Wininning in the NFL is tough. More often than not, a play or two could define the outcome of the game. That said, the best teams always find ways to come out on top. Such was the case of the Jacksonville Jaguars when they fended off the Houston Texans in Week 3.
The Jags couldn't get the running game going, and their passing game was off. To make matters worse, they committed nine penalties for a total of 70 yards. But despite the self-inflicted wounds, Jacksonville managed to win 17-10.
That's mostly because their playmakers stepped up when it mattered the most. These five, in particular, played a huge role in the win and saw their stock go up in the aftermath.
Related: It took two games for the Eagles to regret trading for Tank Bigsby
Devin Lloyd, Jaguars linebacker
A first-round pick in 2022, Devin Lloyd left lots to be desired the past three seasons. Not surprisingly, the new regime opted not to pick up the fifth-year option in his rookie season, effectively making this a contract season for the former Utah Ute. That might've played in his favor as he's at last living up to his draft billing.
Keep in mind that Lloyd has always excelled against the run. It was his lack of big plays and his struggles in coverage that led Jacksonville to decline his option. He's quickly changing that. Already, he's logged one interception this season, and he finished the Texans game with one pass deflection, a fumble recovery, and two total pressures.
That's the kind of impact the Jaguars expected when moved up back into the first round to select him 27th overall.
Brenton Strange, Jaguars tight end
Players sometimes have flawless games. Some other times, they will make a few mistakes, but their positive contributions outweigh their mistakes. That was the case for Brenton Strange in the win over Houston. He was flagged for a false start early in the second quarter, and the penalty brought the drive to a halt.
However, the former Penn State Nittany Lion hauled in six passes for 61 yards on seven targets and played a key role in pass protection. His Pro Football Focus overall grade of 86.2 was the highest among Jacksonville offensive players in Week 3, and the second highest, just behind Josh Hines-Allen's 87.4 score. Speaking of...
Josh Hines-Allen, Jaguars pass rusher
If Josh Hines-Allen hasn't gotten the spotlight much, that's because he hasn't racked up sacks at the same rate as other pass rushers in the NFL. That said, he's low-key altering the impact of every NFL game. As noted before, he posted the highest PFF mark among Jags players in Week 3. But wait, there's more. The Kentucky Hall-of-Fame inductee leads the league in pressures with 18 three games into the season.
Only 7 EDGE in the NFL have a higher pressure rate through 3 weeks than Josh Hines-Allen, according to NFL Pro.
— John Shipley (@_John_Shipley) September 22, 2025
Getting pressure more consistently than ... Myles Garrett, Crosby, Hendrickson, Hutchinson, to name a few. Singlehandedly prevented TDs in Week 1 and 3. pic.twitter.com/4GpVtfprwc
Circling back to the Texans bout, he tipped the pass that Jourdan Lewis ultimately picked off to give the Jaguars the win.
Sure, Lewis made the flashy play, but Hines-Allen also deserves his flowers for the assist, and he's getting them here.