Jaguars vs. Texans: 3 keys to victory in Week 12's revenge game

1. The Jaguars must contain C.J. Stroud, force him into making mistakes in Week 12

C.J. Stroud is having one of the best seasons ever by a first-year quarterback in NFL History. Back in Week 3, he completed 66 percent of his passes for 280 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions. Already playing like a vested veteran, Stroud is averaging 8.3 yards per attempt, showing the Texans are already trusting him to take deep shots.

Up until Week 11, Stroud had thrown just two interceptions. He had three against the Arizona Cardinals. The young passer acknowledged after the game that he has to play smarter but said that he's going to keep taking chances. Head coach DeMeco Ryans didn't seem overly concerned either, pointing out that "it's all about how you respond to those plays."

Of course, Stroud, like any other rookie, is bound to make mistakes. But he's also learned a lot since the last time Houston faced the Jaguars. Defensive coordinator Mike Caldwell knows Stroud will be a much better quarterback in Week 12.

"He was good back then, and he's even better now," Caldwell told the local media Wednesday. "It's pretty amazing to see him come in and do the things that he'd been able to do. Take care of the ball, throw the ball wherever he needs to place a bunch of plays with his legs and he's a guy that he's really putting on a great performance week after week."

Failing to contain C.J. Stroud was one of the reasons the Jaguars fell to Houston in Week 3. They'll have another shot at stopping him Sunday. If they seize it, they should come out of NRG Stadium with their eight win of the season.

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