Jacksonville pass defense looking for bounce back week vs. Texans aerial attack

After the Jaguars failed to stop the pass in week 1, they are looking ahead to the challenge waiting for them in Houston.

It was a bit of a shock to the Jacksonville Jaguars defense when Patrick Mahomes, Sammy Watkins and Travis Kelce were able to march the ball downfield on them with ease during their 40-26 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in week 1. 

But the team knew it had to have a short memory because the test in week 2 wouldn't be any easier. After playing one MVP-caliber quarterback who was surrounded by weapons, they now have to travel to Houston to play another one in Deshaun Watson and the Houston Texans.

"Last week we saw the 2018 MVP in Patrick Mahomes who played like an MVP. We are going in and playing against another quarterback who has the same amount of skill, the same amount of ability, and I think it’ll be between those two guys who’s going to be the MVP," Jaguars head coach Doug Marrone said earlier this week.

Watson's favorite weapon, and the largest threat to the Jaguars, is seventh-year wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins. Hopkins has set the league on fire since entering it in 2013, collecting 536 receptions for 7,548 yards and 49 touchdowns. In 2018, Hopkins set career highs in receptions (115) and yards (1,572) and was once again a thorn in Jacksonville's side.

"Hop’s [DeAndre Hopkins] going to catch his. He had 13 targets and 11 catches last week. If you think you’re going to shut him down you’re crazy," Jaguars defensive coordinator Todd Wash said Thursday.

"He’s going to get his, but we have to limit as many as he can get and try to eliminate the balls over the top of us with the other guys.”

The other guys Wash is talking about? Will Fuller and Kenny Stills, the two receivers who join Hopkins as Watson's aerial weaponry. Each receiver has the ability to beat a defense down the field, and Jacksonville knows they will have to be aware of where they are on the field.

WILL FULLER, HOW DID YOU DO THAT?

(via @NFL)pic.twitter.com/GXM8Xx5vFf

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) September 9, 2019

"Two good compliments to Hopkins. Both can take the top off a defense. (They got) speed," safety Jarrod Wilson said this week. "They got a lot of individual routes on the outside as well that they are good at themselves."

Stills has only been with the Texans for a few weeks but made his presence known against the New Orleans Saints on Monday with a 37-yard touchdown late in the game. Wash said the team prepared for him some before the team's preseason game vs the Miami Dolphins. 

As for Fuller, Jacksonville has seen plenty of him since he was drafted by Houston in the first-round of the 2016 NFL Draft. He only caught two passes Monday, but he made them count for huge plays by totaling a nice number of 69 yards, including a 54-yard reception to get the Texans away from their own endzone.

"And also you see Fuller, he can take the top off of the defense. There’s some plays – obviously we have a past with him, so we know how fast he is," Wash said. "And a lot of these teams, the number two receiver is a burner, so it’s a guy that we’re going to have to make sure we keep in front of us."

Jaguars cornerback D.J. Hayden will likely see his fair share of both Fuller and Stills since Jalen Ramsey will likely be covering DeAndre Hopkins the majority of the game. And as Hayden explained, there is no real secret to Sunday. They just have to perform.

"We just gotta strap 'em up. Ain't no secret recipe to it. Just gotta play lock down defense on them."

Despite the weapons at Watson's disposal, the Jaguars defenders are going into the game with the same confident mindset they always do as they look to rebound from a disappointing week 1. 

And as Wilson said, it it is hard not to have that attitude when you have Ramsey on your side, lining up in front of Hopkins play after play. 

"We kind of go into it with the same mindset," Wilson said. "We got our guy 20. ... 20 will do his thing on (Hopkins)."