JACKSONVILLE – This was one was a struggle, and the struggle lasted until the end.

The Jaguars' early-season offensive woes continued. So did their missed opportunities and costly errors, with the result a one-sided, frustrating 37-17 loss to the Houston Texans in an AFC South game in front of 61,466 EverBank Stadium Sunday afternoon.

"Obviously a bad day," Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence said, adding that he was "obviously not happy with the performance."

The Jaguars (1-2) lost a second consecutive home game. The Texans, who entered the game injured and winless, improved to 1-2.

"We need to execute better," Head Coach Doug Pederson said. "Whether we are reading our press clippings … we need to get out of our own way right now. We need to evaluate ourselves, beginning with me and we have to figure out how to win a game."

Texans fullback Andrew Beck returned a kickoff for an 85-yard touchdown on a bizarre third-quarter play that thwarted a brief Jaguars comeback, giving Houston a two-touchdown lead late in the third quarter. The Jaguars never cut the lead below double digits after that.

The Texans led 17-0 after a first half in which the Jaguars passed midfield four times without scoring, dropping multiple passes with a turnover. Texans running back Dameon Pierce rushed for a first-quarter touchdown and rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud passed for one in the second quarter.

"It's not all right," Lawrence said. "We all have to look in the mirror, take accountability, take that and own it and, and move on.

"That's the plan. That's what we're going to do."

Stroud clinched the victory with a 68-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Tank Fell in the fourth quarter.

Lawrence completed 27 of 40 passes for 279 yards and one touchdown with one interception and called Sunday: "Just a bad day, really bad day, execution wise – all three phases. 

"We're just not playing clean, not playing how I know we can play and until we do that, there's really not much to say," Lawrence said. "We're not complementing each other on either side of the ball, especially today. We're just leaving a lot out there and it's a pretty bad feeling."

The Jaguars outgained the Texans, 404-366, but never led while committing two turnovers and forcing none. The Jaguars worked running back Travis Etienne Jr. heavily and effectively early, with the third-year veteran rushing for 88 yards and finishing with 50 yards receiving.

Stroud completed 20 of 30 passes for 280 yards and two touchdowns with his second-quarter touchdown pass to tight end Brevin Jordan part of a solid first half for the Texans as the Jaguars struggled with missed opportunities early for a second consecutive week. They scored six points on five possessions past midfield in the first half of a Week 2 home loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.

The Jaguars registered no sacks Sunday. They have five sacks through three games with six takeaways.

"We have great players that have proven that they can play and play well in this league," Pederson said. "For some reason right now it's just not all clicking and we have to figure that out. There's still a confidence in those guys. They're doing and saying all the right things and it is just really hard to put a finger on it. 

"Coaches need to coach, players need to play, leaders need to lead. That part of it starts with me. We've got ourselves in a little bit of a pickle here and we have to work it out."

Step by Step:

• Pierce's one-yard run gave the Texans a 7-0 lead with 7:35 remaining in the first quarter, a score set up by a 46-yard pass from Stroud to Dell to the Jaguars 2. The Jaguars missed an opportunity early, with wide receiver Calvin Ridley dropping a tough reception opportunity near the end zone on the Jaguars' first drive and kicker Brandon McManus missing a 48-yard field goal to end that possession.
• The Texans increased their lead after another missed Jaguars opportunity in the second quarter, with Stroud passing four yards to Jordan for a 14-0 lead with 7:27 remaining in the half. Rookie defensive end Will Anderson set up the 41-yard touchdown drive by blocking McManus' 51-yard field goal. The Jaguars missed another opportunity on the ensuing series when an illegal-hands-to-the-face penalty on veteran guard Brandon Scherff negated a first-down-converting pass from Lawrence to Ridley on 4th-and-2 from the Texans 45. Kicker Ka'imi Fairbairn's 28-yard field goal on the final of the half pushed the lead to 17-0. 
• Rookie running back Tank Bigsby's one-yard run capped the opening drive of the second half, cutting the Texans' lead to 17-7 with 11:17 remaining in the third quarter. McManus' 33-yard field goal cut the lead to 17-10 but Beck returned the ensuing kickoff 85 yards for a touchdown and a 24-10 lead with 4:19 remaining in the quarter. Beck fumbled around the 10, then picked up the fumble and evaded tackles by multiple defenders down the right sideline on the way to the end zone.
• Fairbairn's 26-yard field goal with 12:36 remaining came after Texans linebacker Blake Cashman intercepted Lawrence and gave the Texans a 27-10 lead. The Jaguars quickly cut into the lead, with Lawrence passing 26 yards to wide receiver Christian Kirk with 10:40 remaining to make it 27-17. Dell's 68-yard touchdown came three plays later.

Notable:

• Jaguars outside linebacker Josh Allen and defensive lineman Foley Fatukasi played and started Sunday after being listed on the injury report Friday with shoulder injuries.
• Safety Andrew Wingard also played Sunday after being listed as questionable Friday with a shoulder injury.
• Jaguars inactive players Sunday were wide receiver Zay Jones (knee), safety Antonio Johnson (hamstring), rookie wide receiver Elijah Cooks, rookie wide receiver Parker Washington and running back JaMycal Hasty. The Jaguars elevated veteran wide receiver Jacob Harris from the practice squad Saturday via standard elevation.

Injury Report:

• Jaguars right tackle Anton Harrison sustained an ankle injury in the third quarter.