Key events
TOUCHDOWN! Texans 7-7 Jaguars 6:47, 2nd quarter
The QB gets it out in the flat to Bhayshul Tuten who goes to work. The shifty running back gets an awesome block from Jakobi Meyers then has free space to run into up the right sideline. A defender rushes in for a tackle but he stops, steps inside and walks in to level the scores. Justice?
Texans 7-0 Jaguars 7:51, 2nd quarter
Another 3rd down for the Jags with four to get. The blitz comes but Lawrence sees Washington streaking down the left sideline. He drops it perfectly over the chasing defender into Washington’s hands for a 27-yard gain. Easy. 30 yards to go to level it up.
Texans 7-0 Jaguars 10:13, 2nd quarter
Lawrence continues to struggle as he misses an open receiver on 1st down from the Jaguars 20-yard line. Fortunately for him he has the escapologist in chief at receiver in Parker Washington. He catches it short in the slot and gets to work making multiple defenders miss as he dances out to the left for a 19-yard gain.
Updated at 10.27 EDT
Texans 7-0 Jaguars 11:13, 2nd quarter
Marvin Harrison is on the field for his Texans debut. Marks gets the tote on 3rd down but is short. Weird call almost daring the Jags to prove they have the muscle up front. Guess what? They do. Houston punt. Very strange playcalling, complete let off for the Lawrence interception.
SharePICK! Texans 7-0 Jaguars 13:24, 2nd quarter
Rodriguez breaks out the spin move as he seeks the game-levelling touchdown but he can only get a fresh set of downs.
On 1st and Goal Lawrence drops back but overcooks the throw to Jakobi Meyers. Tuten then strolls in for the score but the yellow flags are flying. Holding against the offense, tough call not sure the tight end Strange was holding just delivered a great block. On the repeat of 2nd down Lawrence feels the pressure and scrambles expertly back to the original line of scrimmage.
Five yards to go on 3rd down. Pass. IS PICKED. Lawrence picks out Houston’s Calen Bullock or rather Bullock reads the pass like a book and has the easiest interception. Takes the knee. Texans ball.
Jacksonville will feel very hard done by considering they had a touchdown chalked off for a phantom holding call.
Texans 7-0 Jaguars 0:00, 1st quarter
Rodriguez bites off another six yards leaving the Jags with 18 to go for the touchdown. Bhayshul Tuten then gets the change of pace run and moves the chains. Parker Washington has his first catch and may have had a score had he not slipped out on to the sideline at the end of the first quarter.
Texans 7-0 Jaguars 1:48, 1st quarter
Houston’s pass rush of Will Anderson and Danielle Hunter almost get to Lawrence and he has to throw it away. Then Rodriguez rumbles for eight yards to Houston’s 30-yard line. A fifth 3rd down on the way. Rodriguez makes it and then some.
Texans 7-0 Jaguars 3:44, 1st quarter
With the pass struggling the Jags roll out big back Chris Rodriguez as they bid to level the scores. He rumbles for 14 yards then gets stuffed. The secondary knocks down another pass but Lawrence gets his first win on 3rd down with a 10 yard strike to Brenton Strange.
ShareTOUCHDOWN! Texans 7-0 Jaguars 5:13, 1st quarter
Jacksonville’s running defense might be good but the pass seems to be being overlooked as two defenders cover Dalton Schultz but leave Foster Moreau stood alone in the end zone. Stroud loops an easy ball to the big tight end. Touchdown.
Updated at 10.00 EDT
Texans 0-0 Jaguars 5:59, 1st quarter
Houston have to keep Jacksonville honest and run it with Marks who grabs six yards. Next the blitz comes at light speed but CJ Stroud is up to the challenge and rips a fast ball to Xavier Hutchinson. Five yards and a fresh set of downs. That looked rehearsed.
His fast ball looked good. How about the deep ball? Well on the next play Stroud lets fly with a 42-yarder right into Nico Collins’ lap.
1st & Goal just like that.
Texans 0-0 Jaguars 8:14, 1st quarter
Only two drives but Jacksonville are struggling to throw the ball in the face of Houston’s fierce pass rush and coverage. Parker Washington has been targeted three times and has zero catches.
Texans 0-0 Jaguars 8:14, 1st quarter
Houston really squeezing early doors as they make Jacksonville throw on 3rd down now with four to get. The blitz comes and Lawrence can’t find his receiver. But the Jags are gambling. Lawrence tries to find Parker Washington but almost throws an interception. Awesome defense. Turnover on downs.
Texans 0-0 Jaguars 9:20, 1st quarter
And it is a non-contact injury for official Larry Smith who slipped when walking toward thee sideline. Poor bloke has had to be carted off the field into the locker room.
