through a mix of defensive dominance, clock control, and clutch fourth-quarter execution.
Quarterback Trevor Lawrence managed the game efficiently, while running back Travis Etienne Jr. powered the final drive that sealed the outcome. Houston’s C.J. Stroud, who entered the game without an interception against Jacksonville in his career, finally cracked under pressure as the Jaguars’ defense forced three turnovers to secure a decisive division victory.
Game Recap
Jacksonville started strong, methodically marching downfield before Bhayshul Tuten finished a nine-play drive with a 1-yard touchdown run to take an early 7–0 lead. The Texans responded in the second quarter with Ka’imi Fairbairn’s 27-yard field goal, but that would be their only score of the half as Jacksonville’s defense dictated the pace.
After the break, Cam Little drilled a 39-yard field goal to push the Jaguars ahead 10–3. Houston leveled the game at 10–10 in the fourth quarter thanks to a 50-yard strike from C.J. Stroud to Nico Collins, but Jacksonville immediately regained control.
Lawrence connected deep with Brian Thomas Jr. for 46 yards, setting up Etienne’s 10-yard touchdown run with just under two minutes remaining. On Houston’s last possession, Josh Hines-Allen pressured Stroud into a bad throw that Antonio Johnson intercepted to end the contest.
Top Player Stats
Jacksonville Jaguars — Key Performers
|
Player |
Position |
Stats |
|---|---|---|
|
Trevor Lawrence |
QB |
20/40, 222 YDS, 1 INT |
|
Travis Etienne Jr. |
RB |
16 CAR, 56 YDS, 1 TD |
|
Bhayshul Tuten |
RB |
6 CAR, 21 YDS, 1 TD |
|
Brenton Strange |
TE |
6 REC, 61 YDS |
|
Brian Thomas Jr. |
WR |
2 REC, 55 YDS (long 46) |
|
Parker Washington |
WR |
4 REC, 34 YDS |
|
Josh Hines-Allen |
DE |
3 QB hits, 0.5 sack |
|
Tyson Campbell |
CB |
7 tackles, 1 forced fumble |
|
Antonio Johnson |
S |
1 INT |
|
Cam Little |
K |
1/2 FG, 2/2 XP |
Houston Texans — Key Performers
|
Player |
Position |
Stats |
|---|---|---|
|
C.J. Stroud |
QB |
25/38, 204 YDS, 1 TD, 2 INT |
|
Nick Chubb |
RB |
9 CAR, 38 YDS |
|
Woody Marks |
RB |
6 CAR, 27 YDS |
|
Nico Collins |
WR |
8 REC, 104 YDS, 1 TD |
|
Dalton Schultz |
TE |
5 REC, 39 YDS |
|
Christian Kirk |
WR |
3 REC, 25 YDS |
|
Will Anderson Jr. |
DE |
1 SACK, 1 TFL |
|
Azeez Al-Shaair |
LB |
8 TKL |
|
Jalen Pitre |
S |
1 INT |
|
Ka’imi Fairbairn |
K |
1/2 FG, 1/1 XP |
Team Performance Comparison
|
Category |
Texans |
Jaguars |
|---|---|---|
|
Total Yards |
271 |
291 |
|
Passing Yards |
184 |
205 |
|
Rushing Yards |
87 |
86 |
|
First Downs |
13 |
17 |
|
3rd Down Efficiency |
4/15 |
4/15 |
|
Turnovers |
3 |
1 |
|
Time of Possession |
28:42 |
31:18 |
|
Red Zone Efficiency |
0/1 (0%) |
2/3 (67%) |
Top Performers Of The Game
- Travis Etienne Jr. (JAX): Delivered the game-winning touchdown and provided consistent ground support.
- Nico Collins (HOU): Produced a 104-yard outing and the Texans’ only touchdown.
- Antonio Johnson (JAX): Clutched the interception that sealed the game.
- Tyson Campbell (JAX): Recorded seven tackles and forced a key fumble.
- Josh Hines-Allen (JAX): Pressured Stroud all game, setting up turnovers.
Turning Points
- Early Control: Tuten’s opening touchdown gave the Jaguars rhythm and belief.
- Collins’ Big Catch: Tied the game but shifted momentum back toward Houston briefly.
- Etienne’s Closer: His 10-yard rush capped Jacksonville’s final statement drive.
- Johnson’s Interception: Ended Houston’s last chance in dramatic fashion.
Analyst Takeaways
Jacksonville’s Week 3 win was built on complementary football. Defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen’s front seven harassed Stroud relentlessly, while the secondary capitalized on every mistake. Josh Hines-Allen led the charge upfront, and Antonio Johnson’s instincts in coverage were pivotal.
On offense, the Jaguars embraced balance. Despite modest numbers from Trevor Lawrence, his control and poise during the fourth-quarter drive underscored his growth as a leader. Meanwhile, Etienne’s reliability and Tuten’s emergence provided Jacksonville with a versatile rushing threat.
For Houston, inconsistency was costly. Stroud’s two interceptions and the offense’s inability to sustain drives (just 4-of-15 on third down) undermined an otherwise solid defensive showing.
You may also be interested in Jacksonville Jaguars performance stats against Green Bay Packers
Common Fan FAQs
Q: Who scored Jacksonville’s touchdowns?
A: Bhayshul Tuten and Travis Etienne Jr. each found the end zone once.
Q: Which Texan led the team in receiving?
A: Nico Collins, with eight catches for 104 yards and a touchdown.
Q: What was the key defensive play?
A: Antonio Johnson’s interception on Houston’s final possession.
Q: What’s next for both teams?
A: Jacksonville travels west to face San Francisco, while Houston hosts the Titans in a divisional clash.
Final Verdict
The Jaguars earned a statement victory rooted in composure and discipline. Despite Houston’s resilience, Jacksonville’s defensive poise and late-game execution made all the difference. It was a game that proved how far the Jaguars have come — and how much work remains for the Texans to climb back into AFC contention.
