What We Saw: Week 3

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Houston Texans @ Jacksonville Jaguars

Final Score: Jaguars 17, Texans 10

Writer: Jason Wolf

In an AFC South battle, the Jacksonville Jaguars battled the Houston Texans in what appeared to be a back-and-forth affair of offensive ineptitude for most of the game. Though both quarterbacks flashed moments of brilliance and the stars shone in limited opportunities, the defenses kept this game low-scoring as the two squads fought it out through four quarters. The Jaguars took the lead in the first quarter with a nine-play touchdown drive, and the Texans responded with a 13-play drive but stalled in the red zone and settled for a field goal. At the end of a first half that included nine combined punts, the Jaguars led their division rival, 7-3. Jacksonville opened the second half with a field goal to go ahead seven points, but a massive blown coverage allowed a chunk play and game-tying touchdown in the fourth quarter. Tied, 10-10, the Texans came up with a big defensive stop to give their offense a chance to pull ahead, but Nico Collins coughed up a costly fumble to set the Jaguars up for the go-ahead touchdown with 1:48 to play. Stroud tried to lead a game-tying drive in the final two minutes, but was picked off in the final seconds as the Jaguars survived with their first win over the Texans in Jacksonville since 2017.

Three Up

Brenton Strange – Dynamic, athletic, and insanely strong, Strange brings a new dynamic to the Jags’ offense that has been missing for a long time. Finished second on the team in targets, and he looked like the most dangerous receiving threat at Trevor Lawrence’s disposal.
Bhaysul Tuten – Tuten got the first crack at converting on a goal-line opportunity, and convert he did. Even though he didn’t have any big splash plays this game, he passes the eye test with flying colors. The Jags traded away their presumed 2nd-string RB, and they are sticking true to their word of giving Tuten more touches.
Nico Collins – Even in a game where the offense was stalling and uninspired 90% of the time, Nico somehow still managed to get his. His splash play was due to a defensive miscue, however the targets will always be there, and the Texans’ offense can only go up from here.

Two Down

Nick Chubb – For a second there, it seemed like Chubb had some juice left in the tank (still might) and that he might be able to display it as the lead back for the Texans. Unfortunately in reality, Houston can’t run block to save their life, and Woody Marks is breathing down Chubb’s neck as the 1B to his 1A. Marks is the better pass catcher and more dangerous big play threat at this point in Chubb’s career.
CJ Stroud — Awful offensive line, uninspired offensive play-calling and a lack of real playmakers on offense has made for a very difficult time for Stroud over his past three (twenty?) games. Even worse for Stroud’s fantasy prospects is that the Texans’ defense is still elite, so they are not turning over a completely friendly game script to Stroud all that often, despite how sad the state of the offense is.

Houston Texans

Quarterback

CJ Stroud: 25/38, 204 Yards, TD, 2 INT | 4 Rush, 22 Yards

The offensive philosophy is not doing any favors for Stroud or Houston. Their offense is like pulling teeth. They treat 1st and 2nd down as if they are appetizers for the main course of a 3rd down. Instead of keeping the defense on their toes, they are tucking the defense in and making sure they are nice and cozy. Stroud is just not being afforded any time to throw. Atrocious offensive line play continues in the first half of this one against the surprisingly solid looking Jags D. Credit to the Texans for trying to turn the pressure generated by the Jags against them with quick hitters and misdirections , but it’s just not working. Texans’ best drive of the first half was mostly due to defensive miscues by the Jags as well as untimely penalties keeping the Texans drive alive. Probably wouldn’t have gotten a FG or made it into the redzone if it weren’t for those penalties. This was a theme on the day as Stroud didn’t do too much to beat the Jags. His only TD came on a complete lapse in coverage by the Jags’ CB on Nico Collins’ long TD bomb.

Running Back

Nick Chubb: 9 Carries, 38 Yards | 4 Targets, 3 Receptions, 2 Yards

Chubb looks okay but the Texans run blocking isn’t doing any favors. If he had better blocking, I could see him being more effective as an every down runner but no one looks good in this offense save for Nico (sometimes).

