In a thrilling Week 4 matchup, the Houston Texans overcame a sluggish second-half performance and five straight punts to pull off a 24-20 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars, thanks to rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud’s game-winning touchdown pass with just 18 seconds remaining.
Stroud, who finished the game with 345 passing yards and two touchdowns, saved his best for last. With Houston’s top two running backs—Joe Mixon and Dameon Pierce—out due to injury, Stroud turned to an unexpected target in third-string running back Dare Ogunbowale. Thrust into action, Ogunbowale delivered when it mattered most, catching a 1-yard touchdown pass from Stroud to seal the Texans’ victory. The score marked Ogunbowale’s first touchdown since the 2022 season and capped an unlikely comeback for Houston.
The game began with Jacksonville appearing to seize control early. After forcing a Texans punt on the opening drive, the Jaguars capitalized when Steven Sims fumbled the return, and Daniel Thomas recovered the ball at the Texans’ 2-yard line. Jacksonville quarterback Trevor Lawrence wasted no time, connecting with wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. on the next play to give the Jaguars a quick 7-0 lead.
Houston, however, responded quickly. Stefon Diggs, known more for his receiving prowess, scored his first career rushing touchdown on a 6-yard run, tying the game at 7-7 midway through the first quarter. The Jaguars regained the lead, 10-7, after a field goal, but the Texans struck back with a 3-yard touchdown reception by wideout Nico Collins, putting Houston up 14-10.
Jacksonville clawed back with a 52-yard field goal late in the second quarter, cutting the Texans’ lead to 14-13. However, Houston’s Ka’imi Fairbairn drilled a 30-yard field goal with just three seconds left in the half, giving the Texans a 17-13 advantage heading into the locker room.
Despite holding the lead, the Texans’ offense stalled for much of the second half. Houston’s drives repeatedly ended in punts as the Jaguars slowly chipped away. Jacksonville finally grabbed the lead in the fourth quarter, 20-17, after a 36-yard field goal with just under six minutes remaining.
With time winding down, the Texans needed a spark. Stroud and the offense took over with less than two minutes to go, methodically moving down the field. Facing a tight Jacksonville defense, Stroud found Ogunbowale in the end zone on a short pass to secure the stunning victory.
The loss drops Jacksonville to 0-4, marking their worst start since the 2021 season, when they opened with five straight losses. Meanwhile, the Texans improved to 3-1, riding the rookie sensation Stroud’s stellar play as he continues to establish himself as one of the league’s top young quarterbacks.
For the Jaguars, it was a heartbreaking defeat that saw them squander opportunities, including Sims’ costly fumble and several stalled drives. Trevor Lawrence threw for 250 yards and a touchdown but was unable to engineer a game-winning drive late in the fourth quarter.
The Texans’ win is not just a credit to Stroud’s poise under pressure but also to a defense that tightened up in critical moments. Houston’s ability to force a punt on Jacksonville’s final drive gave the offense the chance it needed to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.
As Houston moves forward, they will look to build on their momentum, while the Jaguars are left searching for answers as they try to avoid a winless start to the 2024 NFL season.
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