The Jacksonville Jaguars have done a great job of establishing the run under head coach Liam Coen. Some of that is due to the fact that the offensive line has excelled at opening big enough lanes for a truck to go through. It's also helped that they have a dynamic backfield tandem in Travis Etienne and rookie Bhayshul Tuten.
And based on the weather report for their Week 3 matchup against the Houston Texans, the Jags may need to lean on Etienne and Tuten to try to win the game.
It may rain for the Jaguars game vs. the Texans in Week 3
According to NFLWeather, it will be around 85 degrees Fahrenheit throughout the game, so it won't be extremely hot. On the other hand, there's a 43 percent chance of precipitation. Couple that with the fact that there could be gusts of up to 25 mph, and it will be hard to complete deep passes or long field goals.
On the bright side, there's no thunderstorm alert, so the game won't be delayed like it was when Jacksonville faced the Carolina Panthers in the season opener.
The Jaguars will lean on Travis Etienne and Bhayshul Tuten to beat the Bengals
Trevor Lawrence is off to a somewhat inconsistent start this season but is expected to play much better in the upcoming weeks. Having said that, the team will take some of the pressure off his shoulders by getting the running game going. So far, that's kept them competitive the past two games, so don't expect them to deviate from the formula when they face off against the Houston Texans. Quite the opposite.
The Texans have been vulnerable against the run this season, giving up a combined 241 yards versus the Los Angeles Rams and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. It's worth noting that Jaguars head coach Liam Coen's scheme is similar to the one both the Rams and Buccaneers run, as he was the offensive coordinator for both clubs in 2022 and 2024, respectively.
Coen said ahead of the game that he'll mix the amount of screen and running plays the Jaguars use against the Texans. And based on the weather, it will be shocking if he deviates from the game plan. On the other hand, don't expect Lawrence to just hand the ball to Etienne and Tunen.
Lawrence may not attempt long passes often, but don't be surprised to see him dial up a handful of deep shots throughout the game.
Keep in mind that, unlike Jacksonville. The Texans have struggled to get their game going this season, ranking 20th in the league. To make matters worse, they're 28th in both passing yards and passing touchdowns, so they could have a hard time moving the football.
The bottom line is that this is quickly shaping into a winning game for the Jaguars. It will be up to them to capitalize on the opportunity to earn their second victory of the season.