LONDON – This was thrilling stuff, with real implications.
But while it was also back-and-forth – and division showdown – stuff, it was ultimately frustrating for the Jaguars as they missed an opportunity against an AFC South rival.
Quarterback Trevor Lawrence threw four touchdowns, and Travis Hunter had a touchdown and an interception, but Houston quarterback C.J. Stroud threw three touchdowns of his own as the Texans pulled out a 34-31 victory at Wembley Stadium on Sunday.
“I’m extremely proud of this team and confident in this group moving forward,” Head Coach Liam Coen said, with Lawrence adding, “It was a tough game today that didn’t go our way.”
“We made a few too many mistakes that cost us in the end,” Lawrence said.
Kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn’s 49-yard field goal as time expired gave the Texans (2-4) a second consecutive victory. The AFC South-leading Jaguars (4-2) had a three-game winning streak snapped.
“I have a lot of confidence in this team,” Coen said. “We didn’t get the result we wanted. We’re not going to change a thing about the process. Do we have to evaluate and clean up areas in which we need to? Absolutely.
“But I have a lot of confidence in this team. I’m extremely proud of this team and the way they kept fighting today and gave ourselves a chance.”
The Jaguars, after entering Sunday as the NFL’s No. 2-ranked scoring defense, allowed 426 total yards with the Texans scoring touchdowns on three of four drives over the second-through-fourth quarters.
“It wasn’t good enough, for sure,” Coen said. “They made too many plays in the pass game and ran it better than anybody has on us so far. We have to evaluate it, get it cleaned up, but it was definitely disappointing.”
Hunter intercepted Stroud in the end zone late in the fourth quarter, one series after his touchdown reception pulled the Jaguars to within a score. Jaguars kicker Cam Little‘s 60-yard field goal with 1:55 remaining tied it 31-31.
“We’ll have some time to reflect and see what we need to get better at,” Lawrence said of this week’s Week 7 bye. “We have a lot of confidence. We know who we are. We don’t need to go soul-searching or anything like that. It’s just how can we continue to do little things better and better that cost you these kinds of games.”
Lawrence said Hunter “did some great things.”
“He just made some unreal plays,” Lawrence said. “He’s special with the ball in his hands.”
Jaguars rookie tight end Nate Boerkircher‘s first career touchdown cut the lead to a field goal, 24-21, but running back Jawhar Jordan’s knifing run through the defense pushed the lead to 31-21 entering the fourth quarter. Lawrence’s touchdown pass to Hunter early in the fourth quarter again made it a one-score game.
Lawrence completed 24 of 41 passes for 306 yards and touchdown passes to Hunter, Boerkircher and two to running back Bhayshul Tuten with a second-quarter interception in the end zone.
Stroud completed 24 of 34 passes for 312 yards and three touchdowns with one interception, including two first-half red-zone touchdowns to tight end Foster Moreau. His second touchdown to Moreau came with :08 remaining in the first half, with the Texans extending their 17-14 halftime lead to 10 points on the first drive of the second half.
“The outcome wasn’t what we wanted for sure, but I’m proud of how we battled,” Boerkircher said.