National Football League

Jags look to string together consecutive victories vs. Texans

Published Dec. 6, 2014 10:00 a.m. ET

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Blake Bortles is coming off a game-ending performance that the Jacksonville Jaguars hope will be the first of many.

Ryan Fitzpatrick is coming off the game of his life for the Houston Texans.

Winners of just one of their first 11 contests, the Jaguars will try to string together back-to-back victories for the first time in more than a year when they host the Texans on Sunday.

Bortles was sacked seven times and threw for only 194 yards last week against the New York Giants, but his poise and versatility led the Jaguars on a drive that resulted in Josh Scobee's 43-yard field goal with 28 seconds remaining. It served as a reminder of why Jacksonville took him with the No. 3 pick in this year's NFL Draft.

In 2013, the Jaguars began the Gus Bradley era with an 0-8 record before winning at Tennessee in a game where Fitzpatrick took over for the injured Jake Locker. Fitzpatrick began this season as the starting quarterback of a team that closed with 14 consecutive losses, but he was benched last month in favor of Ryan Mallett.

When a chest injury shelved Mallett for the rest of the season, the Texans had no choice but to give Fitzpatrick another chance against the Titans. The way he has responded is nothing short of amazing: He threw for 358 yards and six touchdowns in a 45-21 rout of his former team. The 45 points were a franchise record, as were Fitzpatrick's six scoring passes, breaking the previous mark of five set two years ago by Matt Schaub against the Jaguars.

Bortles has had 15 passes picked off since replacing Chad Henne in Week 3, which is the same number of interceptions posted by Houston's defense. Fitzpatrick was intercepted eight times before his benching but is facing a secondary with only two thefts all season.

MATCHUP TO WATCH

Texans DE J.J. Watt vs. Jaguars offensive line.

The temptation is to look at this as a matchup between an MVP candidate with 11.5 sacks and a league-high 36 quarterback hits (Watt) and a right tackle who has been inactive for the past two months (Sam Young).

But Young, who was selected over Josh Wells to start in place of the injured Austin Pasztor, won't be the only member of a line put to the test. The unit has already allowed 50 sacks this season. Watt can line up on the left or right side and be utilized more as a blitzing linebacker than an end. That could present a challenge to Luke Joeckel, who was penalized twice for holding a week ago against the Giants' Jason Pierre-Paul, as much as it will to Young.

"He's really internally driven and he elevates everybody around him," Bradley said of Watt. "And when you have those two combinations, that's pretty good. And then the stats back it up."

Or, as offensive coordinator Jedd Fisch put it, "The guy is a dude, and we know that."

TRENDING UP

Jaguars: Their defense is one of only three in the league that has not given up a touchdown on an opponent's opening drive all season. The Texans and the Cleveland Browns are the others. A week ago, the defense recorded its first two touchdowns of the year in the second half. It has nine sacks, eight forced fumbles and six fumble recoveries in the last two games.

Texans: Andre Johnson has enjoyed huge success against the Jaguars, setting a single-game record for most receiving yards by an opposing player with 273 in 2012. But the wide receiver who enters this game on a roll is DeAndre Hopkins. The second-year pro had nine catches for 238 yards and two touchdowns in the win over the Titans and is averaging 17.4 yards per reception this season, compared to 11.1 yards for Johnson.

TRENDING DOWN

Jaguars: Tight end Marcedes Lewis has just three catches for a total of three yards in his two games after coming off injured reserve. He played in 65 of Jacksonville's 68 offensive plays against the Giants but was targeted only three times, not including a failed two-point conversion attempt. Asked about his lack of involvement, Lewis replied, "I just know when my number is called to be accountable and do what I've always done."

Texans: The disappointing rookie season of Jadaveon Clowney, the top pick in the entire draft, came to an end Thursday when it was announced he'll need to undergo another knee surgery. The outside linebacker from South Carolina played in a total of four games, recording seven tackles. His knee injury in the season opener came after hernia surgery before training camp. His effort was also questioned during his final college year.

INJURY REPORT

Jaguars: DE Andre Branch (groin) and LB Khairi Fortt (hamstring) are out. LB LaRoy Reynolds (neck) and WR Tommy Streeter (abdominal strain) are questionable. DE Chris Clemons (knee), DT Sen'Derrick Marks (foot), S Josh Evans (foot), QB Blake Bortles (right shoulder/left ankle), LB Jeremiah George (ankle) and RB Toby Gerhart (shoulder) are probable.

Texans: LB Jadaveon Clowney (knee) and TE Garrett Graham (ankle) are out. S Danieal Manning (hamstring) is questionable. T Tyson Clabo (foot), TE Anthony Denham (illness), LB Akeem Dent (neck), RB Arian Foster (groin), RB Jonathan Grimes (ankle), CB Kareem Jackson (knee), CB Johnathan Joseph (ankle), P Shane Lechler (bicep), T Derek Newton (knee), NT Ryan Pickett (back) and LB Jeff Tarpinian (knee) are probable.

DID YOU KNOW?

Watt has scored five touchdowns this season, which is as many as Jacksonville's leader in that category -- rookie wide receiver Allen Hurns -- has. Watt's TD receptions on all three of his catches are one more than Johnson has on 65 receptions.

QUOTEBOARD

"What can't he do? He plays the run awesome, and his rushing-the-passer skills is off the charts. He's quicker than most of the guys he goes against. His hands, his technique is on point. There's not much opposing teams really can do." -- Jaguars defensive end Ryan Davis, on the play of teammate Sen'Derrick Marks. Despite their 2-10 record, Marks is having a Pro Bowl-caliber season with seven sacks, which ties him with end Chris Clemons for the team lead and equals the tackle's total from his previous five seasons.

"I ran into the same situation in college last year. When the touchdowns come, they come." -- Jaguars wide receiver Marqise Lee, who had not found the end zone during his rookie season until catching a 30-yard pass in the third quarter last week. Lee went into the game with only 16 receptions for 193 yards but led the Jaguars in catches (6) and receiving yards (75) in their 25-24 win over the Giants.

"No movie-type speech or anything like that. Just keep it on a straight line. He's always even-keeled." -- Jaguars left tackle Luke Joeckel, on the demeanor of Blake Bortles during a drive that began with 3:26 remaining and the team down by two points. Bortles completed four of his five passes and ran twice for a total of 31 yards.

"He's learning how to become a pro at a young age. I think that's really going to be a big plus for him in the future." -- Jaguars defensive coordinator Bob Babich, on outside linebacker Telvin Smith. The fifth-round pick out of Florida State has posted consecutive games of 10 or more tackles and was on the field for 73 of a possible 74 defensive plays against the Giants.

LOOKING AHEAD

The Jaguars are at Baltimore next Sunday.

You can follow Ken Hornack on Twitter @HornackFSFla or email him at khornack32176@gmail.com.