Houston opened the scoring in Sunday's AFC South meeting with Jacksonville at Wembley Stadium, capping their first possession with a touchdown pass from C.J. Stroud to tight end Foster Moreau. The Jaguars, who entered at 4-1, had won their previous game at Tottenham with a last-second field goal, while the Texans arrived at 1-4.
The game kicked off at 2.30pm GMT, with the Guardian providing live coverage.
Why it matters
The result carries weight for both teams' seasons. According to The Guardian, a Houston defeat would not mathematically end its playoff hopes, but the team would in all likelihood miss the postseason without a dramatic turnaround. Jacksonville, meanwhile, is trying to build on a strong start behind quarterback Trevor Lawrence, whose form has drawn praise from the Guardian's live coverage.
The matchup also pits one of the league's best run defenses against a Houston backfield missing its lead option.
Jacksonville's run defense under scrutiny
The Jaguars had gone 22 games without allowing a single rusher to exceed 75 yards, the Guardian reported, and no running back had gained more than 40 yards against them this season. That record was immediately tested by Woody Marks, Houston's backup running back, who took the first carry of the game for a short gain.
Jacksonville's opening drive showed promise before stalling. Lawrence found tight end Brenton Strange for 24 yards to move past midfield, but the possession ended in a punt after a stuffed run, a dropped catch and a failed screen attempt. Houston took over deep in its own territory.
The Texans' first touchdown came through the air rather than on the ground. With two defenders occupied by Dalton Schultz, Moreau was left uncovered in the end zone and Stroud delivered an easy throw for the score, putting Houston ahead 7-0 with 5:13 left in the first quarter.
Stroud's arm and Houston's pass rush
Houston's offense, which had struggled before Sunday, showed early rhythm. Marks picked up six yards on the ground, and Stroud beat a fast blitz with a quick throw to Xavier Hutchinson for a first down. On the next play he connected with Nico Collins on a 42-yard pass.
On the other side of the ball, Jacksonville's passing game found little room. The Guardian reported that Parker Washington had been targeted three times without a catch as Houston's pass rush and coverage squeezed the Jaguars. Lawrence nearly threw an interception on a throw toward Washington, and Jacksonville turned the ball over on downs.
The game was also interrupted by an unusual injury: official Larry Smith went down with a non-contact knee injury while walking toward the sideline and was carted off the field.
Lawrence's season so far
Entering the game, Lawrence ranked fourth in passer rating at 106.3, eighth in completion percentage at 67.1 and fifth in yards per attempt at 8.2, according to figures cited by the Guardian. He had thrown for 1,174 yards, 14th in the league, and 10 touchdowns, tied for fifth.
The Guardian's coverage noted that while those numbers are not the most spectacular, Lawrence has been passing the eye test, including a touchdown throw to Washington in London the previous week.
Jacksonville's Week 5 win over Philadelphia at Tottenham came in dramatic fashion. The Eagles led 17-16 with eight seconds remaining before a seven-second kick return set up Cam Little's 57-yard field goal for the win, which the Guardian described as possibly the best NFL game London has hosted.
Injury and lineup notes
Houston ruled out running back David Montgomery (groin) and safety Jalen Pitre (shoulder) before kickoff. The Texans did have a new target available: wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. made his debut for the team, per the Guardian.
The Guardian also reported that Houston had won four of the previous five meetings between the clubs, despite the form book favoring Jacksonville.
Around the league, the Guardian noted that Caleb Williams was set to return at quarterback for Chicago, that Philadelphia's Jalen Hurts had been placed on injured reserve with a blood clot, and that wide receiver A.J. Brown was returning for New England.
Next up, both teams continue their AFC South schedules, with Houston's offense looking to build on its fast start and Jacksonville seeking to protect its strong opening record.
