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Our 3 boldest Jacksonville Jaguars predictions vs. Texans in Week 3
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- Our 3 boldest Jacksonville Jaguars predictions vs. Texans in Week 3
It'll be a star-studded affair on Sunday when the Jacksonville Jaguars (1-1) face off against the Houston Texans (0-2), but there will be no tougher task than what receiver Brian Thomas Jr. must accomplish this week.
The game will be played at 1 p.m. in EverBank Stadium.
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It will be broadcast locally on CBS.
Coming off a troubling performance against the Cincinnati Bengals , Thomas probably has something to prove. He gets to do it against one of the top cornerbacks in the league, Derek Stingley Jr.
Drafted with the third-overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, Stingley was named a first-team All-Pro and a Pro Bowler in 2024 . He's only gotten better as time has passed since his All-SEC play at LSU.
"He's super good, he was all-pro last year. That says a lot. He just got a pretty big contract, the second-highest paid in the league. So, I mean, that'll tell you a lot," Thomas told reporters in the locker room Wednesday when asked about Stingley.
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The two played together on the same LSU team for one season in 2021, and now they face off against each other multiple times a season.
Through two games, the Texans have used Stingley to shadow the opposition's primary target. In the team's season opener, Stingley followed Rams wideout Davante Adams . In Week 2, he stuck with Buccaneers WR Mike Evans .
Adams totaled four catches on right targets for 51 yards, while Evans caught just five passes on 11 targets and 56 yards. Stingley's ability to take away a team's top receiver will put pressure on Thomas and Jacksonville's passing attack .
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. (7) can’t haul in a touchdown reception against Houston Texans cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. (24), right, and safety Calen Bullock (21) during the fourth quarter of an NFL football matchup Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024 at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla. The Texans held off the Jaguars 23-20. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]
Thomas is used to Stingley following him, though.
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"We'll see Sunday. I mean, he shadowed me a little bit in the second game last season. So, we'll see Sunday," Thomas said when asked if he believes Stingley would shadow him on Sunday.
In the team's second game against Houston last year, Stingley and the Texans held Thomas to four catches on 10 targets with 76 receiving yards and a touchdown.
Jaguars offensive coordinator Grant Udinski said Thursday that the Texans corner does a good job at many things.
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"Whether it's playing man or zone, he's got an ability to track the football, challenge guys at the line of scrimmage, off, with vision, without vision, match routes, like I said, recovering to track the ball, make plays on the ball, whether it's him going up and getting the ball or breaking up passes finding it," Udinski said when asked about Stingley.
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Thomas totaled 87 catches for 1,282 yards and 10 touchdowns last season. If there were a game to demonstrate he's still that guy, it's this one.
Here are our bold predictions ahead of the Jaguars' matchup against the Texans.
Travis Etienne will score twice to push past Texans
Jacksonville Jaguars running back Travis Etienne Jr. (1) runs the ball during an NFL training camp session at the Miller Electric Center, Monday, Aug. 11, 2025 in Jacksonville, Fla. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]
Jaguars running back Travis Etienne has plenty of reason to be happy so far this season
He's playing at the level he did in 2022 when he became Jacksonville's lead tailback, and demonstrating why he was picked in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft.
Thus far this year, Etienne has totaled 214 yards on 30 carries (7.1 yards per attempt). Now, that efficiency and total is carried primarily by his 143 yards in Week 1 against the Carolina Panthers , but his follow-up performance against the Cincinnati Bengals should still inspire confidence.
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Jacksonville's offensive line is playing markedly better than in years past, which is why the team was leading the league in rushing yards through two weeks of the season. They should be able to accomplish this goal against the 22nd-ranked Texans defense.
Jaguars defensive line will dominate vs. Texans
From left, Jacksonville Jaguars linebacker Foyesade Oluokun (23), reacts to a forced fuble turnover with cornerback Tyson Campbell (3), back, and defensive end Josh Hines-Allen (41) during the second quarter of an NFL football matchup at EverBank Stadium, Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025 in Jacksonville, Fla. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]
The Jaguars enter Sunday's game with the most takeaways (six) and the 12th-most pressures (30) through two weeks.
Meanwhile, the Texans have given up 25 pressures and five sacks through two weeks. Their left tackle situation is in flux with Aireontae Ersery and Cam Robinson as the team's top players at the position.
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While C.J. Stroud has been efficient in the past, he began the season with a 54.2% completion percentage, and while that improved to 70.4% last season, he completed just 19 passes for 188 yards (seven yards per attempt).
Texans secondary, edge rushers will stifle Jaguars passing attack
Sep 15, 2024; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Texans cornerback Kamari Lassiter (4) celebrates his interception against the Chicago Bears in the second half at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Shea-Imagn Images
While Jacksonville should have some space on the ground, its air attack will need to be far more precise this week. Against the Bengals, Jacksonville left several touchdowns or expected yards on the field.
While Houston's secondary hasn't inspired a lot so far, it's the team's pass rushers that will be in the spotlight.
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Pass rushers Will Anderson and Danielle Hunter are capable of wrecking a game by themselves. Hunter totaled 12 sacks in 2024, while Anderson put up 11. They were one of the best edge-rusher duos in the NFL.
"We have got to have another sound plan when it comes to protecting the quarterback but also in the run game, manufacturing different ways to manipulate those guys," Coen said of Houston's pass rusher. "Like I said, it takes all 11, but specifically the way that they want to roll off and come off the rock and play. Talented, got a lot of respect for the way that those guys play the game and can be very disruptive."
Jaguars vs. Texans score prediction
Jaguars 24, Texans 7.
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Demetrius Harvey is the Jacksonville Jaguars reporter for the Florida Times-Union. You can follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @Demetrius82 or on Bluesky @ Demetrius .
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This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Jacksonville Jaguars vs Texans predictions: Why home team may dominate
