The Houston Texans and the Jacksonville Jaguars traveled to London on Sunday. Houston came into the game 5-3 after defeating the Raiders last week and Jacksonville came into this week 4-4, also winning their Week 8 game against the Jets. The Texans led the series 22-14-3 and added on to their lead after Sunday morning’s game.
The Texans opened the game with possession of the ball and the opening drive ended after 13 plays and nearly seven minutes with a 52-yard field goal kick by Ka’imi Fairbairn, putting Houston on the board first.
The Jaguars weren’t able to put any points up in the first possession. On their next possession, the first quarter ended and the second quarter commenced. Still, there were no points on the board for Jacksonville.
Houston’s first possession of the second quarter was similar to the first drive of the first quarter, as it consisted of 14 plays and the offense spent eight minutes on the field before Deshaun Watson connected with Darren Fells for the first touchdown of the game. Fairbairn missed the kick on the extra point when it was blocked and the Texans added six to their lead, making it 9-0 with just under six minutes to go in the first half.
Jacksonville came back in the next drive and finally put points on the board after Houston stopped them in the red zone on three downs with a 30-yard field goal kick by Josh Lambo, making it 9-3 with less than two minutes on the clock. Houston tried one more time to put points on the board before heading to the locker room, but Fairbairn’s 58-yard field goal attempt came up short and Houston kept the six-point lead going into halftime.
The first half was highlighted by Watson throwing some remarkable passes in a couple of different plays that kept the ball alive for the Texans.
The play is never dead with DW4.@deshaunwatson | #HOUvsJAX pic.twitter.com/nOBWreF8Q3
— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) November 3, 2019
It's a sack… WAIT. @deshaunwatson did it again. 😱
📺: #HOUvsJAX on @nflnetwork
Watch now on your 📱: https://t.co/mNcUQz4KgW
How to watch on any device: https://t.co/12CyKg442X pic.twitter.com/nIyWMsWPA3— NFL (@NFL) November 3, 2019
The Jaguars received the ball first to open the second half and were unable to put any points on the board following 10 plays and a fumble recovery on the final fourth-down in the drive. Houston did convert their first drive into points when Fairbairn kicked a 42-yard field goal to add three more to the Texans’ score, making it 12-3 with five minutes left in the third quarter.
In the next Houston possession, Watson connected with Hopkins, then Carlos Hyde rushed the ball on the next two plays for 49 yards before Watson again connected with Hopkins, this time for 21 yards. Duke Johnson rushed the ball for the one-yard touchdown, extending the lead to 19-3 at the end of the third quarter.
Jacksonville started the fourth quarter with possession. Despite several lengthy pass completions by Gardner Minshew, the drive ended without the Jaguars putting up any points. Houston did not score any points, either.
Unfortunately for Jacksonville, their next possession ended when Jahleel Addae intercepted the pass intended for Keelan Cole. The Jaguars got the ball back and again had their next drive end with an interception, this time by safety Justin Reid on the first drive of the play.
Houston capitalized on this interception with a completed pass between Watson and Hopkins for a one-yard touchdown, widening the gap in the score, 26-3. The final two Jacksonville possessions ended in fumbles, the last one as the clock expired, and once again the Jaguars fell to the Texans.
Both teams are on a bye week in Week 10. Jacksonville will face Indianapolis while Houston challenges Baltimore in Week 11.
FINAL: @HoustonTexans get the WIN in this season's final London Game! @NFLUK#HOUvsJAX | #WeAreTexans pic.twitter.com/H9il3Vbgv8
— NFL (@NFL) November 3, 2019
Watch the Jaguars Postgame Show presented by Smart Workers Pharmacy as JP Shadrick and Mike Dempsey recap today's game with Fred Taylor. Followed by the Smart Workers Pharmacy Scoreboard Show LIVE from TIAA Bank Field. https://t.co/InJGkCQM66
— Jacksonville Jaguars (@Jaguars) November 3, 2019
