The Houston Texans are fresh off their bye week as they head into Week Ten. The Texans are leading the AFC South at the moment, and divisional games are crucial to staying at the top. The Jacksonville Jaguars are currently on a three game losing streak, and are looking to right their ship. If the Texans want to pull away with the division lead, they will have to win this one.
Houston Texans Week Ten Keys to Victory
Get the Passing Game On the Same Page
The Houston Texans Week Ten game will be important in the long run. Coming off their bye week, and heading into the second half of the season, it’s time for them to start putting it together. Brock Osweiler and the offense have been lackluster to say the least. Getting star wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins on the same page as Osweiler needs to be their top priority. With eight games together under their belt, it’s now or never.
Additionally, rookie wideout Will Fuller has cooled off after a hot start, largely because of injuries. Getting him back up to speed would be a huge difference-maker for this offense. C.J. Fiedorowicz has developed into an excellent security blanket for Osweiler, and has found the end zone in thee of his last five games. If his development continues at this pace, the Texans passing game could become potent in the near future.
With that said, the Texans will not win this game with a pass-heavy approach. In fact, the Jaguars allow a mere 217.6 passing yards per game, which is sixth-fewest in the NFL. The key to this contest will be chemistry and efficiency in the passing game, rather than volume.
Run the Ball Effectively
Free agent acquisition Lamar Miller has had his ups and downs, but his 637 rushing yards and 79.6 yards per game average both rank seventh-best in the league. In order for the Texans to win this game, he will have to continue to be productive. While the Jaguars are stingy through the air, they are beatable on the ground allowing an average of 116.9 rushing yards per game (ninth-worst in the league).
If the Texans can get Miller going early, it will open things up for the passing game, and enable the team to build an early lead. This will enable the team to rely on the defensive unit to do their jobs more efficiently.
Take Advantage of the Struggling Jaguars Offense
The Jacksonville Jaguars were a preseason favorite to finally take the next step and start competing for a playoff spot, but that hasn’t been the case so far in 2016. Coming into Week Ten, the Jaguars are sitting at 2-6, and are in desperate need of a win. Blake Bortles was the prototypical gunslinger last season. With Allen Robinson and Allen Hurns at his disposal, Bortles was throwing the ball like one of the best, and he has not performed at that level at all this year.
The Jaguars offense has been putrid at times, and haven’t matched last seasons magic. If they wish to salvage their season, it has to start with getting Bortles and the offense back on track. The Texans must do their part to ensure this doesn’t happen. If they can put pressure on Bortles, force him to make bad decisions, and play solid pass defense, Houston will be in excellent shape for a victory.
Tune in on Sunday, November 13th as the Houston Texans look to get their first road win of the season. Kick off is at 1:00pm EST, and will be televised on CBS.
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