Blocked Field Goal Aids Texans' Halftime Lead

The Houston Texans answered a pair of failed Jacksonville Jaguars field goal attempts with touchdowns to carry a lead into halftime.

Houston quarterback C.J. Stroud has thrown for 108 yards and a touchdown, as the Texans lead the Jacksonville Jaguars 17-0 at halftime at EverBank Stadium Sunday.

The Jaguars drove 50 yards in 11 plays, and kicker Brandon McManus' 51-yard field goal attempt was blocked by Texans defensive end Will Anderson Jr. McManus hooked a 48-yard attempt wide left in the first quarter and is 0-for-2 on field goals in the first half.

Stroud scrambled 11 yards that set up his lone touchdown pass of the first half — a 4-yard completion to tight end Brevin Jordan to take a 14-0 lead. Stroud dropped back on third-and-3, back-pedaled to avoid Jacksonville's rush and delivered the pass with touch into the end zone.

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Stroud's other big completion of the first half was a 46-yard pass to the Jacksonville 2-yard line. After a quarterback sneak attempt, running back Dameon Pierce plunged forward 1 yard that giving Houston a 7-0 lead midway through the first quarter.

Stroud has completed 14-of-21 pass attempts, while his counterpart, Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence, is 10-for-16 with 89 yards.

His favorite target early in the season, wide receiver Calvin Ridley, briefly exited the game after a hit on his leg. Ridley later returned to the game and reeled in two passes for 19 yards in the first half.

The Texans entered play Sunday averaging 2.5 yards per carry, which was the worst mark in the NFL. Their struggles continued in the first half, as Houston averaged 3.6 yards on 13 carries in the first half.