How the Texans' Two-QB Approach Will Challenge the Jaguars' Defense

Firmly in control of their playoff destiny, the Jaguars will have to contend with a new-look Texans offense.

Ever since Taysom Hill burst onto the scene as a premier gadget player for the New Orleans Saints, teams around the NFL have been looking for one of their own. 

For the Houston Texans, that player is veteran Jeff Driskel. 

For the Jacksonville Jaguars, this is the next challenge. 

The 29-year-old backup quarterback has emerged late in the season as a triple threat, lining up behind center, taking carries out of the backfield, and even has a catch that went for four yards against the Titans last weekend. In an offense that desperately needed creativity, Driskel was that guy to step into an unorthodox role to throw off defenses.

Game planning for the two-quarterback system of starter Davis Mills and Driskel will be critical to further solidifying their status as division leaders in the AFC South. Driskel’s versatility makes this a difficult task, but one that Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson feels they are prepared for following their most recent matchup with the New York Jets on Thursday Night Football.

“It can,” Pederson said. “That’s why we have to have a good week of preparation understanding what they’re trying to get done. I just go back to last Thursday when they made the quarterback change, and it was a kind of sudden change for us, and it sparked their offense when he got going. We’ve got to be aware of it, be prepared for it and handle it the right way.”

Following a crushing Week 5 loss, the Jaguars will be looking to rebound in a huge way to avoid a second loss. For Quarterback Trevor Lawrence and the Jaguars players, that loss makes this week’s matchup an opportunity for redemption, one that they are strongly motivated to make a reality.

“Yeah, you look at the way we played the first game, especially watching the tape this week going back through it, it’s like some of that stuff is hard to watch,” Lawrence said. 

“Offensively and personally didn’t play near my best, and we just left a lot out there. It’s good to watch it, obviously. You learn a lot, and you see the growth and where we’re at now, individually where I’m at now and as an offense, the level we’re playing, it’s where you want to be. You want to be playing well at the right time. You don’t want to go back and change any of it because I think that’s helped get us to here, but obviously for me, definitely want to play better and give us a chance to win obviously. That’s the goal every week from here on out. Every game is important. 

"Really just put together a great game plan. These guys, they play really hard. They’re a really good team, really good defense. They’re not giving up many points. They’re really good in the red zone. Obviously, we didn’t score much on them when we were here in October, so this is a challenge for us. We’re excited. It’s a good group.”