JACKSONVILLE – The victory mattered a lot.

So did the opponent and how the Jaguars won, which is why their 17-10 victory over the Houston Texans at EverBank Stadium Sunday afternoon was so significant.

The Jaguars won a close game against a team used to beating the Jaguars in close games. They won a physical game against a team used to beating the Jaguars in physical games. They made plays late against a team used to making plays late against the Jaguars.

This was also an AFC South victory – all of which means that while this was not a pretty victory, it was a damned important one and a damned encouraging one, too.

There likely will be criticism because the offense struggled and because of mistakes. Critics be damned, at least for a night, because the NFL is about winning – and the Jaguars on Sunday won a game a weaker team would have lost.

The Jaguars are 2-1. They're a tough, resilient team starting to believe in itself.

That mattered Sunday more than all else.

Let's get to it …

Frank from St. Augustine, FL

Johnny. How come the equipment team only allows the receivers to use sweat-soaked gloves? I may suggest bringing dry gloves for future warm climate games.

Drops undoubtedly were an issue Sunday for the Jaguars. They have been an issue throughout the first three games this season, most notably for wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr., but they were a particular issue Sunday for Thomas and others. I can't pretend to know why. But it must stop, or at least improve. The Jaguars overcame the drops Sunday. It will be hard to overcome them moving forward if they continue at this frequency.

Kenneth from Jacksonville

One fer BTJ, I guess.

There's no need to guess here. Thomas struggled for a second consecutive week with drops. What he also did was make the key play of the game –a 46-yard catch-and-run on a pass from quarterback Trevor Lawrence. Hat tip to both for a big play at a key time. All players struggle at times. Good ones make plays when it matters.

Bill from Jax

What is the opposite of a moral victory?

I couldn't think of a clever answer, something I suspect surprises precisely no one. I do know the Jaguars won Sunday and complaints about that are sort of silly.

Derek from Brookings, SD

I don't know about everyone else, but I'm glad Josh Hines-Allen is on our team!

Defensive end Josh Hines-Allen had three pressures Sunday and a pass defensed that led to safetyAntonio Johnson's game-clinching interception at the Jaguars 4 with :20 remaining. But forget statistics. Hines-Allen was dominant Sunday. He as much as anyone was why the Jaguars won.

Travis from Grand Forks, ND

Not a question but a comment to remind all the doomsayers out there that the Jaguars would have certainly lost this game last year. Looks like are boys are growing up.

The Jaguars couldn't win enough close games last season. They found a way to win one against the two-time defending AFC South champions Sunday, and they did so with a clutch drive late in the game. Sunday was far more a good day than a bad one for the Jaguars.

James from Titusville, NJ

Angry Jaguars fans are going to complain about the bad. They can have Tuesday. Today, I'm thrilled by the defensive performance and the potential for the offense once the drops get fixed. Winning ugly is winning and winning is good. A division win is great. No question, go Jags!

The Jaguars won a game on Sunday with clutch plays late and with the offense coming up with a big drive when it mattered after struggling all game. You can build off the sort of resilience this team showed Sunday.

Big Jags Fan from Jacksonville

Two things won the game … Jags defense and the Prowler uniforms!

One fer the defense and one fer the Prowlers, I suppose.

Al from Savannah, GA

The announcers said it as eloquently as I have been able to come up with words in this game. "This is just bad football."

I don't typically listen to announcers during Jaguars games. I know the Jaguars are 2-1 with an AFC South victory and they're one game out of first place in the division.

Biff from Jax

I'm gonna need a bye week after that.

NFL competitiveness is not for the faint of heart.

Greg from Boise, ID

Need nine yards throw four. C'mon...

This was the much-ballyhooed, sometimes-off-kilter, rarely-entertaining First Email of the Game. Greg apparently was unhappy that Lawrence threw six yards to wide receiver Parker Washington on third-and-9 from the Jaguars 4 on their first drive. Yes, the pass was "short of the sticks." And that would be bad in a lot of situations. Backed up against your own goal line early? Getting some yards and punting isn'talways a bad thing there. C'mon.

Bryan from Lutz

You take them however you can get them in the NFL.

Damn right.