Most experts were picking against the Texans in London, and C.J. Stroud and Jaylin Noel made them pay. Stroud threw for 312 yards, Noel had the first 100-yard game of his career, and the Houston Texans beat the Jacksonville Jaguars 34-31 at Wembley Stadium on Ka’imi Fairbairn’s 49-yard field goal as time expired. It wasn’t a banner day for everyone, with Will Anderson Jr. and the pass rush held without a sack.
Houston has now won two straight to get to 2-4, and this one came in a one-score game after the Texans spent the first month losing fourth-quarter leads in three of their four defeats. This time, they got the last word.
Winners
C.J. Stroud
Stroud went 24 of 34 for 312 yards and three touchdown passes, and for the first time this season he wasn’t sacked, according to his ESPN game log. Houston had allowed 14 sacks through five games, which put the focus on the offensive line after the 0-4 start. He threw his first interception of the season with 3:59 left, then got the ball back at his own 32 with 1:55 to go and completed both of his passes to Woody Marks for 25 yards to set up the winning kick.
Jaylin Noel
Noel caught four passes for 107 yards and a touchdown, the first 100-yard receiving game of his career, according to Yahoo Sports’ live coverage. His 50-yard catch with 48 seconds left in the first half set up Foster Moreau’s touchdown, and his 13-yard score in the third quarter put Houston up 24-14. He added 65 yards on two kickoff returns.
Ka’imi Fairbairn
Fairbairn made both of his field goals, from 25 and 49 yards, plus all four extra points. After Cade Stover was stopped on a third-and-1 direct snap, the Texans called timeout with 3 seconds left, and Fairbairn hit from 49 yards to end it.
Jawhar Jordan
With David Montgomery inactive, Jordan carried six times for 43 yards, and his 25-yard run late in the third quarter was the first touchdown of his career. He also picked up 7 yards on second-and-8 on the final drive to get Houston into field goal range. Woody Marks has looked ready to carry the backfield, and Jordan gave Houston a second option that hit.
Losers
Troy Taormina-Imagn Images
Will Anderson Jr.
An ESPN analyst named Anderson the favorite to win Defensive Player of the Year earlier this month, and he finished Sunday with one tackle and one quarterback hit. Houston brought a red-hot pass rush to London and didn’t sack Trevor Lawrence once in 41 attempts. The Texans were credited with three quarterback hits all day, and two belonged to Azeez Al-Shaair.
Houston’s kick coverage
Jacksonville averaged 32.8 yards on five kickoff returns. Josh Cameron’s 46-yard return to the Houston 48 set up a Jaguars touchdown in the second quarter, and all four of Ameer Abdullah’s returns reached the Jacksonville 30 or better. Houston thought it had a fumble on one of them late in the third quarter, but replay overturned it.
Aireontae Ersery
Ersery’s false start at the Jacksonville 13 cost Houston 5 yards with 20 seconds left in the first half, forcing the Texans to burn their last timeout. He was also flagged as an ineligible man downfield on the play Travis Hunter intercepted at the goal line. That penalty was declined, and Houston survived both, but neither helped a line still trying to prove itself.
The Texans have won both games since DeMeco Ryans took over defensive play-calling, though 31 points allowed to Jacksonville leaves him plenty to fix with the Giants coming to NRG Stadium.
More on the Houston Texans
- DeMeco Ryans’ Defense Gives Up 31 at Wembley, and the Texans Should Cringe Even After the Win
- Jawhar Jordan, Calen Bullock Rise and Danielle Hunter Falls in Texans’ Week 6 Stock Report
- Even at 2-4, Texans Head Coach DeMeco Ryans Says ‘I Love Where Our Team Is Right Now.’
- Texans Finally Finish a Close One, and 3 More Takeaways From the 34-31 Win Over Jaguars