Woody Marks: 6 Carries, 27 Yards | 2 Targets, 1 Reception, 9 Yards

Getting a good amount of run in the first half. Almost alternating 50/50 with Nick Chubb for opportunities and touches. Marks was on the field for just three fewer snaps than Chubb, and was the clear passing down back getting 10 of 11 two-minute drill snaps in the backfield. His role is growing and he will likely continue to cut into the veteran’s role.

Wide Receiver/Tight End

Nico Collins: 11 Targets, 8 Receptions, 104 Yards, TD, Fumble (lost)

On Collins’ TD, the DB Campbell (Jax) just completely had a defensive lapse and jumped Collins route from the snap, completely leaving him to push straight up the field wiiiiide open for a 50 yard TD to tie the game with only 9 minutes left. Collins’ was the only “weapon” the whole game for the Texans that was doing anything at all but thi splay has more to do with the DB mental lapse than anything Nico did. Couldn’t have been an easier more wide open walk-in TD. He ended the day getting his numbers plus the score but he was held in check for the vast majority of the day until the long touchdown on the broken coverage.

Notes

Coughed up a fumble in the final four minutes of the game – his first career lost fumble in 53 NFL games.

NICO COLLINS 50-YARD TD

Up to 7/94/1 on the daypic.twitter.com/lnfHa5g0kQ

— Underdog NFL (@UnderdogNFL) September 21, 2025

Christian Kirk: 8 Targets, 3 Receptions, 25 Yards

Kirk’s 8 targets represent the 2nd most targets on the team but his 25 total yards leaves a lot to be desired for such a significant target share. There is seemingly no chemistry between Stroud and the ex-Jaguar Kirk.

Dalton Schultz: 6 Targets, 5 Receptions, 39 Yards

You know what you’re getting when I say “Dalton Schultz.” The classic catch-and-fall-down tight end caught a handful of balls as a safety valve for Stroud, but nothing more exciting than that.

Xavier Hutchinson: 3 Targets, 1 Reception, 16 Yards

Jacksonville Jaguars

Quarterback

Trevor Lawrence: 20/40, 222 Yards, INT | 2 Carries, 9 Yards

Lawrence was inconsistent per usual, something he is consistent with. There are clearly some growing pains while adjusting to the learning curve in the new offense which is normal and to be expected. Receivers dropping passes, T-Law being a little less willing to make those tight, trust-needed throws and thus limiting the ceiling of the offense temporarily. Lawrence in Liam Cohen’s offense, while not delivering on every promise thus far….does seem to be allowing Lawrence more freedom and thus putting more responsibility on him to read pre snap defenses and adjust accordingly…which he did beautifully on the big 46 yard throw to Brian Thomas Jr. On the huge 46 yard play to BTJ late, Lawrence seemed to have made a pre-snap adjustment and changed the play, directly leading to the biggest play of the game for them when they needed it the most. T-Law saw the zero-blitz coming and he sent Etienne to pick up the man coming off the edge, allowing him the protection necessary to hit BTJ for the long bomb.

Running Back

Travis Etienne: 16 Carries, 56 Yards, TD | 2 Targets

Etienne continues to act as the top running back in Jacksonville, however the committee is seeing more involvement. Etienne earned 38 snaps while LeQuint Allen on the field for 21 snaps and Tuten in the game for 12 snaps. Allen was primarily a passing-down back, running 15 routes with no carries, while Etienne footed the load on the ground. Etienne found the end zone late, potentially benefitting from a lack of effort from the Texans’ defense as they (maybe?) allowed Etienne into the end zone to give their offense time to drive the field in response. Did the Texans give up this touchdown intentionally? I have my opinion, but I’ll let the reader decide.

Week Three

Travis Etienne Jr Rushing TD (2)
pic.twitter.com/kBrQfaF2JZ

— NFL TD Videos (@NFLTDVids) September 21, 2025

Bhaysul Tuten: 6 Carries, 21 Yards, TD | 1 Target

Got the opportunity to punch in the first goal-line TD of the day and he converted on his opportunity to do so. As a neutral, when I watch him and Travis Etienne, I can’t help but feel like I want to see Tuten carry the ball more than Etienne. ETN is effective around the edge and as a receiver but Tuten feels like the more natural, explosive runner out of the backfield.

