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Jacksonville Jaguars can't be 'bullied,' stand tall in 17-10 win over Houston Texans
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- Jacksonville Jaguars can't be 'bullied,' stand tall in 17-10 win over Houston Texans
Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence rushed to his teammate's aid before being confronted by Texans safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson .
Lawrence relented, but not without appearing to say a few choice words himself.
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Lawrence has been in this situation. This exact situation, as a matter of fact.
TAKEAWAYS: Jacksonville Jaguars hold on to beat Houston Texans 17-10
Jaguars receiver Dyami Brown laid flat on the ground after taking a big hit from Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair .
It had been just over nine months (294 days, but who's counting?) since Lawrence took a similar big hit from the Houston linebacker.
The hit ultimately knocked Lawrence out for the Dec. 1, 2024, game and, eventually, the season.
Houston imposed its will, and the Jaguars were bullied.
This time, though, the Jaguars didn't back down. They didn't get bullied. Brown didn't return, but the team persevered to defeat the Texans 17-10 , taking an early leg up in the AFC South race.
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"We don't like each other," Lawrence said after the game.
Jaguars don't back down in ugly, emotional game
Jacksonville didn't always have Houston's number. In fact, both teams kept each other in the game for as long as they could. But, this isn't a game the Jaguars typically win.
In years past, the moment adversity struck, the Jaguars either bounced back to win what amounted to a miracle or they turned into a turtle — almost no in between.
There's no question this game was circled. It's the first divisional game of the season. It's the first time the team faced off against Al-Shaiir after he knocked out the team's starting QB. It's the first divisional game for head coach Liam Coen, general manager James Gladstone and executive vice president of football operations, Tony Boselli.
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The game meant plenty, and it didn't hurt to have a little extra energy to give 'em.
"It means a lot. I don't think it's a secret that we don't like each other, so it was a fun game for us," said Lawrence. "To find a way to do it, like I said, we're going to see them again so that's all I really have to say right now, but it felt good, as you guys can tell."
Lawrence admits the team doesn't like any of its divisional opponents, but particularly against Houston, the Jaguars weren't going to let themselves become the victim.
"We're not going to get bullied. It's a team that, that's what I feel like they want to do and I'm not saying that wrong, but that's their mindset and it's not going to happen to this team," Lawrence said.
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"So it was fun to be able to punch back and stand up in those moments where it's like, all right, you want to throw that punch? Like, we're here."
The Jaguars fought back to hold Houston to just 10 points, slamming the door shut in a must-win game for the opposition. The Texans, now 0-3, will have to repeat history to make the postseason. They are one of only six teams in NFL history to make the playoffs after starting 0-3 (2018).
This year's Jaguars aren't going to relent. The franchise has adopted a new mindset in terms of physicality, and it's proven true throughout their three contests. It's been an emphasis, Lawrence said.
"We're going to play the right way. We're not going to go past the whistle. We're not going to be dirty, but, you know, we got each other's back and no one is going to bully us and push us around," said Lawrence.
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"That's a mindset for our team and that's important."
Jaguars defense comes up big, Hines-Allen calls game
Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Josh Hines-Allen (41) tackles Houston Texans running back Woody Marks (27) during the third quarter of an NFL football matchup at EverBank Stadium, Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025, in Jacksonville, Fla. The Jaguars defeated the Texans 17-10. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]
Both lines of scrimmage set the tone for physicality, but Jacksonville's defense started and finished it off Sunday.
The team held Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud to 204 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions on 25 completions. They held Houston to just 87 net rushing yards, and kept the team in the game.
Jacksonville's defense has steadily improved in different areas throughout the season. Part of that is the addition of defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile.
"The play calling is obviously more aggressive but then we also had guys in the back end that are in the right spot, wants to be physical at point of contact and they just want to play for each other," Jaguars defensive end Josh Hines-Allen said after the game Sunday.
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"Once we all buy into what we're doing up front, good things happen, obviously. Good things are happening. We trust each other."
Hines-Allen finished with a half sack and helped close out the game by getting his right hand on the football before Stroud tossed the ball down the field, intended for former Jaguars WR Christian Kirk . Instead, the ball was picked off by safety Antonio Johnson .
