Week 14 Game Preview: Texans vs. Jaguars

No one would have predicted that the Jacksonville Jaguars (3-9) would be sitting ahead of the Houston Texans (2-10) in the AFC South by week 14, but that’s the reality as the two division rivals square off for the second time in three weeks on Thursday.

Some would say the Texans have played better since making the switch from Matt Schaub to Case Keenum at quarterback, but that hasn’t resulted in any wins, as the team enters today’s rematch with the Jags on a 10-game losing skid.

Meanwhile, after starting 0-8, the Jags are on an upswing as winners of three of their last four games, including their week 12 game against Houston. However, Jacksonsville is still a three-point underdog at home in this week’s game, most likely because the Jags still haven’t won at EverBank Field this season.

Jacksonville has been outscored 158-35 in five home games this season and still ranks near the bottom of the league in most major offensive and defensive categories, but momentum certainly counts for something in a match-up between two of the league’s worst teams and the Jags have plenty of it coming into Thursday’s bout with Houston.

After scoring just 88 points in their first eight losses combined, the Jaguars have racked up 86 points in the last four contests and the once-powerful running game led by Maurice Jones-Drew – which was largely absent during the first half of the season – has returned recently, as Jacksonsville has rushed for 230 total yards in its last two games.

“It’s like we’re a more confident team,” Jaguars receiver Cecil Shorts told the team’s official website, via ESPN.com. “We’re going into games expecting to win and expecting to do well during the games. … We’re growing up and we’re coming on.”

Conversely, the Texans are likely short on confidence after giving up a 10-point halftime lead in last week’s 34-31 loss to the Patriots – a loss that sent them to the bottom of the NFL standings.

The Texans still have more talent on their sideline, but bettors have to like what they have seen from the Jaguars lately and considering they’ve already defeated Houston once this year, there’s no reason to think the Jags can’t do it again.

Take Jacksonville to cover +3 on Thursday and win outright against Houston.