Texans @ Jags

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(AP) -- Texans coach Bill O'Brien is eager to see if Ryan Fitzpatrick can follow up a record-setting performance by helping Houston build on the highest-scoring game in team history.

 

While attempting to do so Sunday, the visiting Texans will also look to prevent the Jacksonville Jaguars from winning back-to-back games for the first time in a year.

 

Fitzpatrick, who lost the starting job following a 31-21 loss to Philadelphia on Nov. 2, made the most of his return after Ryan Mallett suffered a season-ending chest injury. Fitzpatrick, who turned 32 last week, went 24 of 33 for 358 yards and threw a franchise-record six touchdowns without an interception in Sunday's 45-21 home rout of Tennessee.

 

He had 11 TDs, eight picks and an 87.1 rating while going 4-5 before being benched.

 

"Maybe it helped Fitz to take a step back," O'Brien said. "You never want to see anybody get hurt like Mallett did, but maybe it helped Fitz to see how the offense was operated and he went in there and did a good job.

 

"The trick is, can we do it again?"

 

Houston (6-6), which can be eliminated from the AFC South race with a loss and an Indianapolis victory at Cleveland, hasn't won two in a row since starting 2-0.

 

The Texans split the two games Mallett started, but Fitzpatrick's performance - even against a Titans team allowing an NFL-high 28.2 points per contest - reinforced the potential associated with their offense.

 

With a healthy Arian Foster totaling 105 yards and second-year receiver DeAndre Hopkins setting career highs with nine receptions, 238 yards and two TDs, the Texans set a record for points after scoring a season low in a 22-13 loss to Cincinnati a week earlier.

 

"I think it comes down to consistency," O'Brien said. "I think it's really important - it's vitally important to go out there and have a great week of practice and I think that's what we did last week. Guys were really detailed and focused. That's what we have to do this week again."

 

Jacksonville (2-10) ranks 28th in both average yards (383.2) and points (27.4) allowed, but is coming off a 25-24 comeback victory over the New York Giants. The Jaguars also swept Houston as part of a three-game winning streak from Nov. 24-Dec. 5 last year.

 

"I don't care what (Jacksonville's) record is," O'Brien said. "I really don't. It's not coach-speak; it's the truth. This team is a talented team, well-coached."

 

The Jaguars had scored more than 20 points twice prior to Sunday, when they overcame an 18-point halftime deficit by outscoring the Giants 22-3 in the final two quarters.

 

"One thing that you can't take away from this football team is that we're fighters," said linebacker J.T. Thomas, who scored one of two defensive TDs versus New York.

 

Jacksonville knows the fight won't be easy against a defense led by J.J. Watt that's allowed 23 points while beating the Titans and Cleveland in their last two road contests.

 

Watt, who caught a TD pass for the third time this season while lined up in a goal-line formation last Sunday, also recorded two sacks to raise his total to 11 1/2. He has 5 1/2 in six career games against the Jaguars, who are without right tackle Austin Pasztor because of a ruptured hamstring.

 

The Texans could get a boost if cornerback Kareem Jackson returns from a three-game absence due to a knee injury, but overall No. 1 pick Jadeveon Clowney (knee) won't be available for the rest of the season.

 

Clowney will undergo another procedure on the right knee which has continued to bother him since having arthroscopic surgery Sept. 8. The knee injury and illness have limited Clowney to four games and brought about much scrutiny - though not from O'Brien.

 

"I want to be real clear about this with him as it relates to us here and the Houston Texans," O'Brien said. "We think very highly of him. We know that he is going to be a really good player. He has been unlucky ... he is a good kid."

 

While Clowney never recorded a sack, third overall pick Blake Bortles has been sacked 34 times - fourth-most in the league - after a season-worst seven last Sunday. However, he didn't have an interception for the first time while throwing for 194 yards and his first TD in three games. He also rushed for 68 yards.

 

Though Bortles' statistics were far from spectacular, coach Gus Bradley was pleased with the way the rookie guided the offense in the second half, especially on the 11-play, 55-yard drive that ended with Josh Scobee's 43-yard field goal with 28 seconds left.

 

"You could just see him wanting to take over the game, and his mentality," Bradley said. "He didn't slide. When we needed a couple of extra yards, he went for it. That's what the guys are gravitating toward - his competitiveness, his focus and his taking advantage of opportunities."

 

Two in a row, baby.

[RazorStar 4,025]

Blake Bortles is gonna need to be aborted once JJ Watt is done with him.

 

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Abortled.

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Jaguars declared RB Storm Johnson, WR Tommy Streeter, CB Jeremy Harris, LB A.J. Edds, LB Khairi Fortt, OL Tyler Shatley, and DE Andre Branch inactive for Week 14 against the Texans.

The Jags have no surprises among their Week 14 inactives.

Source: Michael DiRocco on Twitter

 

 

 

 

 

 

Texans declared TE Garrett Graham, QB Thad Lewis, WR DeVier Posey, CB Andre Hal, S Josh Aubrey, OT Jeff Adams, and OLB Jadeveon Clowney inactive for Week 14 against the Jaguars.

Graham is believed to have a high ankle sprain. The Texans will go with Ryan Griffin and rookie C.J. Fiedorowicz at tight end against Jacksonville.

Source: Tania Ganguli on Twitter