Overview
JACKSONVILLE – The trip home yielded a familiar result.
And for the fourth time in as many weeks, that familiar result wasn't good for the Jaguars.
Quarterback Blake Bortles threw three touchdown passes, including one to tight end Julius Thomas, but also threw three interceptions as the Houston Texans rallied in the second half for a 31-20 victory Sunday in front of 58,085 at Everbank Field.
The Jaguars took a 14-10 lead with :05 remaining in the third quarter.
That came on a 29-yard pass from Bortles, who found Thomas wide open after beating a blitz. It was Thomas' first touchdown reception of the season, and gave the Jaguars momentum as the fourth quarter began.
It didn't last.
The Texans took the lead with a nine-yard pass from Brian Hoyer to wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins with 11:27 remaining in the fourth quarter, and quickly pulled away.
First, Hopkins beat Jaguars cornerback Davon House for an easy 26-yard touchdown with 8:12 remaining in the fourth quarter to make it 24-14, then safety Andre Hal intercepted Bortles on the ensuing play and returned it 31 yards for another easy touchdown and a 31-14 Texans lead.
Eight minutes, two seconds remained.
Images from the Jaguars Week 6 matchup with the Houston Texans.
The Texans had scored three touchdowns in 3:25.
An 11-yard touchdown pass from Bortles to Allen Hurns cut the lead to 31-20, but kicker Jason Myers missed the extra point to keep the margin at 11.
The Jaguars now have lost four consecutive games following a 23-20 victory over Miami in Week 2 at EverBank Field. They lost three consecutive games on the road – 51-17 at New England, 16-13 in overtime at Indianapolis and 38-31 at Tampa Bay – before returning home Sunday.
Bortles completed 30 of 53 passes for 331 yards and three touchdowns, but also was intercepted three times. Another interception by Hal ended a late first-half drive. Bortles now has 13 touchdown passes this season and seven interceptions.
Hoyer completed 24 of 36 passes for 293 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions, and Hopkins caught 10 passes for 146 yards and two touchdowns.
The Texans took a 10-7 lead after a first half that featured extended drives by both teams.
The Texans took a 7-0 lead early with a 99-yard drive that ended with a 14-yard pass from Hoyer to running back Arian Foster. The Texans faced 1st-and-20 twice on a drive that used 16 plays and consumed 8:24.
Safety Johnathan Cyprien had the coverage on Foster on touchdown.
The Jaguars responded on the ensuing possession, driving 75 yards on 14 plays and tying it 7-7 when Bortles passed two yards to wide receiver Allen Robinson. The drive consumed 6:55. Robinson scored on a pass into the corner of the end zone over cornerback A.J. Bouye, who was playing in place of injured starter Kareem Jackson.
It was the fifth touchdown reception of the season for Robinson and the 11th touchdown pass of the season for Bortles.
The Texans took a 10-7 lead when Nick Novak converted a 45-yard field goal on the ensuing drive.
The Jaguars, despite being outgained by the Texans 193-178 in the first half, had a chance to tie or take the lead at the end of the second quarter. Trailing 10-7, the Jaguars drove to Houston 10 and faced 2nd-and-2 from there, but Bortles forced a throw to tight end Julius Thomas in the middle of the field.
Hal intercepted at the goal line to end the drive with :09 remaining in the half.
Player of the game
*Allen Robinson, wide receiver. *Picking a player of the game in a fourth consecutive loss wasn't easy, but Robinson caught his fifth touchdown pass of the season – a two-yarder in the first half. He finished the game with six receptions for 86 yards and a touchdown.
Offensively
The offense had flashes on Sunday, though this wasn't as consistent an effort as last week's 31-point effort against Tampa Bay. The offense produced 394 yards and Bortles had three touchdown passes, but the Jaguars rushed for just 83 yards.
Defensively
The Jaguars' defense was solid for a half, but allowed two touchdown passes to Hopkins during the crucial stretch in the second half. For the game, the Texans had 382 yards offense, and the Jaguars failed to produce a turnover.
Specially
After allowing two long punt returns in a loss to Tampa last week, the Jaguars' punt coverage started strong Sunday when wide receiver Tony Washington downed a 49-yard punt by Bryan Anger at the Texans 1. Myers missed an extra point in the fourth quarter.
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Setting the Scene for the Jaguars' return to EverBank Field as they face the Houston Texans.
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Injury updates
*Washington and running back Corey Grant both left in the first quarter with quadriceps injuries. Washington did not return. …
*Defensive end Chris Clemons left in the second quarter with tightness in his back, but returned in the second half. Robinson left in the fourth quarter with a leg contusion.
*The Jaguars officially ruled out running back T.J. Yeldon (groin) 90 minutes before kickoff, also ruling out safety James Sample (shoulder), wide receiver Marqise Lee (hamstring), running back Bernard Pierce (concussion), guard Tyler Shatley, cornerback Nick Marshall and defensive end Chris Smith. Toby Gerhart started in place of Yeldon. …
Standing out
*Julius Thomas caught seven passes for 78 yards as he continues to work his way into the offense after missing the first four games of the season with a hand injury.
*Bryan Walters continued to be a reliable option offensively, catching eight passes for 87 yards.
*Hurns caught two passes for 30 yards and a touchdown.
