There are so many things to comment, speculate and otherwise pontificate on this week, but those are subjects for another post. This one is all about stats, stats, stats. So without further (or any) adieu, here we go:
The NFL schedule makers chose to close out the 2019 London Games with the Houston Texans (5-3) facing the Jacksonville Jaguars (4-4) at Wembley Stadium (9:30 AM ET, NFL Network) in an AFC South showdown. The two teams met in Week 2, as Houston withstood a fourth quarter rally from Jaguars rookie quarterback Gardner Minshew in his first career start to earn a 13-12 victory. In 2019, Minshew currently leads all rookie quarterbacks with 13 passing touchdowns and a 98.8 passer rating. Since their Week 2 meeting, Texans phenom quarterback Deshaun “Michael Jordan” Watson ties for the NFL lead with 13 touchdown passes and currently ranks sixth in passing yards with 2,231.
- Your Houston Texans lead the al-time series 22-13, including the past 3 meetings.
- Texans coach Bill O’Brien is 9-2 versus Jacksonville.
- Jaguars coach, and Bill O’Brien’s best friend, Doug Marrone, is 2-3 against Houston.
- The Texans offense is currently averaging 26.5 points per game while their defense is giving up 23.5 with 212 points for and 188 against for the +24 point differential.
- Jacksonville’s offense is currently averaging 21.6 points per game while their defense is surrendering 20.4 with 173 points for and 163 against for a +10 point differential.
- Houston’s offense is gaining an average of 395.0 yards per game while their defense is losing 362.1.
- The Jaguars offense is gaining an average of 379.8 yards per game while their defense is losing 342.5.
- Deshaun Watson has completed 190 passes (including one thrown while blinded!) on 274 attempts, gaining 2231 yards, 16 touchdowns with 5 interceptions earning a 105.7 passer rating.
- Gardner Minshew has completed 161 passes on 260 attempts for 1976 yards, 13 touchdowns, 2 interceptions and a 98.8 passer rating.
- Texans running back Carlos Hyde has carried 130 times for 544 at a 4.2 yard per carry average, scoring 3 touchdowns.
- Jacksonville running back Leonard Fournette has carried 163 times, gaining 791 yards at a 4.9 yard per carry clip. He’s score 1 touchdown in 2019.
- DeAndre Hopkins has caught 60 of Watson’s 190 completions for 617 yards at an average of 10.3 yards per catch and 3 touchdowns.
- D.J. Chark has caught 39 passes for 660 yards, earning a 16.9 yard per catch average and 6 touchdowns.
- Texans linebacker Whitney Mercilus leads Houston with 5.5 sacks.
- Rookie Josh Allen leads the Jaguars with 7 sacks.
- Former Jaguar turned Texans Tashaun Gipson leads Houston with 2 interceptions.
- Ronnie Harrison and Tre Herndon are tied with 2 interceptions each.
- The Texans are at break even in the turnover game with 10 takeaways and 10 giveaways.
- Jacksonville has 9 takeaways and 8 giveaways for a +1 turnover differential.
- Ka’imi Fairbairn has contributed 54 points going 21/25 on point after attempts and 11/14 field goals.
- Josh Lambo has scored 75 points, going 12/13 on PATs and 21/21 FGs.
- Deshaun Watson passed for 279 yards and 3 touchdowns vs. 0 interceptions for 115.2 rating and rushed for 46 yards last week. He is the 1st player in NFL History to have 15+ pass touchdowns (16) & 5+ rush touchdowns (5) in his team’s 1st 8 games. Watson has 300+ pass yards in 3 of his past 4 on road vs. the AFC South. He’s never lost to the Jaguars, going 3-0 in 3 career starts against them.
- Gardner Minshew passed for 279 yards and a career-high 3 touchdowns vs. 0 interceptions for 119.6 rating last week. He passed for 213 yards & 1 touchdown for 97.2 rating in Week 2 meeting with Houston. Minshew aims for his 3rd in row vs. division with 95+ rating.
- Carlos Hyde had 83 rush yards last week. He gained 90 rush yards in week 2 meeting with Jacksonville.
- Leonard Fournette had 136 scrimmage yards (76 rush, 60 rec.) in Week 8. He leads the AFC with 791 rush yards & ranks 3rd in NFL with 1,054 scrimmage yards in 2019. Fournette had 80 scrimmage yards (59 rush, 21 rec.) & rush touchdown in his only career game in London (9/24/17 vs. Baltimore) and aims for his 6th in row with 115+ scrimmage yards.
- DeAndre Hopkins led team with 11 catches for 109 yards last week, becoming the 3rd-youngest player with 8,000 career rec. yards in NFL history. Nuk has 4 receiving TDs in his past 4 on road vs. Jacksonville. He’s aiming for his 6th in row on road vs. division with at least one touchdown catch.
- Kenny Stills aims for his 3rd in row on road with 85+ receiving yards.
- Darren Fells had 6 catches for 58 yards and 2 scores last week. Fells leads all AFC tight ends with 5 receiving touchdowns.
- D.J. Chark had 79 receiving yards and 1 score last week. He leads the AFC and is tied for NFL lead with 6 touchdown catches. Chark had 7 catches for 55 yards and 1 touchdown in Week 2 meeting. He’s going for his 3rd in row vs. division with receiving touchdown.
- Chris Conley led the Jaguars with 103 receiving yards and 1 score in Week 8. He had 73 receiving yards in Week 2 meeting. He’s going for his 3rd in row with 80+ receiving yards.
- Whitney Mercilus had 2 sacks & 2 forced fumbles in Week 2 meeting. He has 10 sacks & 5 forced fumbles in his past 8 vs. Jacksonville.
- Zach Cunningham led the team with 8 tackles, 1 pass defensed and a tackle for loss last week. He had 10 tackles and 1 sack in Week 2 meeting & had 10 tackles nad 1 forced fumble in last road meeting.
- Charles Omenihu had 1 sack and 1 forced fumble in Week 2 meeting.
- Benardrick McKinney aims for his 8th in row on road vs. division with 5+ tackles.
- Johnathan Joseph has 10 passes defensed in his past 6 vs. Jacksonville.
- Gareon Conley had 2 passes defensed last week in his Houston debut.
- Calais Campbell had 1.5 sacks last week. He has 7.5 sacks in his past 5 vs. Houston and 1.5 sacks & 1 forced fumble in 2 career games in London.
- Yannick Ngakoue had 2 sacks last week and 3.5 sacks and 2 forced fumbles in his past 4 vs. Houston.
- Campbell (29.5) & Ngakoue (25.5) are only pair of teammates with 25+ sacks each since 2017.
- Josh Allen had 2 sacks and 1 forced fumble last week. He currently leads all AFC rookies with 7 sacks.
There you have it folks, enough stats to keep your mind busy up until kickoff on Sunday.
Which player do you think is going to do the most this week to improve his stat line? Who is going to do the most damage to his? Gives us your predictions in the comments box!