Wide Receiver/Tight End

BrianThomas Jr.: 6 Targets, 2 Receptions, 55 Yards

– Coming into the season, there were concerns about BTJ’s ability to repeat his success from last year. Chief among these concerns is the fact that BTJ did most of his damage and compiled all of his gaudy stats with Mac Jones throwing him the ball. The other cause for concern for his 2025 usage was the Jaguars drafting Travis Hunter , arguably the best WR of the draft. Well, we’re three weeks into the season, and that means it’s overreaction time. Through Week 3, these concerns appear to have not only been completely valid but prescient. Through three weeks, BTJ has seven receptions and almost as many drops (6 or 4, depending on who is counting). His 7 receptions on 25 targets is both promising and alarming. His raw usage and opportunities are encouraging but his drops and lack of a solid connection with Lawrence is highly concerning for fantasy owners and the Jacksonville Jaguars alike. BTJ was targeted 6 times on 40 of T-Law’s pass attempts, good for only a 15% target share. Far cry from what you would expect from a man of his talents and his season last year. In the early fourth quarter (4Q, 12:30), BTJ was wide open five yards downfield on a 3rd & 4. Lawrence delivered the ball right to his hands but BTJ lost focus and tried to make his move before he fully secured the ball, dropping it in the process. Was a key 3rd down around midfield and killed a potential scoring drive for the Jags.

Notes

He is still passing the eye test to me when I watch him in a vacuum. His blazing speed looks to still be there (confirmed by Next Gen Stats clocking him at 22.13 MPH on his 46 yard reception late in the game, which was the fastest of any WR this season thus far. His athleticism is still passing the eye test but his connection with Lawrence does not.

Parker Washington: 11 Targets, 4 Receptions, 34 Yards

Parker Washington surprisingly outpaced BTJ and Hunter in targets, leading the team with 11 on the day. He ran the 2nd-most pass routes on the day; an obvious benefactor of the injury to Dyami Brown. His best play of the day came on his reception of 16 yards where he caught the ball in stride and raced to the sideline, breaking a tackle and leaving the would-be tackler in the dust as he picked up an extra 8 on the YAC. Though his numbers weren’t the best or most eye-popping, he felt like a decent emergency outlet for Lawrence when nothing else was open down the field. Mostly doing his work in the short-intermediate game, his aDOT is understandably low. For such a low aDOT guy though, his efficiency and catch rate was disappointing today, though that can hardly be blamed on him.

Travis Hunter: 2 Targets, 1 Reception, 21 Yards | 6 Tackles (4 solo)

Essentially invisible all first half on offense. The first time that he made any impact at all was in the 3rd quarter with his 21 yard catch and run where he showed some nice speed and athleticism as he caught the ball and burst upfield. He did a juke and got the defender miss, creating some YAC. Career high catch for him. For the first time this season and in his young NFL career, Hunter played more snaps on defense than on offense. He recorded a career high 6 tackles, four of which were unassisted. He also had a great rep on defense where he was covering Nico Collins downfield, and he took Collins, Stroud’s desired target on the play, out of the play with his sticky coverage.

Brenton Strange: 7 Targets,6 Receptions, 61 Yards,

Brenton Strange flashes quite a bit with the ball in his hand. He is your classic “deceptively athletic” TE. He made a nice play on a 3rd & 21 with 8 minutes to go in the 3rd. Caught a short pass and was able to gain enough YAC with extra effort and his speed to allow the Jags to attempt (and make) a 54 yard FG (which was later taken off the board due to penalty and Jags given fresh set of downs). He was 2nd on the team in targets today, drawing 7 looks his way, 2nd only to Parker Washington. Showed some insane strength on his 13 yard reception where he plowed through the tackle attempts of two defenders who ran right into him. He absorbed the contact, shook it off, and kept going for a few extra yards He made a defender miss as well with a nice juke before breaking the two attempted tackles. Strange’s game also stood out on the day because the game was marred by countless penalties, drops, gaffes, and such for both teams. However, Strange played a near flawless game as a pass catcher, doing everything he was told and some extra stuff as well.