Expert Believes Texans Have A Clear Path To Upset Jaguars In London

The Houston Texans have plenty of work to do if they want to pull off an upset against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday, but there are a couple of matchups that could give them a legitimate chance to come away with a win in London.

Jacksonville has been one of the NFL's toughest defenses to score against, allowing just 14 points per game. However, that number does not tell the entire story. ESPN's Pamela Maldonado highlighted some weaknesses the Texans could exploit, particularly when it comes to getting the ball to Nico Collins, "Jacksonville's defense is allowing just 14 points per game, but opponents are still finding room to throw. The Jaguars allow 7.7 yards per attempt and 93.2 yards per game to No. 1 receivers, giving QB C.J. Stroud and WR Nico Collins a matchup to attack in London on Sunday," Maldonado wrote.

That matchup could be Houston's biggest opportunity to make life difficult for Jacksonville. Collins remains one of the Texans' most important offensive weapons, and getting him involved early could help open up the rest of the passing game. If C.J. Stroud can consistently find his top receiver downfield, Houston could put pressure on a defense that has otherwise done an excellent job keeping opponents off the scoreboard.

The Texans will need more than a productive passing game to pull off the upset, though. Their defense also has an opportunity to swing the matchup in their favor by making things uncomfortable for Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence.

Maldonado pointed to Houston's ability to generate pressure without relying on blitzes or complicated coverage disguises as another potential advantage, "Houston can also pressure Trevor Lawrence without blitzing or disguising its coverage, making it harder for the quarterback to read the defense. That gives the Texans a way to get stops while leaving more players in coverage."

That approach could be especially important against a Jacksonville offense that Houston cannot afford to let get comfortable. Generating pressure with the defensive front while keeping extra defenders in coverage would give the Texans a chance to limit big plays and force Lawrence into difficult decisions.

Houston's defense has the personnel to make that strategy work, particularly with its pass rush capable of disrupting opposing quarterbacks. If the Texans can pressure Lawrence without sacrificing coverage, they could create the kind of mistakes that change the momentum of a game.

Of course, identifying these advantages and executing them are two different things. The Texans still need to protect Stroud, capitalize on opportunities in the red zone and avoid costly turnovers. Playing overseas adds another challenge, making a strong start even more important.

Still, Houston does not necessarily need to dominate every phase of the game to leave London with a victory. Winning the matchup between Stroud and Collins, then allowing the pass rush to dictate Lawrence's afternoon, gives the Texans a realistic formula for an upset against their AFC South rivals.