Quick Hits: Texans v. Jaguars

Oh, what could have been - that is, if either of these franchises weren’t currently embracing their right to substitute “dumpster fire” for “pro sports entertainment.” At least we can all see if Vernon Hargreaves III and his 41.2 overall rating can set a record for most receptions and yards surrendered to a rookie quarterback on opening weekend. Even Madden wouldn’t start a 41.2 player, yet here we are.

Enough of the glory that is the Houston Texans secondary, Let’s get to the stats, stats, stats!

• Houston Texans won last game 27 to 25 and last game in NRG 30 to 14
• Texans lead all time series 25-13
• Texans have won last 6 meetings
• This is the first game for both Texans head coach David Culley and Jacksonville Jaguar head coach Urban Meyer
• Texans 2020 offense averaged 375.3 yards per game
• Jaguars 2020 offense averaged 326.1 yards per game
• Texans Tyrod Taylor passed 30 times for 16 completions, 208 yards and a 75.4 passer rating last season
• Jaguars Trevor Lawrence is a rookie, debuting in this game
• Texans David Johnson ran 147 times for 691 yards, a 4.7 yard per carry average and 6 touchdowns in 2020
• Jaguars James Robinson ran 240 times for 1070 yards, a 4.5 yard per carry average and 7 touchdowns in 2020
• Texans Brandin Cooks caught 81 passes for 1150 yards, a 14.2 yard per catch average and 6 touchdowns in 2020
• Jaguars DJ Chark caught 53 passes for 706 yards, a 13.3 yard per catch average and 5 touchdowns in 2020
• Texans defense surrendered 416.8 yards per game last year
• Jaguars defense surrendered 417.7 yards per game last year
• Texans had multiple players with 4 sacks in 2020
• Jaguars Dawuane Smoot had 5.5 sacks in 2020
• Texans Christian Kirksey had 2 interceptions last year
• Jaguars Shaquill Griffin had 3 interceptions last year
• Texans quarterback Tyrod Taylor makes Texans debut. Has 9,770 pass yards & 70 TDs (54 pass, 16 rush) in career. Has 3 TDs (2 pass, 1 rush) vs. 0 INTs for 120.2 rating in 2 career games vs. Jaguars

• Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (rookie) makes NFL debut. Selected 1st overall in 2021 NFL Draft & is expected to be 1st Jaguar rookie QB to start Week 1 in franchise history. Can become 5th rookie QB selected 1st overall to win 1st career start in common-draft era
• Texans running back David Johnson led team with 691 rush yards & 6 rush TDs in 2020. Rushed for 96 yards in last home meeting. Aims for his 3rd in row vs. division with 120+ scrimmage yards
• Texans running back Phillip Lindsay makes Texans debut. Totaled 3,015 scrimmage yards & 18 TDs (17 rush, 1 rec.) in 3 seasons with Denver Broncos
• Texans running back Mark Ingram makes Texans debut. Leads active RBs in scrimmage yards (9,219), rush yards (7,324) & rush TDs (62). Has 75+ scrimmage yards & TD in 2 of his past 3 vs. AFC South
• Texans running back Rex Burkhead makes Texans debut. Had 450+ scrimmage yards each of past 2 seasons
• Jaguars running back James Robinson ranked 2nd among rookies with 1,414 scrimmage yards in 2020, most by undrafted rookie in common- draft era. Became 4th undrafted rookie with 1,000+ rushing yards (1,070) in common-draft era. Had 10 TDs (7 rush, 3 rec.) last season, joining Phillip Lindsay& Dominic Rhodes as undrafted rookies with 10+ TDs in common-draft era. Totaled 169 scrimmage yards (84.5 per game) in 2 games vs. Houston last season
• Jaguars running back Carlos Hyde makes Jacksonville debut
• Texans wide receiver Brandin Cooks led team in catches (81) & rec. yards (1,150) in 2020. Has 1,100+ rec. yards in 5 of past 6 seasons. Has 367 rec. yards (122.3 per game) & 3 rec. TDs in 3 career games vs. Jax. Aims for 4th in row vs. Jaguars with TD catch
• Texans wide receiver Chris Conley makes Texans debut. Had 87 catches for 1,246 yards & 7 TDs in past 2 seasons with Jaguars

• Jaguars wide receiver DJ Chark led team with 706 rec. yards in 2020, his second- consecutive season with 700+ rec. yards. Had 7 catches for season-high 146 yards & TD in last meeting
• Jaguars wide receiver Laviska Shenault led team with 58 catches last season, second-most ever by Jacksonville rookie. Had 7 catches for 79 yards in last road meeting.
• Jaguars wide receiver Marvin Jones makes Jaguars debut. Had career-high 76 catches for 978 yards last season with Det. Is 1 of 2 WRs (Davante Adams) with 9+ rec. TDs in 3 of past 4 seasons
• Texans linebacker Zach Cunningham led NFL with career-high 163 tackles in 2020, second-most ever by Houston player in single season, 3 shy of Jamie Sharper’s 166 tackles in 2003. Since 2018, ranks 5th in NFL with 405 tackles. Aims for his 3rd in row vs. Jaguars with 10+ tackles & sack
• Texans linebacker Whitney Mercilus has 3 sacks & 2 FFs in his past 3 vs. Jaguars
• Jaguars linebacker Myles Jack set career highs in tackles (118) & TFL (6) last season. Had TFL, FF & PD in last meeting. Has PD in 3 of his past 4 vs. division
• Texans Cornerback Terrance Mitchell set career highs in tackles (65) & FFs (3) last season with Cleveland Browns
• Jaguars cornerback Shaquill Griffin makes Jaguars debut. Set career highs in INTs (3) last season with Seattle Seahawks. Had 2 PD in only career game vs. Houston (10/29/17 with Seahawks)