Texans Escape Loss with Another Comeback while the Jaguars Lose Again

The Houston Texans (2-0) again dodged a loss but this time it took until OT with a 30-24 win over the Tennessee Titans (1-1).

With a possible concussion sidelining Texans wide receiver Andre Johnson at the game’s end, rookie receiver DeAndre Hopkins stepped up and got the game-winning OT touchdown by jumping up to grab a 3-yard reception.

DeAndre Hopkins

For the game, Hopkins went 7 for 117 and one touchdown. His 117 receiving yards represented the second-highest total in team history for a rookie and a first since 2010 that a Texans receiver, in addition to Johnson, had more than 100 receiving yards.

The Texans entered the fourth quarter, down by eight points. Running back Arian Foster got the team six points with a one-yard touchdown run and then the two-point conversion to tie it up. The Texans had a final opportunity to take the lead with under a minute remaining but 46-yarder by Randy Bullock was no good. Neither was his track record for the day as he missed three field goals for the game.

Foster, who is still trying to get up to speed this season, had 19 carries for 79 yards and one touchdown. His backup Ben Tate, who is unhappily sharing carries with him, led in rushing with 9 carries for 93 yards.

Texans quarterback Matt Schaub went 26 for 48, 298 yards, three touchdowns and two picks while Titans quarterback Jake Locker was 17 for 30, 148 yards and two touchdowns.

Along with the Texans’ clutch offense, its defense was again a bright spot, only giving up four yards in the third quarter. Linebacker Brian Cushing had 11 solo tackles and two sacks while defensive end J.J. Watt added two sacks.

With the win, the Texans are the only 2-0 AFC South team. According to Elias Sports Bureau, they are first one since the 1970 merger to win its first two games of the season from the game’s final play.

Looking ahead to Week 3, the Texans will play the Baltimore Ravens (1-1). Houston sits at 12/1 to win the 2014 Super Bowl.

Jaguars Fall Again

On the other end of the AFC South, the Jacksonville Jaguars (0-2) sit as the sole team without a win. Week 2’s loss came against the Oakland Raiders (1-1), 19-9.

For the Jaguars, they almost became the first team since 2006 to not score a touchdown in their first two games of the season, joining the Raiders and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-2). But with 2:54 remaining and a fumble by Raiders running back Darren McFadden, they got the six points on a 13-yard pass by Jaguars quarterback Chad Henne to tight end Clay Harbor.

The Jaguars first three points came in the middle of the second quarter with a 27-yard field goal by Josh Scobee.

Other than the nine points, there wasn’t a lot to say about the Jaguars. They had no running game on Sunday with their 34 total rushing yards–a lowest since their season opener against the Tennessee Titans for 33 yards in 2008.

Maurice Jones-Drew

Not helping matters was an ankle injury incurred by Jaguars running back Maurice Jones-Drew’s in the first half. He missed the second half and according to Jaguars coach Gus Bradley, the player felt “looseness” in his ankle; Jones-Drew will undergo an MRI on Monday.

But this injury was just the nail in the coffin as team started the game without wide receiver Justin Blackmon (suspension), quarterback Blaine Gabbert (right hand) and tight end Marcedes Lewis (calf).

Bradley said of the team’s recent play via the Associated Press, “Right now we’re making too many mistakes. We have to hold everybody accountable, players, coaches, because it’s about execution and mindset. We’ll challenge our guys in that area and we’ll get those things taken care of.”

One of the more glaring weaknesses of the team from Sunday’s game was the fact it went more than 36 minutes without a first down.

The Jaguars can only improve and next week they’ll play the Seattle Seahawks (2-0). They sit at the bottom of the NFL to win the 2014 Super Bowl at 1000/1.