JACKSONVILLE – Each week during the 2025 season, Jaguars "experts" – Frank Frangie, Jeff Lageman, Brent Martineau, John Oehser, Brian Sexton, J.P. Shadrick and Kainani Stevens – will analyze the following day's Jaguars matchup.

Up this week:

The Houston Texans at EverBank Stadium.

Frank Frangie, Radio Voice of the Jaguars

• The Jaguars will win if: They continue to run the ball and control the line of scrimmage as they have done the first two games. The Texans are good defensively, but not as physical as Jacksonville. The Jags need to run it, throw when they want to, stay ahead of the sticks. And harass Stroud, who seemed a bit rattled Monday against the Bucs.
• The Texans will win if: They stuff the run, which has been hard against Jacksonville this season. They need to do that, and turn Hunter and Anderson loose. Those two ends are very good. And they have to protect Stroud. He was forced to scramble way too much the first two weeks.
• As Frangie sees it: This is a grudge match after Trevor Lawrence got knocked out of last year's game. And it is a chance to set the tone in the division. This is an improved Jags team – a physical one, a hungry one. And a more complete team than Houston. If the Jags take care of the ball, they will win.

Jeff Lageman, Jaguars analyst and former Jaguars defensive end

• The Jaguars will win if: They can keep a Texans offense from finding its footing. Houston's offense has been struggling and rank at or near the bottom in nearly every major offensive category. If the Jaguars can continue to take the ball away and keep the Texans off balance, then a "W" can be found.
• The Texans will win if: Danielle Hunter and Will Anderson Jr. wreak havoc on the Jaguars offense. The two players for Houston are one of the best "edge" tandems in the league and can make it difficult for any quarterback to find success.
• As Lageman sees it: The Jaguars have established a physical brand of football in the first two games that was not happenstance but intentional. That physical style on offense with running backs Travis Etienne Jr. and Bhayshul Tuten will neutralize the edge prowess of the Texans, giving Lawrence the balance he wants. The Texans have been shuffling their lineup in the first two games on offense and it shows in their production. The Jaguars will snap the Texans string of victories in Duval.

Brent Martineau, Action Sports Jax Sports Director

• The Jaguars will win if: They run for more than 125 yards, and register a combination of four sacks and turnovers. The run game has been hot and Houston gave up a bunch Monday night, so the Jaguars need to continue to impact the game in that area. The Jaguars lead the league with six turnovers forced, and the combination of turnovers and sacks will illustrate the defense is creating mistakes by the Texans' offense.
• The Texans will win if: they can stymie Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence, wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. and wide receiver Travis Hunter connections. The Jaguars' offense has looked good overall, but can they continue to get away with two of their top playmakers being quiet? I don't think so. If the Texans hold those two in check, that should create a path to victory.
• As Martineau sees it: I've labeled this the biggest game of the season since the schedule came out in May. It's even bigger now with the Texans starting 0-2 and the Thomas story developing. I think you can throw in the Azeez Al-Shaair hit on Lawrence last season as a storyline that makes this game feel big, too. The Jaguars need to win these kinds of games to have a chance at the playoffs later in the season. They have to beat Houston at home and just haven't been able to do it for much of the last decade. This is a culture game for Coen, and I think he dresses it up like that and the Jaguars respond with a 24-16 win.

John Oehser, jaguars.com senior writer

• The Jaguars will win if: The play to their identity, make key plays late and catch consistently. The Jaguars believe they're a strong running team, a physical team and big-play team. They have been those things in the first two games, but lost in Cincinnati because they failed to close. If they can run on the Texans and force turnovers, they will win.
• The Texans will win if: They out-physical and out-tough the Jaguars – and if their offense finds the consistency it has lacked in the first two weeks. The Texans are a very consistent, very tough defensive team. If their line blocks well and Stroud has time to pass downfield, they can overcome an 0-2 start and contend for the postseason.
• As Oehser sees it: This is a huge game – and could be one of the more emotional games at EverBank Stadium in several seasons. The Texans have won the last two AFC South titles, and believe they can win with toughness and physicality. The Jaguars believe their identity is a tough, physical team. The most physical, tough team will win Sunday. This one will be fun.

Brian Sexton, jaguars.com senior correspondent

• The Jaguars will win if: They play the physical style we've seen the first two weeks. The Jaguars took it to the Carolina Panthers in Week 1 and won going away. They took it to the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 2 and should have won. The Texans think they're the bullies of the AFC South – and as the two-time defending division title winners, they have a point. It's time for the Jaguars to push back and they can win the battle on both sides of the line of scrimmage. Push harder and win.
• The Texans will win if: Quarterback CJ Stroud has time in the pocket and gets comfortable. The Jaguars haven't intercepted Stroud in four games and have lost three of those. Houston's offensive line is in transition and the Texans' offense hasn't found its rhythm in 2025. If the Jaguars can't get after him and make him make mistakes, the Texans' odds of winning their first game of the season improve dramatically.
• As Sexton sees it: This is an important game for the Jaguars and it's only Week 3. If the division is going to be in play this season, the statement must be made Sunday. I like what Head Coach Liam Coen is building. He has the NFL's No. 1 rushing offense, the No. 7 run defense and the Jags lead the NFL in takeaways through two weeks. It's too early to look too deeply into the stats, but it's good that the Jaguars are good at those for a change and I think it's a good indicator of where this is headed. I say the Jags get to 2-1.

J.P. Shadrick, jaguars.com senior reporter

• The Jaguars will win if: They keep running effectively and setting up the passing game in favorable spots. The offensive line has been sound overall, and the Jags' backs have been good on the ground and in the screen and short passing game. The Texans' defense will try to bully the Jags, so the Jags have to hit back with physicality of their own.
• The Texans will win if: They consistently run. If the Jaguars can crank up the pass rush, then it could be a long day for Stroud considering all the issues on the offensive line. If the Texans defense gets a couple takeaways, then they could help their struggling offense.
• As Shadrick sees it: This should be an echo-of-the-whistle game for both sides, meaning there could be some chippiness and edge from both teams. Everyone remembers how Lawrence was knocked out last season by this team, even though it was put in the "rearview" by most everyone in the locker room this week. This is a game that could solidify everything the offseason was about for the new regime and the culture they want to build here. Physicality and dominance in the division all comes to a head this week. Get your popcorn ready. If this is not the "same old Jags," they need to go prove it this Sunday.

Kainani Stevens, Jaguars team reporter

• The Jaguars will win if: They run effectively and force turnovers. The Jaguars have shown dedication to running this season and they've seen great success as well. Conversely, the Texans struggled to stop the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, another run-heavy team. I expect another big day from running back Travis Etienne Jr. and some timely plays from rookie running back Bhayshul Tuten.
• The Texans will win if: They can be more physical and bully their way to a victory. The Texans have set the tone in the AFC South for the last two seasons, but they now must counteract an 0-2 start. Houston would be wise to force the issue with Jaguars wide receivers and make them earn every catch thrown their way.
• As Stevens sees it: The Jaguars are meeting the Texans at the right time. Stroud is seemingly struggling in a new offensive system, while Lawrence is thriving under Head Coach Liam Coen. I think it will be a one-score game, but the Texans will head back to Houston 0-3.