LONDON, United Kingdom – This was tough, and frustrating. To say the least.

It was also a missed opportunity, with the Jaguars losing an early-season AFC South game to the Houston Texans, 34-31, at Wembley Stadium Sunday – a game in which they rallied from a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit before losing on a 48-yard field goal on the game's final play.

A Jaguars defense that entered Sunday second in the NFL in points allowed struggled throughout. Penalties remained an issue. Dropped passes hurt, too.

Mostly, the Jaguars just couldn't make a big stop late when it was needed.

The Jaguars are 4-2 with a two-game lead in the AFC South entering a Week 7 bye. That's good. They could have been 5-1 with a four-game lead on a very good and resilient Texans team – and a three-game lead overall. That would have been better.

Let's get to it …

Bobby from Summerville, SC

KOAF, seriously, that officiating crew needs to be investigated. They were pro-Texans all game long. Clear-and-obvious offensive pass interference on them not called. Then, on the Texans' last drive of the game, a clear-and-obvious offensive holding not called.

Penalties – weird, questionable, ill-timed and otherwise – were an issue for the Jaguars Sunday. Penalties – weird, questionable, ill-timed and otherwise – have been an issue for the Jaguars the last three weeks. This has been an issue essentially everywhere around the NFL this season. Penalties mattered for the Jaguars Sunday and multiple calls were – well … weird, questionable, ill-timed and otherwise. I'm not avoiding the issue. Penalties really hurt the Jaguars Sunday. And several seemed really questionable. I'm just not sure what more there is to say and whatever is said here won't give Jaguars observers – or the Jaguars – much satisfaction.

Bobby from Summerville, SC

We have to play our opponent plus the officials. Touchdown called back on a nonexistent holding penalty? Give me a break please.

You're referencing a holding penalty on tight end Brenton Strange that nullified a 3-yard touchdown run in the second quarter by Jaguars running back Bhayshul Tuten, a particularly tough moment for the Jaguars because cornerback Kamari Lassiter intercepted Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence in the end zone two plays later. My first impression was the referee sort of had to call it. I watched it again and it was difficult to see what the officials saw. Really difficult. Really, really difficult.

Steven from Orlando, FL

Can the Jaguars file a protest with the league like teams in the MLB?

Teams can submit questioned plays to the league. They can protest. They can complain. It's not a terribly satisfying process.

Big Jags Fan from Jacksonville

A disappointing loss, but no need to panic. With the Colts losing to the Titans, a two-game lead in the division after six games is a good start to the season. Go Jags!

Indeed.

Nick from Virginia Beach, VA

Why would you not go get the first down on the fourth down? Your defense has shown it cannot stop them?

I received many emails along these same lines, wondering why Jaguars Head Coach Liam Coen opted to have kicker Cam Little kick a – successful – 60-yard field goal that tied the game 31-31 with 1:55 remaining. I expect I would have received pretty much the same number of emails – maybe even from the same email addresses – had he opted to go for the first down in that fourth-and-four situation and failed. I get why fans felt the defense wouldn't stop the Texans there, but the Jaguars had stopped the Texans on two of the previous three drives. It seemed from this view like a 50-50 call, without a great option.

Paul from St. Augustine, FL

It's unreal that Tuten has three touchdowns this season that have been overturned by penalty. Particularly when no flags should have been thrown on two of them.

Fair.

Jim from Jagsonville

Come on, BTJ! When are we gonna end the experiment and start targeting people that can catch the ball?! Put wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter out there at least. Let's Go Jaguars!

This was the much-ballyhooed, oft-anticipated, sometimes-mean First Email of the Game, and it came in a flurry of like-themed emails. Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. dropped a catchable pass on the game's first series. He later couldn't catch what appeared a catchable pass late in the first half that would have moved the Jaguars into field-goal range for the half's final play. He didn't play in the second half. Stay tuned.

Tom from The Mean Streets of Nocatee

Bayshul Tuten must be leading the league and touchdowns called back by phantom penalties.

He has had three touchdowns called back by penalties this season. He's "up there."

Mike from Jax, FL

Another game with disappointing pass rush from both defensive ends. At what point do we need to acknowledge that this is an issue?

We'll address this in this O-Zone Late Night, then I expect we'll keep addressing it in the coming weeks. The Jaguars' pass rush for the most part this season hasn't been great, particularly in big moments late. But withing the context of Sunday's game, remember: While the Jaguars had no sacks Sunday, the Texans also had no sacks. Coen said afterward the Wembley Stadium turf was an issue, saying, "The surface … obviously, I didn't feel like we were under a ton of duress, either. I think that venue benefits the offense in a lot of ways in terms of the pass rush. If we weren't feeling them, they probably didn't feel us." That's a significant quote for Sunday's discussion.

Neil from Cheltenham, UK

Hi, O. Less penalties. Again, no pass rush. Frustrating.

Indeed.