Houston Texans vs. Jacksonville Jaguars Week 12 Preview: Is the AFC South Houston's To Lose?

The Houston Texans will host the Jacksonville Jaguars in their biggest regular season game in recent memory. What needs to go right to take first place in the AFC South?

Buckle up. The Houston Texans have seen their rebuild accelerated at the hands of rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud. With that comes playoff-like games earlier than practically anyone had anticipated.

On Sunday, Houston will host the first-place Jacksonville Jaguars with a chance to steal control of the AFC South.

The two met in Week 3, where Stroud and the Texans found their first win of the season. Their explosive effort, in which they won 37-17, marked Stroud’s arrival, and he’s only improved in the weeks since.

Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence drops back to pass in Houston / © Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Coming off of back-to-back-to-back thrilling victories, Houston is getting acclimated to the spotlight. Sunday, however, will mark the biggest game of its regular season.

Jacksonville has had a disjointed ride to seven wins but remains a talented team nonetheless. With receiver Zay Jones back in the fold, receiver Calvin Ridley has been used more effectively, being moved across the formation and away from vertical routes. Expect Jacksonville to look as explosive as they have all season.

However, troubles up front cloud confidence in the Jaguars’ attack. Star quarterback Trevor Lawrence has looked a little skittish despite his strong play, in large part due to porous pass protection. There’s a window for Houston’s pass rush to wreak havoc in this one.

It would be irresponsible to dismiss the surrounding casts on either side and the fingerprints they’ll leave on this game, but it’s hard not to focus on the quarterback showdown Week 12 has offered us. Stroud and Lawrence, fighting for the top spot in the AFC South and, indirectly, shaping the narrative of their status as quarterbacks.

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Beating Jacksonville in its own building was a good start for Houston’s playoff aspirations. Doing so at home could be the pivotal blow. Neither team has a particularly difficult schedule down the stretch, meaning if they go step-for-step the rest of the way, it’ll be Week 12 that gets looked back on.

WHAT: Houston Texans (6-4) vs. Jacksonville Jaguars (7-3)

WHERE: NRG Stadium, Houston, TX (72,220)

WHEN: Sunday, Nov. 26, 2023, 12 p.m. (CDT)

TELEVISION: CBS

RADIO: SportRadio 610 AM, 100.3 FM The Bull

ODDS: Texans +1.5 (-110), +100 Moneyline, Total: 47.5 (o -110/u -110)