JACKSONVILLE – This was an all-day, difficult, physical grind.

Then came beauty and grit.

Brian Thomas Jr.'s long catch-and-run reception on a pretty pass from Trevor Lawrence set up the game-winning score – and the Jaguars' defense fittingly and grittily made the key late stop in a 17-10 early-season AFC South victory over the Houston Texans in front of 58,161 at EverBank Stadium Sunday afternoon.

"We knew this was going to be a 'take-it' game," Jaguars defensive end Josh Hines-Allen said. "We battled our butts off today. We knew we were going to have to take it."

Sunday's victory was the first for the Jaguars over the Texans in Jacksonville since 2017. The Texans swept the Jaguars in 2024.

"It means a lot," Lawrence said. "I don't think it's a secret that we don't like each other. It was a fun game for us to find a way to do it. It felt good."

Head Coach Liam Coen called the victory that came on a day of adversity and big moments "huge."

"Very proud of this group," Coen said. "They played their tails off. They should take so much confidence from this, especially defensively."

Running back Travis Etienne Jr.'s 10-yard run gave the Jaguars the lead with 1:48 remaining, a play that came one play after Lawrence found Thomas over the middle on a crossing route for a 46-yard gain.

"We're doing it for each other," Lawrence said. "You can see that happening and I think as a team we feel that. Being able to win games that aren't pretty, that's something that to be a really good team you have to do – and we did that today.

"To be able to win games when you don't play your best is important, so that was a big step for us."

Safety Antonio Johnson intercepted Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud at the Jaguars 4 with :20 remaining to end the ensuing series and the game.

"There's no flinch out of that group," Coen said of the defense.

Hines-Allen hit Stroud as he threw.

"I saw an opportunity and we ended the game the right way," Hines-Allen said.

The Jaguars' defense allowed 271 total yards and 13 first downs, registering two sacks and forcing three turnovers – with all takeaways in the fourth quarter and all inside the Jaguars' 20-yard line.

"The defense kept us in it," Coen said. "They played their tails off."

Coen added that the victory was about "finishing the game the right way."

"It was not pretty, and it was not for us offensively," Coen said, "but we should take a ton of confidence from this. We have to play better, but I'm really proud of this group and the way they competed and finished this game."

The Jaguars moved to 2-1, unbeaten in two home games, and remain one game behind the AFC South-leading Indianapolis Colts (3-0). The Texans, the two-time defending AFC South champions, are now 0-3.

Stroud's 50-yard pass to wide receiver Nico Collins tied the game early in the fourth quarter and came one play after Texans cornerback Jalen Pitre intercepted Lawrence, who threw into coverage to wide receiver Parker Washington on third-and-10 from the Jaguars 33.

The Texans had a chance to take their first lead on their ensuing possession, but Jaguars cornerback Tyson Campbell stripped the ball from Collins and linebacker Devin Lloyd recovered to give the Jaguars possession at their 17 with 3:47 remaining.

The Jaguars drove 83 yards on seven plays for Etienne's touchdown on the ensuing seirs.

Rookie running back Bhayshul Tuten scored a first-half touchdown, and kicker Cam Little added a third-quarter field goal for the Jaguars.

The Jaguars sacked Stroud twice, and intercepted him twice – with cornerback Jourdan Lewis' interception ending a Texans fourth-quarter drive at the Jaguars 20 with Jacksonville leading 10-3.

That marked the Jaguars' first interception off Stroud in five meetings. The Jaguars have 9 takeaways for the season after registering 9 last season, including 8 by the defense.

Lawrence completed 20 of 40 passes for 222 yards and no touchdowns with one interception, with tight end Brenton Strange catching 6 passes for 61 yards.

Stroud completed 25 of 38 passes for 204 yards and one touchdown with 2 interceptions, with Collins catching 8 passes for 104 yards and a touchdown.

Jaguars defensive end Travon Walker registered a sack in the first quarter, with Hines-Allen and defensive tackle Arik Armstead splitting a sack in the third quarter.

Sunday's victory also came a week after the Jaguars lost a late lead in a 31-27 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals.

"That was a tough win," said Hines-Allen, who now has 53.5 career sacks – 1.5 behind former Jaguars defensive end Tony Brackens' franchise record 55. "It's so hard to win in the National Football League. The mentality coming into this week was, 'We have to take it.' Last week we let it slip away and we didn't take it. Here was another opportunity for us to go get it.

"We're building something very special here. We have to keep capitalizing off that."

2025 Week 3, Step by Step:

• Tuten's 1-yard run capped a nine-play, 58-yard drive and gave the Jaguars a 7-0 lead with 2:09 remaining in the first quarter – a drive that began when Texans kicker Ka'imi Fairbairn missed a 52-yard field goal; Lawrence's 16-yard pass to Strange gave the Jaguars first-and-10 at the Texans 42.
• Fairbairn's 27-yard field goal capped a 13-play, 71-yard drive and cut the Jaguars' lead to 7-3 with 6:57 remaining in the first half; the Texans converted a third-and-14 with an 18-yard pass from Stroud to Collins, with Jaguars safety Eric Murray's unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on the play giving Houston first-and-10 at the Jaguars 34.
• Little's 39-yard field goal pushed the Jaguars' lead to 10-3 with 6:23 remaining in the third quarter, ending a 13-play, 59-yard drive on the opening series of the second half.
• Stroud's 50-yard touchdown pass to Collins tied the game 10-10 with 9:17 remaining.

Notable: Jaguars guard Ezra Cleveland started after being listed as questionable on Friday's final injury of the week, with veteran cornerback Montaric Brown active and playing for the first time this season after missing the first two weeks of the season with an ankle injury. The Jaguars' six inactive players Sunday: Rookie guard Wyatt Milum (knee), running back Cody Schrader, defensive tackle Khalen Saunders, rookie defensive end Danny Striggow, rookie defensive end B.J. Green II and safety Kahlef Hailassie.

Injury report: Jaguars wide receiver Dyami Brown sustained a shoulder injury in the second quarter and did not return.