JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — In a thrilling matchup, Joe Mixon rushed for 101 yards and scored a touchdown, while Nico Collins caught eight passes for a total of 119 yards, leading the Houston Texans to a narrow 23-20 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday. This win was particularly notable as it saw the Texans manage to play without their star quarterback Trevor Lawrence, who exited the game with a concussion.
With this victory, the Texans (8-5), who are at the top of the AFC South standings, achieved only their second win in the past five games, heading into their bye week on a positive note. Remarkably, Mixon marked a significant milestone by becoming the third player in NFL history to register at least 100 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown in six road games within the same season. He joins the ranks of Tiki Barber of the New York Giants (2004) and Derrick Henry of the Titans (2020) to achieve this, and he is the first to do so in his first six road games of the season. Mixon carried the ball 20 times, with a crucial 8-yard carry on a third-and-5 late in the game that helped secure the victory.
Quarterback C.J. Stroud had an impressive performance, completing 22 of his 34 passes for 242 yards, which included a crucial 22-yard touchdown pass to Dalton Schultz early in the fourth quarter that effectively sealed the game. The Texans have dominated their matchups against the Jaguars, winning 12 out of their last 14 encounters, and they have now won six consecutive games in Jacksonville.
A critical moment in the game occurred when linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair delivered a significant hit on Trevor Lawrence during the second quarter, which sparked altercations on the sidelines. Al-Shaair knocked Lawrence down with an elbow strike as the quarterback was sliding down after a 6-yard gain. Following the hit, Lawrence demonstrated the “fencing response,” a reaction often associated with brain injuries. He remained on the ground for several minutes as his teammates rushed to his aid, and tight end Evan Engram, among others, confronted Al-Shaair, who now faces potential disciplinary action.
Lawrence was eventually assisted off the field and taken off in a medical cart. Fortunately, he did not require hospitalization but was ruled out for the rest of the game with a concussion. In his absence, Mac Jones took over for the Jaguars, throwing for 235 yards and two touchdowns. He managed to bring the Jaguars back from a 23-6 score in the fourth quarter, but unfortunately, they were unable to regain possession of the ball.
In terms of injuries, the Jaguars faced further setbacks with cornerback Tyson Campbell suffering a thigh injury and safety Darnell Savage dealing with an ankle injury. On the Texans’ side, safety Jimmie Ward was checked for a concussion but was later cleared to continue playing. Tight end Dalton Schultz also had a shoulder injury but was able to return to the field.
Additionally, during the game, the Jaguars lost their running backs coach, Jerry Mack, who was announced as the new head coach for Kennesaw State. He coached the game but is expected to depart soon after.
Looking ahead, the Texans are set to benefit from a bye week, allowing them some much-needed rest, while the Jaguars will face another divisional rival, taking on the Tennessee Titans next Sunday.
