JACKSONVILLE – Senior writer John Oehser examines five key plays from the Jaguars’ 23-20 loss to the Houston Texans in a 2024 Week 13 game at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville Sunday

1. Running when it matters. While Sunday will be remembered for an ugly second-quarter hit that knocked Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence from the game and led to two equally ugly melees, the game was decided by the Texans' running game in big situations. The Jaguars tied the game 6-6 early in the third period, but Houston turned in the key drive – and perhaps the key play – of the game on the ensuing series. The Texans took possession at their 30-yard line following a 30-yard field goal by Cam Little, and immediately drove 70 yards on five plays in 2:02, with running back Joe Mixon's seven-yard run over left tackle giving them a 13-6 lead they never relinquished. Key play on the drive: Mixon's 30-yard on first-and-10 from the Jaguars 37 one play before the touchdown. The Texans scored on three consecutive second-half possessions – beginning with Mixon's touchdown. Mixon then essentially ended the game with an eight-yard run on third-and-4 from the 50 on the first play after the two-minute warning after the Jaguars cut the lead to the final margin with two fourth-quarter touchdowns. "We just have to know and understand the situation," Jaguars Head Coach Doug Pederson said. "You do everything you can to try to get off the field. Give credit to Houston." Said defensive end Josh Hines-Allen of Mixon's eight-yard clincher, "That one hurt right there."

2. Wiiiiide open. The Texans spent much of the third and fourth quarters building a lead. Leading 16-6, they drove 55 yards in eight plays after Little missed a 55-yard field-goal attempt that would have trimmed the lead to 16-9. Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud on third-and-10 from the Jaguars 22 found tight end Dalton Schultz wide open on the right sideline. Schultz ran easily into the shadows in the South end zone with 12:11 remaining in the fourth quarter to push the lead to 23-6 – a lead the Jaguars trimmed but could never fully erase.

3. Rallying, valiantly. Credit Jaguars quarterback Mac Jones for some gutty play Sunday. Jones, entering the game after Lawrence left in the second quarter with a concussion, struggled along with the rest of the offense early. But he led fourth-quarter touchdown drives of 72 (12 plays) and 84 (10 plays) yards, with the drives capped by touchdown passes of 22 (wide receiver Parker Washington) and six (wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr.) yards. Jones followed the touchdown pass to Thomas with a two-point pass to Washington, trimming the Texans' lead to 23-20 with 3:31 remaining. "We were there," Jones said. "It was just a little too late by me. That's on me."

4. There he goes again. Rookie wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. on Sunday continued to be the Jaguars' most-dynamic player, turning in a play early in the second half that helped them tie the game and nearly gave them the lead. The Jaguars trailed 6-3 when they took possession at their 20 following a Texans punt on the opening possession of the second half. Jones on third-and-10 from the Jaguars 31 threw a short, crossing route to Thomas. The rookie got a block from veteran tight end Evan Engram and turned the play into a 56-yard, catch-and-run play to the Texans 13. Little capped the drive four plays later with a 30-yard field goal to tie the game, 6-6, with 10:06 remaining in the third quarter.

5a. Too late, not enough. The Jaguars' recent offensive struggles continued into the first quarter Sunday – and more struggles early in the second quarter helped the Texans extend an early lead. With the Texans leading 3-0, Lawrence threw deep to Thomas on third-and-11 from the Jaguars 23. Thomas appeared open midway through the route, but Lawrence appeared to throw a bit short and late with cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. intercepting and returning it 31 yards to the Jaguars 44. Kicker Ka'imi Fairbairn converted a 30-yard field goal following an 11-play, 33-yard drive to give the Texans a 6-0 lead with 6:26 remaining in the second quarter.

5b. Whoops. Sunday's game was fairly listless and eventless early, which made a mistake by the Jaguars late in the first quarter important. With the game tied 0-0, Stroud threw deep to wide receiver Nico Collins. Jaguars cornerback Tyson Campbell tripped in coverage, leaving Collins wide open for a 40-yard gain to the Jaguars 35-yard-line. That was the only big play on the drive, which ended when Fairbairn converted a 53-yard field goal for a 3-0 Texans lead with 14:51 remaining in the second quarter. The Texans outgained the Jaguars 90-44 with five Texans first downs to one for the Jaguars in the first quarter.