The Jaguars end the 2018 season against the Houston Texans

The Jacksonville Jaguars head to Houston to face the Houston Texans after 16 weeks of disappointment and heartbreak.

This game is a tale of two franchises, one moving forward and the other moving backward. The Jacksonville Jaguars started the season confident and excited. The Texans started the season with some very serious questions.  How did it all play out?

The Jaguars oozed confidence after a breakout 2017 season.  It couldn’t have looked more hopeful.  To start a great defense, an emerging star running back, an improving quarterback, and consistent coaching staff. Not only that, they started the season 3-1 in the first quarter. Then the wheels came off the bus.

The Titans began the 2018 season with three losses. Deshaun Watson returned at quarterback after sustaining a season-ending injury in 2017.  Could he return to the exciting player he was prior to injury?  It looked very much like another losing season. Then they caught on fire and ran off nine consecutive wins. Suddenly the Texans were back!

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Both teams had an amazing turn around in 2018.  In 2017 the Jaguars record was10-6 and the Texans record was 4-12. The records as of today are Jaguars are 5-10 and Texans 10-5. Not only that but the Jaguars are 10 point underdogs in the final game. To add the Jaguars were first in the division in 2017 and the Texans were last. In 2018 those places were reversed.

No doubt injuries have played a significant part in the Jaguars demise. According to profootballreference.com,  the Jaguars have 22 players on the injury report and the Texans have 14 players on the injury report. Injuries are a factor but not the only factor.

The quarterback position is very important to the success or failure of a team. Black and Teal quarterback Blake Bortles had a solid season in 2017. He signed a lucrative contract for 2018 but he never matched his play from the prior season.  Watson, in his second season in Houston, has been great.

"T.A. Mock of houseofhouston.com wrote, “Ladies and gentlemen the Houston Texans finally have a franchise quarterback that will keep them in contention for a very long time.  Sit back and enjoy the incredible show he puts on week in and week out.”"

Both defenses are solid with star power as well.  The Jaguars team includes Jalen Ramsey, Calais Campbell, Telvin Smith, and others. The Texans team is led by J.J. Watt and Jadeveon Clowney. The Jaguars defense is higher rated at number five overall while the Texans are 18th.

Comparisons can go on and on but the bottom line is easy to see. First, the Jaguars had way too many injuries and must find a way to reduce this issue through better training and conditioning.

Also, the Jacksonville quarterbacks [including Cody Kessler] are not considered franchise quarterbacks by anyone. The front office must solve this problem. The NFL is a quarterback-driven league. Rules favor the offense and passing game.

On a personal note, I am sorry that this team had such a disappointing season. However, there is plenty of talent on the roster and with a good draft and correct choice of free agents, we can go from worst to first again. GO JAGUARS!