If the Houston Texans ever needed a prime opportunity for their first road win, the time is now. On Sunday, November 13 the Texans (5-3) will face the Jacksonville Jaguars (2-6) at EverBank Field. Sunday’s game is set for 1 p.m. ET/Noon CT.
Texans vs. Jaguars Fast Fact:
In Houston’s last road trip to EverBank Field on Oct. 18, 2015, the Texans won, 31-20, following a 10-catch, 148-yard, 2-touchdown performance from WR DeAndre Hopkins and Safety Andre Hal started his first-ever game at the safety position and recorded the first two interceptions of his career, while returning one for a touchdown.
I must admit that the Jacksonville Jaguars are not a roll over and take defeat type of team. Despite their record, the resilience of this Jacksonville team should be applauded. Their comeback fight against Kansas City was intriguing. In week 9, Blake Bortles was my fantasy league Quarterback and he did not disappoint my roster either. With that being said, I’m interested to see how many yards Blake puts up against the Texans. The Jaguar receivers can also be a silent threat that we all must pay attention to and not take for granted.
Safety Andre Hal is grabbing my attention and making a lot of noise on the field. Ironically, he will be returning to the opponent that helped him gain some first experiences in his career. Don’t be surprised if he causes some major disruptions to the Jaguars offense. This man alone is one reason I’m placing the Texans defense back into my fantasy league for week 10.
WR Will Fuller Gumbo Stats
* Needs one receiving touchdown to pass DeAndre Hopkins (two in 2013) and tie Jaelen Strong (three in 2015) for the third-most by a rookie in Texans history
*Needs two receiving touchdowns to tie Andre Johnson (four in 2003) for the second-most by a rookie in Texans history
I’m also looking forward to seeing how Will Fuller falls back into the swing of things this week. I know he is capable of at least one touchdown in week 10, however depending on the speed of the game and Brock’s arm/foresight we must wait and see.
WR Deandre Hopkins Gumbo Stats
*Needs 33 receiving yards to reach 4,000 for his career
Deandre is another quiet receiver this year whom I would like to see more of in week 10. He should certainly reach the 33 receiving yards, however he and QB Brock Osweiler need to be on the same page and field during these pertinent play calls.
QB Brock Osweiler Gumbo Stats
* Needs one touchdown pass to tie and two to set a single-season career-high (10 in 2015)
* Needs 249 passing yards to set a single-season career-high (1,967 in 2015)
This week 10 game will tell all for me in regards to Brock being our Texans quarterback. If he reaches the 249 passing yards or goes beyond this number it is then that I will truly see his potential.
Post Game Update:
Congratulations to the Houston Texans for winning their first road trip game of the 2016 season. As I stated before, this was a prime opportunity for the Texans to gain a win and momentum to propel them further into the season.
Jacksonville is no joke. In the final two minutes in the fourth quarter, they were well within reach of pulling a phenomenal upset. This is why I will not allow myself to minimize the potential of the Jaguars. They really are a good team, however they have some issues they need to work out as most teams encounter along the way.
Unfortunately I found out this morning that Will Fuller would be inactive for today’s game. Therefore we must wait another week until we determine if he will set any team records.
On the other hand, with 38 receiving yards in today’s game Deandre Hopkins reached 4,000 for his career. Kudos to Deandre for pulling through and making it happen. I’m still hoping for better chemistry and I know Deandre is capable of more yards.
Although Brock Osweiler did not reach the 249 passing yards to set a career-high in a single-season, he set a career-high today for a total overall of 11 touchdown passes. I also want to applaud Brock on a major humbling move. It is said that during the Texans bye week he contacted the former QB Peyton Manning and asked for his advice. This is huge news in the fact that Brock’s isn’t afraid to seek help from someone with a plethora of knowledge and experience. Does Brock need more time to grow? Yes, and with a little time and patience he just might be alright with me.
Last but not least, how could I forget the Texans defense. They showed up and showed out as we like to say in our family. I was so focused on Andre Hal, that I forgot all about Kareem Jackson. He did that! Interception and all for a TD. Magnificent indeed. It’s as if the whole defense woke up and decided not to play any games with the opposing offense. It is my prayer that our defense keeps this momentum going.
Next up, the Oakland Raiders. This is going to be a good matchup. We will certainly need the Texans defense to keep the fire going during this sure to be heated battle.