Jaguars head coach Liam Coen opted to defer this week, allowing the defense to set the tone against Houston. That was intentional, Coen said after the game.
"It was just to kind of get our defense out there and let them start fast and affect the game and those guys did that. Josh, the length... but it's also his strain and I'm not taking anything away from his athletic ability, his talents, or how hard he's worked, but it's the way that he plays," Coen said of the team and Hines-Allen.
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"His strain, his finish, even if he doesn't win on a rush, those guys really up front have all done a nice job of getting their hands up and affecting the pass game in different ways, so really, he was pretty emotional in there and excited and juiced up. So, hopefully it's a sign to keep moving forward."
Jacksonville has moved forward with new blood in the leadership department. While many players remain, the players the team has added have given the team an added boost to overcome adversity.
That's especially true for a guy like cornerback Jourdan Lewis , who made the heady play to tackle Kirk, understanding the ball had been tipped and he wouldn't be flagged for pass interference.
Jaguars don't usually win like this, but Coen's team showed resilience
This isn't the same old Jaguars.
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Through three weeks, it's clear the team has adopted a refreshing mindset, one that isn't going to throw away games just because some adversity hits.
JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 21: Head coach Liam Coen of the Jacksonville Jaguars and Trevor Lawrence #16 of the Jacksonville Jaguars speak during the third quarter against the Houston Texans at EverBank Stadium on September 21, 2025 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images)
Coen called Lewis "infectious" when asked about what he means to the team after the game. Lewis is one of the team's captains and breaks down the huddle before taking the field for the final time ahead of games.
Lewis has been outspoken, and that has spread, not just to the defense, but to the entire locker room.
"He is, by far, one of our best leaders in our organization. He was in my office Wednesday morning at 7 a.m. talking to me about some things and the mentality that Jourdan has that he competes with, that he spreads his word and our word to the rest of the guys, he's infectious," Coen said.
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"He really is. He's a pro's pro but he's not just going to be quiet about it. He wants to reach everybody that he's involved with, not just the defense, offense and (special) teams. So he's — really proud of Jourdan. So happy to have him, obviously, but he's definitely a catalyst for us."
The Jaguars had to take the win against Houston, and that's exactly what they did.
The Jaguars typically can't rebound from mistakes. There was no doubt in anyone's mind that they were going to let up, allow Houston to score and finally lose in overtime. Instead, it was the opposite, and it gives the team confidence moving forward.
Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback Jourdan Lewis (2) celebrates his interception during the third quarter between the Houston Texans and the Jacksonville Jaguars Sunday September 21, 2025 at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla. The Jaguars defeated the Texans 17-10. [Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union]
"When you have that feeling of you don't have to play perfect to win, you just have to continue to fight and play the next play and find a way to make the plays when it matters," said Lawrence.
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"You don't know when that's going to be. Today, fortunately, it was at the end and we were able to make those plays and that's when it mattered and we needed them."
The team's confidence and resilience can only improve moving forward. Hines-Allen highlighted Lewis' importance to the team when asked about the veteran after the game.
Hines-Allen spoke about the way Lewis attacks practice and his preparation. It was something he saw from the vet the first week of practice, and has noticed how much he pushes and challenges everyone, not just in his room, but on the team.
"It's like I expect him to do these things, not because he is who he is, but because he does it the right way," said Hines-Allen. Lewis had an interception again this week, giving him two on the season.
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"He challenges and pushes and motivates the guys to do it the right way as well. I'm so happy for him. I'm happy that he's on our team."
Lewis said the team's process is working, at least that's what was shown against the Texans on Sunday.
"Our process was right. We're going to get those things cleaned up to where we're going to get teams on the ropes and we're going to finish them off," said Lewis.
"But it's a good thing to know that our process is working and what we're doing during the week is really getting shown on Sundays."
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Here's what's next
The Jaguars will take on the San Francisco 49ers on the road for their first of four West Coast trips this season.
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 hold off 'bully' Texans, show resolve in 17-10 win
