The Houston Texans narrowly avoided an upset loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars in a thrilling 24-20 win on Sunday. After being shut out in the second half and punting on five straight possessions, C.J. Stroud led a game-winning drive in the final minutes.
Stroud, who threw for an impressive 345 yards and two touchdowns, found an unexpected hero in third-string running back Dare Ogunbowale. With starter Joe Mixon and backup Dameon Pierce both sidelined due to injury, Ogunbowale stepped up and caught a 1-yard touchdown pass with just 18 seconds left to secure the victory for Houston. It marked his first touchdown since 2022, and it couldn't have come at a more critical time.
"It's always great to help your team win, especially when you're called upon unexpectedly," Ogunbowale said after the game.
The win came despite a shaky performance from Houston, which included 12 penalties and a fumbled punt return early in the game. However, their resilience showed, particularly in the final moments. After forcing a three-and-out late in the fourth quarter, Stroud engineered a nine-play, 69-yard drive to lift the Texans (3-1) to victory.
Stroud praised the defense for giving them a chance: "We were locked in, and the defense gave us another shot. That's all we needed."
Wide receiver Nico Collins played a pivotal role in the win, posting a career-high 12 catches for 151 yards and a touchdown. Collins' third 100-yard game of the season brought his total to 489 receiving yards through four games, making him the first Texan to surpass 450 yards in the opening stretch of the season. "I just want to keep improving, stay available, and continue to help this team win," Collins said.
On the other side, Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence threw for 169 yards and two touchdowns but couldn't end his winless streak, which now stretches to nine games. Jacksonville (0-4) had its opportunities, especially after Tank Bigsby's 58-yard run set them up deep in Houston territory. However, Lawrence was stopped on a key fourth-down play early in the fourth quarter, allowing the Texans to stay in the game.
Houston's defense came up with crucial stops, including a pass breakup by Derek Stingley Jr. that forced a punt with six minutes remaining. The Jaguars' coach Doug Pederson was questioned about his job security after the dismal 0-4 start but brushed off any concern, stating, "My status? No, not really worried."
The Texans, coming off a tough loss to Minnesota the previous week, showed they could bounce back despite their mistakes. They'll need to clean up their play as they prepare to host the Buffalo Bills next Sunday, while Jacksonville will try to get their first win of the season against the Colts.
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