Five keys to Texans’ 24-20 comeback win over Jaguars

HOUSTON – Engineering a comeback victory Sunday at NRG Stadium, the defending AFC South champion Texans are fortunate there are no style points in football.

It was an ugly win, if there is such a thing in the ultra-competitive NFL.

A win is a win is a win, though.

The Texans managed to pull out a sloppy 24-20 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars to improve to 3-1 overall and 2-0 in the AFC South division heading into a huge AFC game next Sunday against the Buffalo Bills.

Here are five keys to the outcome of this home game:

1. C.J. Stroud was masterful, especially as the architect of the game-winning drive. Stroud drove the Texans down to the red zone, putting an exclamation point on the win with a late touchdown pass to running back Dare Ogunbowale out of the backfield. Stroud completed 27 of 40 passes for a season-high 347 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions for a 110.9 passer rating. Stroud helped the Texans bounce back from a 34-7 blowout road loss to the Minnesota Vikings. Stroud is one of the top quarterbacks in the NFL because of his accuracy, ability to elude pressure, arm strength, leadership skills and careful nature with the football.

2. Nico Collins is a dominant force. At 6-foot-4, 222 pounds, the former University of Michigan wide receiver is a physical mismatch with strength, size, speed and route-running skills working in his favor. Collins caught 12 passes for 151 yards and a touchdown on 15 targets. He’s up to 30 catches for 489 yards, surpassing DeAndre Hopkins’ franchise record for yards through four games. Collins is on pace for 122 catches and 2,078 yards.

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3. A clutch goal-line stand by a suddenly stout defense was a major reason why the Texans were able to win the game and pull it out. In the fourth quarter, the Jaguars had a fourth-and-goal at the Texans’ 1-yard line. Instead of attempting a pass, the Jaguars called a quarterback draw for Trevor Lawrence. He was stuffed by massive former Jaguars defensive tackle Foley Fatukasi to turn it over on downs. Instead of falling behind by 10 points, the Texans prevented the Jaguars from scoring and ultimately managed to win the game.

4. The Texans are the penalty kings, not what you want to be known for in the NFL. They were flagged for 12 penalties for 93 yards. They’re up to 40 penalties this season for 424 yards this season. They’re getting a bad reputation for pre-snap penalties, including false starts and illegal formation infractions. They’re also too many holding calls. It’s getting out of hand and the Texans need to play more disciplined football.

5. Texans cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. delivered two timely pass deflections, continuing to show why he’s one of the top cover guys in the game. Other key defensive contributors on a day during which they were fortunate that Lawrence overthrew wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. after he beat rookie corner Kamari Lassiter for a potential touchdown: safety Eric Murray, who had one sack and a pivotal pass defensed and safety Calen Bullock, who started in place of an injured Jimmie Ward and had five tackles and one pass defensed.

Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com