The Jacksonville Jaguars return to the field in Week 10 with a 5-3 record, and they’re trying to keep pace with the 7-2 Indianapolis Colts, who currently sit atop the AFC South. The team that won the division the last two seasons, the Houston Texans, are currently going through a rough time, and that’s who the Jags will play in Week 10.
Houston will enter the game at 3-5, and to make matters worse, it will be without C.J. Stroud. The talented quarterback sustained a concussion in Week 9 and is still working his way through the protocol. That means veteran backup Davis Mills will be under center when the Texans take the field on Sunday. While these circumstances could lead some fans to believe this should be an easy win for Jacksonville, the Texans' elite defense could still complicate things.
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Texans defense will be a challenge for Jaguars in Week 10
The Texans, overall, are having a rough year, and the offense has been very inconsistent, but the DeMeco Ryans-led group currently has the No. 1 defense in the NFL. Entering Week 10, Houston is only allowing 267.4 yards per game, the lowest in the league, and 15.1 points per game, also the lowest in the NFL. The Texans are an aggressive bunch who have 13 takeaways (4th) and 17 sacks (23rd) this season, and they can give any offense trouble.
That could be bad news for a Jaguars team that only scored 17 points in their first matchup this season with Houston. Jacksonville has already been inconsistent offensively this year, and the offense is dealing with several injuries heading into the Week 10 game. That means what looks like an easy win on paper could turn into a really tough battle, and even one Jacksonville could lose if the offense isn’t taking care of business.
Working in the Jags' favor is that they just traded for the sure-handed Jakobi Meyers, who should help them with their drop issues. On top of that, Trevor Lawrence should be 100 percent healthy after dealing with the flu the game prior.
Ultimately, the Jaguars have a chance to contend this season, but to do that, they have to take care of wounded, struggling teams like the Texans. No, Houston’s defense won’t make things easy, but at the end of the day, Jacksonville has to figure out a way to get things clicking on both sides of the ball and get the win.