HOUSTON, Texas – Senior writer John Oehser examines five key plays from the Jaguars’ 24-20 loss to the Houston Texans in a 2024 Week 4 game at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas, Sunday

1. Stuffed. The Jaguars' day featured multiple near misses and missed chances. Most notably: A first-and-goal at the Texans' four-yard line in the second half on which the offense failed to score. "They did a great job keeping us out of the end zone," Head Coach Doug Pederson said. Running back Tank Bigsby set up the opportunity late in the third quarter with a 58-yard run on third-and-3 from the Jaguars 38. But two runs by Bigsby netted three yards and quarterback Trevor Lawrence threw incomplete into the end zone to wide receiver Gabe Davis on third down. Lawrence was stopped on a run from shotgun formation on fourth down by Texans defensive tackle Foley Fatukasi on the first play of the fourth quarter to keep the Jaguars' lead at 20-17. "You have to convert there," Lawrence said. "You get on the 1-yard line, you have to score a touchdown. Coach puts it in our hands. We have to figure it out and make the play. We had some good looks down there to do more with it and we weren't able to capitalize."

2. Big play, BTJ. Wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. has been the Jaguars' most dynamic offensive player early this season. That continued Sunday, with the rookie turning in two critical plays on a key third-quarter drive. Thomas' 32-yard reception on a perfectly thrown pass from Lawrence turned second-and-7 into a first-and-10 at the Texans 27, with Thomas following that with a 13-yard run on a reverse for a first down at the Texans 14. Lawrence capped the drive with his second touchdown pass of the game – an eight-yarder to wide receiver Christian Kirk for a 20-17 Jaguars lead with 6:16 remaining in the third quarter.

3. Turnover time. The Jaguars entered Sunday needing a fast start and an early break. The second led to the first when they turned an early Texans turnover into their first lead since Week 1. After two first downs on the opening possession, Jaguars punter Logan Cooke punted 45 yards to the Texans 10-yard line. Texans' wide receiver Steven Sims muffed the punt and Jaguars safety Daniel Thomas recovered at the Texans 2. Lawrence passed two yards to Brian Thomas Jr. on the ensuing play for a 7-0 lead with 12:44 remaining in the first quarter. It marked the Jaguars' first lead since the second half of a 20-17 Week 1 loss to the Miami Dolphins.

4. Taaaaank. The Jaguars maintained their early lead after the quick start – and a big reason was a strong start for three young players. Second-year tight end Brenton Strange, playing in place of injured starter Evan Engram, caught two passes for 16 first-half yards. His 11-yard reception on the series after the Texans' first touchdown moved the Jaguars into field-goal range. This came one play after Bigsby's 22-yard run to the Texans 35, a play that was perhaps the biggest play on the go-ahead drive. Rookie kicker Cam Little capped the nine-play, 54-yard drive with a 41-yard field goal that gave the Jaguars a 10-7 lead with 2:41 remaining in the first quarter. Little's 53-yard field goal with 3:49 remaining in the second quarter then cut a four-point Texans lead to 14-13, with a 22-yard reception by Brian Thomas Jr. the drive's key play.

5. Aaaaaaaaghh. The Jaguars' 0-4 start to the 2024 season largely has been defined by key mistakes at key times and plays not being made in important moments. A key play Sunday in the third quarter in a sense perhaps defines the season. The Jaguars trailed 17-13 and had driven from their 16-yard line to their 41 on their first third-quarter possession. On first-and-10 from there, Lawrence had time in the pocket and threw deep to Kirk, who had steps on the defender. Lawrence's pass fell incomplete several yards in front of Kirk, and the drive eventually stalled after Lawrence was sacked for a 14-yard loss. Lawrence also overthrew Thomas on what could have been a 28-yard touchdown in the first quarter, with the Jaguars taking a 10-7 lead on Little's 41-yard field goal two plays later. "It's a team game, but at the end of the day I feel like I left a lot out there," Lawrence said. "I'm pretty frustrated with that."

5b. Uh-oh. The Jaguars played well defensively much of the second half, holding the Texans scoreless on their first five possessions of the half. But the unit failed to force a turnover for a fourth consecutive game and allowed the Texans to drive 69 yards for a touchdown on their final possession. The key play of the drive: A 26-yard pass from quarterback C.J. Stroud to wide receiver Nico Collins that turned first-and-10 from the Texans 47-yard line into first-and-10 at the Jaguars 27. Running back Dare Ogunbowale's one-yard touchdown reception from Stroud seven plays later came with :18 remaining and gave the Texans the victory.