WITH THE WIN, THE JAGUARS...
- Won back-to-back road games for the first time since 2008 (Sept. 21 at Indianapolis, Oct. 12 at Denver).
- Improved to 2-1 in the AFC South.
- Improved to 10-13 all-time against Houston.
- Won for the first time at Houston since 2009.
Defense holds Texans offense down
Houston entered the game with the eighth-ranked offense in the NFL, averaging 378 yards per game, but were held to only 218 total yards by the Jaguars. The 218 yards were the fewest by a Jaguars opponent since Nov. 27, 2011 (Houston, 215).
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The Jaguars limited the Texans to only 60 total yards in the first half on 26 plays including four net passing yards. The Jaguars forced punts on the Texans first five possessions and seven times overall. The Jaguars didn't allow a first down on six of 11 drives.
Jaguars hold Texans to two field goals
The Jaguars held the Texans without a touchdown, marking the first time since Dec. 13, 2011 at Indianapolis an opponent has failed to score at least one touchdown. The six points were the fewest by a Jaguars opponent since the Colts game (3) in 2011.
Hot start
The Jaguars moved the ball 75 yards in 10 plays and took an early 7-0 lead with a Maurice Jones-Drew one-yard touchdown run. The Jaguars have scored a touchdown on their opening drive in three straight games for the first time since 1998 (9/27/98 – 10/18/98). The Jaguars have scored first in six of 11 games in 2013.
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Controlling the clock
The Jaguars controlled the ball for a season-high 33:41 and possessed the ball for at least seven minutes in each quarter. Of the 10 offensive possessions, not including end of first half and end of game, the Jaguars had only two three-and-outs and put together seven drives of six plays or more.
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Runnin' the rock
The Jaguars eclipsed 100 rushing yards for the first time this season, rushing for 118 yards on 28 carries against the Texans. Maurice Jones-Drew led the way with 84 yards while Jordan Todman had a career-high 11 carries for 31 yards.
Ryan Davis seals the deal
Playing in only his third career game, first-year defensive end Ryan Davis sealed the Jaguars victory with an interception of Case Keenum with 45 seconds remaining in the game. Davis was moved from the practice squad to the 53-man roster on Nov. 15,
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Jones-Drew adds to TD total
Running back Maurice Jones-Drew scored his 81st career touchdown (68 rushing, 11 receiving, 2 returns) on a one-yard run in the first quarter. Jones-Drew has a rushing touchdown in three consecutive games. His 68 career rushing scores rank tied for the 30th-most in NFL history (Thomas Jones, Eddie George).
Jones-Drew has 11 touchdowns against Houston in 12 career games including six in five career games at Reliant Stadium. The 11 touchdowns against the Texans are the most for Jones-Drew against any team.
Season-high 144 yards from scrimmage for Jones-Drew
Maurice Jones-Drew registered a season-high 144 yards from scrimmage, finishing with 84 yards on 14 carries and 60 yards on six catches. His rushing yards and receiving yards were both season-high's. He has at least four receptions in four straight games including two games with six catches.
Jones-Drew recorded the longest run of the season for the Jaguars, breaking free for a 44-yard run in the second quarter. His previous long through the first 10 games was 30 yards. He has a team-high 539 rushing yards through 11 games, his seventh time in eight seasons with at least 500 rushing yards.
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Henne directs offense, completes season-best 71.8 percent of passes
Quarterback Chad Henne was an efficient 23 of 32 passing for 239 yards, finishing with a season-best 93.1 passer rating. Henne, who had a season-high 71.8 completion percentage, has completed at least 60 percent of his passes in six straight games and in seven of eight starts this season.
Henne had five completions of 15-plus yards including a 51-yard completion to Ace Sanders in the first quarter. It marked Henne's third pass of 50-plus yards in 2013 including one in back-to-back games.
Henne improved to 16-29 as a starter and 4-11 with the Jaguars. He has recorded a 90-plus rating in 10 games as a starter.
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Tackles, tackles and more tackles
Linebacker Paul Posluszny returned to action after missing last week's game against Arizona with a concussion and paced the Jaguars with a game-high 14 tackles. He added two tackles for loss, one quarterback hit and one pass defensed. He leads the club with 102 tackles through 11 games, his sixth consecutive season with 100 or more stops.
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Hayes records first sack of the season
Linebacker Geno Hayes recorded his first sack of the season and eighth of his career in the second quarter, taking down Case Keenum for a nine-yard loss. It marked Hayes' first sack since Dec. 26, 2010 as a member of the Tamp Bay Buccaneers. He finished with nine tackles (six solo) along with one tackle for loss and one quarterback hit.
Back-to-back games with a sack for Branch
Second-year defensive end Andre Branch sacked Case Keenum for a 19-yard loss to end the Texans' opening drive. Branch, who has four career sacks, has a sack in back-to-back games.
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Shorts sets career-high for receptions
Third-year wide receiver Cecil Shorts III equaled his career-high with a team-high eight catches for 71 yards. Shorts surpassed his previous career high for receptions in a season with 58 through 11 games.
The 700-club
Cecil Shorts has 700 receiving yards in 2013 and became the first Jaguar since Jimmy Smith (2004-05) to have at least 700 receiving yards in back-to-back seasons. He posted a career-high 979 yards in 2012. He joined Smith and Keenan McCardell as the only players in team history with 700-plus receiving yards in consecutive seasons.
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Ace gets involved in passing game
Rookie wide receiver Ace Sanders connected with Chad Henne for a 51-yard reception in the first quarter, the longest reception of Sanders' career. He finished with four catches for 61 yards, the second-most yards of his career.
Scobee connects from 53 yards, 22nd career field goal of 50 or more yards
Josh Scobee finished two of three on field goals with a 30-yard field goal in the second quarter and he connected on a 53-yarder in the fourth quarter. He had a 49-yard field goal blocked in the third quarter.
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Scobee, who has two 50-plus yard field goals through 11 games, improved to 22 of 34 (64.7 pct.) on field goals of 50 or more yards. He is 14 of 16 overall in 2013 and leads the team with 54 points.
Tidbits
- Houston's J.J. Watt blocked a Josh Scobee field goal in the third quarter, the first blocked field goal by a Jaguars opponent since Jacob Ford of Tennessee on Dec. 5, 2010.
- Rookie Denard Robinson had his first career passing attempt, an incompletion to Cecil Shorts in the fourth quarter.
- Rookie Johnathan Cyprien and defensive tackle Sen'Derrick Marks tied for the team-lead with two passes defensed.
- The Jaguars had a season-high seven special teams tackles including two by tight end Danny Noble.
- First-year wide receiver Kerry Taylor made his first career start.
- Center Brad Meester started his 205th career game including his 85th consecutive game which is the second-longest streak in team history.
- Linebacker Russell Allen played in his 75th consecutive game, tied with Rob Meier for the ninth-longest streak in team history.
- Tight end Clay Harbor played in his 50th career game.
