Houston Texans' run game has a breakthrough with key contributions to win over Jacksonville Jaguars

Jawhar Jordan took the pitch from C.J. Stroud late in the third quarter Sunday and instead of running toward the outside, Jordan readjusted and cut back towards the center of the field. 

The interior of the Houston Texans' offensive line had pushed the Jaguars back well beyond the line of scrimmage at the 25-yard line, opening a canyon in the middle of the field. Jordan dashed through it, evaded Jaguars cornerback Jarrian Jones' attempt to bring him down and capped the longest run of the Houston season in the end zone.

The Texans' running game has struggled over the past month, and few people would have guessed that would change Sunday going up against the Jaguars' league-best run defense on a slippery day in London.

But behind an offensive line that was up to the task against Jacksonville's front, Jordan's touchdown run wasn't an anomaly. Instead, Houston ran for over 100 yards for the first time since Week 1 and averaged more than 4 yards per carry for the first time all year in the 34-31 victory at Wembley Stadium.

"It all starts up front," Stroud said. "Our O-line did a great job today."

Houston entered Sunday second-to-last in total rushing yards on the season while the Jaguars' defense ranked No. 1 in run defense, allowing 2.9 yards per carry and 63.8 rushing yards per game. Their Past two opponents, the Cincinnati Bengals and the Philadelphia Eagles, combined for just 45 rushing yards.

No player had gained more than 40 rushing yards against Jacksonville all season, at least until it went up against Woody Marks and Jordan, who was elevated from the practice squad for the game due to David Montgomery's groin injury.

Jordan has six carries for 43 yards. Marks had 56 yards on 15 carries plus another 25 yards receiving. The Texans are now 10-0 when Marks carries the ball at least 11 times. 

Marks' most important play came through the air. On third-and-2 during Houston's game-winning drive, Marks jabstepped to his left and then ran right out of the backfield. Stroud hit Marks on the short throw near the line of scrimmage and the second-year running back sprinted up the field for 19 yards, putting the offense in Jacksonville territory.

Jordan emerged from the first few weeks of training camp as one of the standout performers on offense but an injury cut into his preseason work. He ended up on the practice squad, like he did last season.

"It feels very similar to last year," offensive coordinator Nick Caley said Thursday. "We brought him along and had a good camp last year and then we finally got an opportunity to come on up and you saw."

TEXANS 34, JAGUARS 31

First Quarter

Hou_Moreau 6 pass from Stroud (Fairbairn kick), 5:13. Drive: 5 plays, 62 yards, 3:01. Key Play: Stroud 42 pass to Collins. Houston 7, Jacksonville 0.

Second Quarter

Jac_Tuten 27 pass from Lawrence (C.Little kick), 6:47. Drive: 8 plays, 79 yards, 4:26. Key Plays: Lawrence 19 pass to Washington; Lawrence 27 pass to Washington on 3rd-and-4. Houston 7, Jacksonville 7.

Hou_FG Fairbairn 25, 4:16. Drive: 8 plays, 62 yards, 2:31. Key Plays: Hutchinson kick return to Houston 31; Stroud 34 pass to Noel; Stroud 14 pass to M.Harrison; Stroud 7 pass to Schultz on 3rd-and-8. Houston 10, Jacksonville 7.

Jac_Tuten 2 pass from Lawrence (C.Little kick), :55. Drive: 10 plays, 48 yards, 3:21. Key Plays: Cameron kick return to Houston 48; Lawrence 9 pass to Meyers on 3rd-and-8; Lawrence 19 pass to T.Hunter. Jacksonville 14, Houston 10.

Hou_Moreau 1 pass from Stroud (Fairbairn kick), :08. Drive: 4 plays, 63 yards, 00:47. Key Plays: Noel kick return to Houston 37; Stroud 50 pass to Noel. Houston 17, Jacksonville 14.

Third Quarter

Hou_Noel 13 pass from Stroud (Fairbairn kick), 9:21. Drive: 12 plays, 65 yards, 5:39. Key Plays: Stroud 9 pass to Schultz on 3rd-and-10; Stroud 14 pass to M.Harrison; Stroud 10 pass to Noel; Stroud 6 pass to M.Harrison on 3rd-and-2. Houston 24, Jacksonville 14.

Jac_Boerkircher 1 pass from Lawrence (C.Little kick), 2:34. Drive: 6 plays, 69 yards, 2:57. Key Plays: Lawrence 22 pass to Meyers; Lawrence 28 pass to Meyers; Lawrence 11 pass to Tuten on 3rd-and-3. Houston 24, Jacksonville 21.

Hou_J.Jordan 25 run (Fairbairn kick), :50. Drive: 6 plays, 65 yards, 1:44. Key Play: Stroud 16 pass to Schultz. Houston 31, Jacksonville 21.

