Down 19 points entering the fourth quarter, the Houston Texans looked finished. But with backup quarterback Davis Mills under center and a defense that refused to quit, Houston mounted one of the most remarkable comebacks in franchise history — shocking the Jacksonville Jaguars 36-29 on Sunday.
Mills, filling in for the injured C.J. Stroud (concussion), shook off three quiet quarters to deliver a spectacular final 15 minutes. He threw two touchdown passes and ran 14 yards for the go-ahead score with 31 seconds left, capping a furious rally that gave the Texans (4-5) the second-largest comeback in team history. The only bigger comeback came in 2013, when Houston erased a 21-point deficit to beat the Chargers 31-28.
Jacksonville (5-4) had been 53-0 all-time — including playoffs — when leading by at least 19 points in a game. That streak ended in stunning fashion Sunday.
After Mills’ late touchdown run, Trevor Lawrence tried to lead a potential game-tying drive, but Will Anderson Jr. sacked him and forced a fumble. Sheldon Rankins scooped it up and rumbled 32 yards for a game-sealing touchdown as the Texans sideline erupted.
Houston trailed 29-10 early in the fourth quarter after Travis Etienne’s 6-yard touchdown run, but that’s when the rally began. Mills connected with rookie Jayden Higgins for a 12-yard touchdown, followed by a two-point conversion to Nico Collins to trim the lead to 29-18.
The Texans’ defense — dominant all year — forced a quick three-and-out, and Mills struck again, finding tight end Dalton Schultz for a 7-yard touchdown to pull within 29-24 with 7:30 remaining.
After another defensive stand, Houston took over at its own 7-yard line and drove 80 yards in 14 plays. Mills converted a key third down with a 20-yard strike to Schultz, and a pass interference penalty on Jarrian Jones set up the Texans on the 2-yard line. Two false starts pushed them back, but on third-and-14, Mills scrambled through the middle for the go-ahead touchdown, sending the Texans ahead 30-29.
Rankins’ fumble return touchdown moments later completed the comeback and stunned a silenced Jacksonville crowd.
Mills finished with 292 yards passing and three total touchdowns, redeeming himself after throwing an early interception. Collins tormented the Jaguars again, posting seven catches for 136 yards — his fifth straight 100-yard game against Jacksonville.
“When you’ve got a guy like Nico making plays, it gives you all the confidence in the world,” Mills said.
Houston outgained Jacksonville 167-11 in the fourth quarter, a total domination on both sides of the ball.
Jacksonville seemed to have the game in hand early. The Jaguars jumped to a 17-0 lead thanks to a pair of Houston miscues and a special teams highlight.
First quarter: A Davis Mills interception set up a 32-yard field goal by Cam Little. Later: A fumble on a kickoff return led to Trevor Lawrence’s 7-yard touchdown pass to Parker Washington for a 10-0 lead. Second quarter: Washington returned a punt 72 yards for a touchdown, pausing at the goal line before falling backward into the end zone and celebrating with teammates pretending to perform CPR on him. It was his second punt-return TD this season and third of his career.
Houston finally got on the board before halftime when Woody Marks powered in for a 1-yard touchdown, cutting the deficit to 20-10.
But after Etienne’s touchdown late in the third quarter extended the Jaguars’ lead to 29-10, everything unraveled.
Lawrence finished 16 of 28 for 158 yards and a touchdown but was sacked five times — 3½ of those by Texans defensive end Hunter. Newly acquired wideout Jakobi Meyers, playing his first game with Jacksonville after being traded from the Raiders, led the team with three catches for 41 yards.
Jaguars (5-4): Host the Los Angeles Rams next Sunday. Texans (4-5): Visit the Tennessee Titans in an AFC South showdown.
Houston’s comeback — improbable, gutsy, and unforgettable — may have just saved its season.
