S³ | SWEET SCIENCE SPORTS · NFL WEEK 6
LONDON, ENGLAND | October 18, 2026
The Houston Texans entered Wembley Stadium fighting to keep their season alive. Four quarters, 838 combined offensive yards and a dramatic final-second field goal later, Houston escaped with a 34–31 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The victory improved Houston's record to 2–4 and delivered a much-needed AFC South win. Nevertheless, the Texans' defensive performance raised serious questions about their ability to compete consistently against quality opponents.
Both teams moved the football with relative ease, combining for 65 points, 618 passing yards and 220 rushing yards.
Most remarkably, neither defense recorded a single sack.
Stroud Delivers, Then Nearly Gives the Game Away
Houston quarterback C.J. Stroud produced one of his better statistical performances of the season.
C.J. Stroud | Final Statistics
| Category | Total |
|---|---|
| Pass Yards | 312 |
| Completion | 70.6% |
| Pass TDs | 3 |
| INT | 1 |
| Yards/Att | 9.2 |
| Passer Rating | 116.3 |
Stroud completed 24 of 34 passes, spreading the football across Houston's receiving corps.
Jaylin Noel led the Texans with 107 receiving yards and a touchdown on four receptions. Nico Collins added 74 yards, while Foster Moreau caught two touchdown passes.
Houston also received a productive rushing performance from Jawhar Jordan, who averaged 7.2 yards per carry and scored on a 25-yard run.
Nevertheless, Stroud nearly erased his impressive afternoon with a costly fourth-quarter mistake.
Leading 31–28 and facing second-and-goal from Jacksonville's 4-yard line, Stroud forced a pass intended for Xavier Hutchinson that Travis Hunter intercepted in the end zone.
It was Stroud's first interception of the season, and the timing could hardly have been worse.
Rather than throwing the football away and preserving an opportunity to extend Houston's lead, Stroud attempted a dangerous pass that gave Jacksonville another possession.
Houston's Defense Continues to Disappoint
For much of the afternoon, Houston's secondary struggled to contain Trevor Lawrence and Jacksonville's passing attack.
Lawrence completed 24 of 41 passes for 306 yards, four touchdowns and one interception.
Bhayshul Tuten caught two touchdown passes, while Travis Hunter and Nate Boerkircher added one apiece.
The Jaguars repeatedly found openings in Houston's coverage, particularly on intermediate routes. Houston struggled to prevent Jacksonville from sustaining scoring drives.
The Texans surrendered touchdown drives of 79, 48, 69 and 61 yards.
Perhaps most concerning was Houston's inability to pressure Lawrence.
The Jaguars attempted 41 passes without surrendering a sack.
Although sacks alone do not measure quarterback pressure, the absence of negative passing plays contributed to Jacksonville's offensive success.
S³ Defensive Benchmark Comparison
| Category | S³ Standard | Houston Allowed |
|---|---|---|
| Points | 17 | 31 |
| Passing yards | 225 | 306 |
| Rushing yards | 100 | 106 |
| Passing TDs | 1 | 4 |
| Sacks | 3–4 target | 0 |
| Takeaways | 2 | 1 |
Houston failed to meet every listed defensive benchmark.
Jacksonville's defense was hardly better, allowing 426 total yards and 7.2 yards per offensive play.
Both defenses must improve, particularly when facing teams with explosive passing attacks.
Cam Little Delivers, Fairbairn Answers
Following Stroud's interception, Jacksonville marched downfield before Cam Little connected on a remarkable 60-yard field goal with 1:55 remaining.
The kick tied the game at 31–31 and appeared to give Jacksonville a chance to force overtime.
But Houston had one final opportunity.
Stroud responded by helping move the Texans downfield, including a critical 19-yard completion to Woody Marks.
Houston advanced to Jacksonville's 32-yard line before an unsuccessful direct snap to Cade Stover left the Texans facing fourth down.
With three seconds remaining, Ka'imi Fairbairn lined up for a 49-yard field goal.
Fairbairn delivered.
His kick sailed through the uprights as time expired, securing Houston's 34–31 victory.
S³ Final Assessment: A Victory That Exposes Serious Problems
Houston deserves credit for overcoming adversity and winning a critical divisional matchup.
Stroud demonstrated his ability to produce offensively, and his response following the fourth-quarter interception showed resilience.
Nevertheless, the Texans cannot continue expecting their offense to overcome defensive breakdowns.
Houston has now surrendered at least 30 points in three of its six games.
Against Buffalo, Dallas and Jacksonville, the Texans allowed a combined 101 points.
That is not sustainable football.
Jacksonville also has reason for concern. Despite four Lawrence touchdown passes and an impressive late field goal from Little, the Jaguars failed to protect the tie in the closing seconds.
Neither defense recorded a sack, and both teams allowed more than 400 yards of offense.
The difference was Houston's ability to execute the final scoring opportunity.
S³ Verdict: Houston won the game, but its defense remains the biggest concern. Stroud's overall performance was excellent despite one costly decision, and Fairbairn delivered under pressure. The Texans remain alive in the AFC South race, but defensive improvement must become an immediate priority.
S³ Final Score Prediction: Houston 24, Jacksonville 17
Actual Result: Houston 34, Jacksonville 31 · S³ correctly selected the winner.