Fourth Quarter

Jac_T.Hunter 7 pass from Lawrence (C.Little kick), 11:26. Drive: 9 plays, 61 yards, 4:18. Key Plays: Lawrence 26 pass to T.Hunter; Lawrence 10 pass to Washington; Rodriguez 3 run on 3rd-and-1. Houston 31, Jacksonville 28.

Jac_FG C.Little 60, 1:55. Drive: 7 plays, 38 yards, 1:58. Key Plays: T.Hunter 0 interception return to Jacksonville 20; Lawrence 15 pass to Meyers; Lawrence 6 pass to Strange on 3rd-and-10. Houston 31, Jacksonville 31.

Hou_FG Fairbairn 49, :00. Drive: 8 plays, 36 yards, 1:55. Key Plays: Hutchinson kick return to Houston 32; Stroud 19 pass to Marks on 3rd-and-2. Houston 34, Jacksonville 31.

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INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING_Houston, Marks 15-56, J.Jordan 6-43, Stroud 1-5, Collins 1-5, Stover 2-5. Jacksonville, Rodriguez 11-55, Tuten 12-39, Lawrence 3-11, Allen 1-1.

PASSING_Houston, Stroud 24-34-1-312. Jacksonville, Lawrence 24-41-1-306.

RECEIVING_Houston, Noel 4-107, Schultz 4-33, Collins 3-74, Harrison 3-34, Marks 2-25, Boutte 2-16, Hutchinson 2-10, Moreau 2-7, J.Jordan 1-7, B.Jordan 1-(minus 1). Jacksonville, Meyers 5-83, Strange 5-44, Washington 4-64, Hunter 4-59, Tuten 4-48, Boerkircher 2-8.

PUNT RETURNS_Houston, Noel 1-2. Jacksonville, Washington 1-7.

KICKOFF RETURNS_Houston, Noel 2-65, Hutchinson 2-52. Jacksonville, Abdullah 4-118, Cameron 1-46.

TACKLES-ASSISTS-SACKS_Houston, Lassiter 6-2-0, Stingley 5-1-0, To'oTo'o 3-3-0, Togiai 3-3-0, Blankenship 3-2-0, Bullock 3-2-0, Stewart 3-0-0, Al-Shaair 2-5-0, T.Smith 2-1-0, Hunter 1-2-0, L.Hall 1-1-0, Rankins 1-0-0, Anderson 0-1-0, Crumedy 0-1-0, McDonald 0-1-0, Ramsey 0-1-0. Jacksonville, Johnson 5-1-0, Oluokun 4-4-0, Merriweather 4-3-0, Jar.Jones 4-2-0, Combs 3-1-0, Lewis 3-0-0, Murray 2-1-0, Miller 1-5-0, Hunter 1-2-0, Walker 1-2-0, Hamilton 1-1-0, Gardeck 1-0-0, Hines-Allen 1-0-0, Armstead 0-2-0, Dickerson 0-1-0, Orhorhoro 0-1-0.

INTERCEPTIONS_Houston, Bullock 1-0. Jacksonville, Hunter 1-0.

MISSED FIELD GOALS_None.

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OFFICIALS_Referee Shawn Hochuli, Ump Larry Smith, HL Patrick Holt, LJ Carl Johnson, FJ Jason Ledet, SJ Dave Hawkshaw, BJ Jimmy Russell, Replay Tyler Cerimeli.

When Jordan got his opportunity last year against the Arizona Cardinals, he put up the best rushing performance of the 2025 Texans season with 101 yards on 15 carries.

Houston didn't need Jordan to be the lead back Sunday like it did last year, but Jordan made the most of his carries. His 25-yard score was the first touchdown of his career, and his 7-yard rush on the game-winning drive turned Ka'imi Fairbairn's winning kick from a 56-yarder to a 49-yarder.

Those seven yards shouldn't go unnoticed. Fairbairn hasn't missed a field goal under 50 yards in 51 attempts.

"One thing I always tell all of our guys, wherever you are on our team, is when you get the opportunity, are you maximizing that opportunity?" Ryans said. "Jawhar did exactly that today."

But Jordan and Marks couldn't have done without the Texans' offensive line, which played a great game. Not only did they open holes for the two running backs but they also kept Stroud protected.

Houston had only one play go for negative yardage. The Jaguars defense also didn't sack Stroud once and registered just two quarterback hits.

"Our backs, they did a phenomenal job," Ryans said. "Our offensive line did a great job protecting C.J. No sacks today. Our offense played really well."

Peter Warren reported from Houston

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This article originally published at Houston Texans' run game has a breakthrough with key contributions to win over Jacksonville Jaguars.