The AFC South is heating up and the stage is set across the pond. The Jacksonville Jaguars (4-1) are ready to run it back in London after clinching a 19-17 dub against the Eagles at Tottenham Stadium. Meanwhile, the Houston Texans (1-4) are arriving in the UK fresh off their first win of the season, a 26-3 beatdown of the Titans.
The Big Debut
Real talk: the plot just thickened for Houston. Wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. is officially making his debut for the Texans after being traded from Arizona. Pairing him with Tank Dell? That's a serious power boost for C.J. Stroud, who is already balling out with six TDs and zero interceptions this season. With lead RB David Montgomery out, the offense is definitely going to rely on Stroud’s arm.
Stats and Stakes
Kickoff is locked for 9:30 a.m. ET at Wembley Stadium. The latest odds have Jacksonville as a 2.5-point favorite.
Trevor Lawrence is lowkey cooking, averaging 235 passing yards and 11 touchdowns per game. He’s looking to expose a Texans defense that is currently ranked 26th against the pass. While the Jaguars have held four of their five opponents to 17 points or less, the SportsLine model suggests the game could turn into a shootout. After running 10,000 simulations, the model is betting on the Over of 42 points, projecting a total closer to 45.
Why it matters
This matchup is a massive opportunity for the Jaguars to secure an early stranglehold on the AFC South, while the Texans are looking to prove their first win wasn't a fluke and that their new-look offense is ready for primetime.