Meanwhile the Texans force another 3rd down with the Jags needing two yards. Bhayshul Tuten barges over to move the chains. Jags over midfield.
Texans 0-0 Jaguars 10:37, 1st quarter
Well this embarrassing. Injury timeout now … for … an official after Trevor Lawrence grabbed four yards on a scramble. The ref is down clutching his knee. Back to the adverts.
Speaking to how good they are against the run, the Jaguars have gone 22 games without allowing a rusher to go for more than 75 yards. Good luck, Woody.
Texans 0-0 Jaguars 11:08, 1st quarter
A historically good defense against the run meets Houston’s backup running back Woody Marks. On Marks’ first try he gets a couple of yards. Not bad all things considered. A couple of failed passes lead to a Texans punt. Jags take over at their 45-yard line. Good position for some points.
Texans 0-0 Jaguars 12:47, 1st quarter
That pass is where the good times begin and end as a stuffed run, a dropped catch and poor attempt at a screen pass mean the Jags punt. Houston take over at their six-yard line.
Here we go. Houston boot it away and Trevor Lawrence jogs out to lead Jacksonville’s opening drive in the teal and black. He drops back then slings a beautiful strike to the open tight end Brenton Strange for 24 yards. The Jaguars are over midfield just like that. Excellent start.
Anthems time … here is John Oliver with an all-timer alternative American national anthem. Ohhhh say can’t you seeeeee
Updated at 09.30 EDT
Five minutes to go until kick-off … the Jaguars are rumbling on to the hallowed Wembley turf. Lawrence is getting a lot of hype (from me) but their defense has been quietly very good too. Especially in stopping the run. No running back has gained more than 40 yards against the Jaguars this season.
So as Brighton (3-0 up after 10 minutes against Palace) are going to win the Premier League this season, who are your unlikely candidates to win the Super Bowl?
Why not the Jacksonville Jaguars. Quarterback Trevor Lawrence is the key to potentially challenging for real this season. He appears to be making the leap finally from good to great. After five games, Lawrence is fourth in rating (106.3), eighth in completion percentage (67.1) and fifth in yards per attempt (8.2), along with 1,174 yards (14th) and 10 TDs (tied fifth). Not the most amazing stats but he is certainly passing the eye test. Just watch his TD to Parker Washington in London last week.
UnbelievableShare
Updated at 09.20 EDT
Was anyone at the Jaguars game last Sunday? Surely it must have been the best NFL game London has hosted. The lead swung this way and that wildly at the end to the point where the Eagles must have thought they had won it with eight seconds left on the clock and a 17-16 lead. An unbelievable, seven-second kick return later and Cam Little smashed through the game-winning field goal from 57 yards. Just incredible.
Then later on at midday CST/1pm EST/6pm GMT there is a seven-game slate to get stuck into with some real prove-it potential across the board with regard to playoff ambitions. A very tough set of matches to predict outcomes from …
(3-2) Chicago Bears v Atlanta Falcons (2-3)
(4-1) Baltimore Ravens v Cleveland Browns (3-2)
(0-5) Tennessee Titans v Indianapolis Colts (2-3)
(2-3) New York Jets v New England Patriots (3-2)
(1-4) New Orleans Saints v New York Giants (3-1-1)
(2-2) Carolina Panthers v Philadelphia Eagles (2-3)
(3-2) Pittsburgh Steelers v Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-4)
The early injury news is Caleb Williams is set to return at quarterback for the Chicago Bears. Philadelphia’s QB Jalen Hurts has been put on injured reserve for the Eagles due to a blood clot while another star coming back today is wide receiver AJ Brown for the New England Patriots.
SharePreamble
Hello football fans! Week six of the NFL is here and we are coming straight outta Wembley as the Jacksonville Jaguars host the Houston Texans in an AFC South divisional battle beginning at 8.30am CST/9.30am EST/2.30pm GMT.
The Jaguars put on quite the show last week in Tottenham as they beat the Eagles with a last-second field goal as they moved to a 4-1 record. A fine start to the season that will have Trevor Lawrence and company feeling good about handling the 1-4 Texans.
The form book certainly would have you believe Houston will struggle and so does the injury list with running back David Montgomery (groin) and safety Jalen Pitre (shoulder) ruled out. There is hope though as the Texans boast four wins from their past five meetings with the Jags.
Houston’s quarterback CJ Stroud also has a new weapon to unleash with wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr making his Texans debut today. An offense that has struggled thus far may get the spark it needs at exactly the right time as a defeat would not boot Houston out of playoff contention completely but barring a miracle they would surely miss out this year.
Updated at 09.01 EDT