Countdown to Kickoff: Texans at Jaguars

The AFC South is traditionally an afterthought in the NFL. There are no storied rivalries that draw in fans of other teams. There are no quarterbacks who can and have captured national headlines with their play on the field. There is one Superb Owl title in the AFC South franchises’ combined 167 years of existence. But today, the Texans get to take on the Jaguars in a matchup that will be seen most of Texas, Tennessee, and large chunks of Florida (Indiana will be watching the Colts likely get curb stomped by the Bills).

This game pits two teams that are in the middle of the pack in NFL rankings (except the Jags’ D, which is ranked 5th). At the end, this may well be a game decided by defensive players. The Jags’ D was essential in their run last season, and will likely further assault Deshaun Watson throughout the game. The Texans’ D remains a vital part of the team’s identity, with Romeo Crennel’s men often being tasked with addressing the shortcomings of O’Brien’s offense.

This is where we’re at until the action starts. What are you thinking you’ll see today? Will D4 be running for his life? Will JJ and JD pressure Bortles into Bortling the game away? Will I finally get to see a 2-0 game (probably not, but let me dream for a moment). Chill here until the first quarter thread opens fifteen minutes before game time.