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JAC |
HOU |
Fournette, strong defense lead Jaguars over Texans 29-7
HOUSTON (AP) Celebrations of the Jacksonville Jaguars' win over the Houston Texans were tempered by concerns for their state as Hurricane Irma made landfall on Sunday, with the mammoth storm threatening to affect all of Florida.
''It was a nice win, but you can really only enjoy it momentarily because our thoughts and prayers are back with everyone in Florida,'' coach Doug Marrone said, ''... and hoping that they're safe.''
The uncertainty of the storm also left their plans for the week in limbo. Teams normally return home immediately after games, but the Jaguars were staying in Houston on Sunday night and will decide what their next step is on Monday.
Leonard Fournette ran for 100 yards and a touchdown in his NFL debut, and Jacksonville had a franchise-record 10 sacks and forced four turnovers to get the 29-7 victory, their first in a season-opener since 2011.
Blake Bortles threw for 125 yards and a touchdown, Calais Campbell had four sacks and Dante Fowler returned a fumble 53 yards for a score as the Jaguars snapped a six-game skid against Houston.
''I was feeling anxious and ready for Week 1 to start and write a new narrative and kind of change the script,'' said Bortles who was 0-6 against Houston entering the game. ''I thought we did a great job up front, and we were able to run the ball well, so it made my job easy.''
The Texans hoped to provide a boost to the area ravaged by Hurricane Harvey with a win. Instead, Tom Savage struggled behind a porous line and was benched in favor of rookie Deshaun Watson at halftime with Houston down 19-0.
''It was a terrible day on offense, but it wasn't that much better defensively ... we have a lot of work to do,'' coach Bill O'Brien said. ''I told the team we've got to stick together and we've got to get back to work right away.''
J.J. Watt returned after missing 13 games last season after back surgery, but injured his finger in the first half and finished with just one tackle.
He was asked to describe his play.
''Terrible,'' he said. ''There's only way to go from here and that's up. Can't play much worse.''
A 42-yard field goal by Jason Myers made it 3-0 in the first quarter and he added one from 25 yards early in the second.
The Texans punted on their first four possessions, and the fifth one ended when Savage fumbled on a sack by Yannick Ngakoue and the Jaguars recovered the ball.
Fournette, the fourth overall pick in this year's draft, added his 1-yard touchdown after that, but the kick failed, leaving Jacksonville up 12-0.
Savage was sacked six times in the first half, playing behind a line without veteran left tackle Duane Brown, who is holding out. The Texans were also without receivers Will Fuller, who has a broken collarbone, and Jaelen Strong, who served a one-game suspension for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy.
Ngakoue picked up the last sack of the half, stripping the ball as he pulled Savage down. Fowler scooped it up and dashed for the score to make it 19-0.
Watson threw a 4-yard touchdown pass to DeAndre Hopkins on his first drive to cut the lead to 19-7 early in the third quarter.
On his 27th birthday, Tommy Bohanon grabbed a 1-yard TD pass from Bortles after that to extend Jacksonville's lead to 26-7.
The Texans coughed it up again late in the third quarter when Watson fumbled on a sack by Fowler and Ngakoue recovered it.
Houston was driving late in the fourth quarter when Watson turned it over again on an interception by Tashaun Gipson, who returned it 67 yards. The Jaguars added a field goal after that to make it 29-7.
INJURIES
Houston linebacker Brian Cushing, tight ends Ryan Griffin and C.J. Fiedorowicz and receiver Bruce Ellington all left the game with concussions. Jaguars receiver Allen Robinson injured his left knee in the first quarter and didn't return.
THEY SAID IT
Houston cornerback Johnathan Joseph on what went wrong: ''Just got punched in the mouth today ... no other words can describe it.''
SACKSONVILLE
The official Jaguars Twitter account had a little fun on Sunday by changing their handle to ''Sacksonville'' after setting the franchise record for sacks in a game. Campbell led the way in his first game with the Jaguars after spending his first nine seasons with the Cardinals, Yannick Ngakoue added two and Lerentee McCray had 1 1/2 sacks.
''We want to be the best defense in the league and we have that ability,'' Campbell said. ''But it doesn't mean anything if you don't continue with it.''
UP NEXT
Jaguars: Host Tennessee on Sunday.
Texans: Face a quick turnaround with a trip to Cincinnati on Thursday.
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For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL
Copyright 2017 by STATS. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS is strictly prohibited.
L. Fournette
5 RB 100 RuYds, RuTD, 24 ReYds, 3 RECs |
18
FPTS
|
|
D. Hopkins
10 WR 55 ReYds, ReTD, 7 RECs |
11
FPTS
|
Team Stats | ||
---|---|---|
Time of Pos | - | - |
1st Downs | 0 | 0 |
Rushing | 0 | 0 |
Passing | 0 | 0 |
Penalty | 0 | 0 |
3rd Down Conv | 0-0 | 0-0 |
4th Down Conv | 0-0 | 0-0 |
Total Net Yards | 0 | 0 |
Total Plays | 0 | 0 |
Avg Gain | 0 | 0 |
Net Yards Rushing | 0 | 0 |
Rush Attempts | 0 | 0 |
Avg Rush Yards | 0 | 0 |
Net Yards Passing | 0 | 0 |
Comp. - Att. | 0-0 | 0-0 |
Yards Per Pass | 0 | 0 |
Penalties - Yards | 0-0 | 0-0 |
Touchdowns | ||
Rushing TDs | 0 | 0 |
Passing TDs | 0 | 0 |
Other | ||
Turnovers | 0 | 0 |
Fumbles - Lost | 0-0 | 0-0 |
Int. Thrown | 0 | 0 |
Punts - Avg | 0-0 | 0-0 |
Return Yards | ||
Punts - Returns | 0-0 | 0-0 |
Kickoffs - Returns | 0-0 | 0-0 |
Int. - Returns | 0-0 | 0-0 |
Red Zone Eff. | 0-0 -0% | 0-0 -0% |
Goal to Go Eff. | 0-0 -0% | 0-0 -0% |
Safeties | 0 | 0 |
Passing | CP/ATT | YDS | TD | INT | FPTS |
B. Bortles
5 QB
12 FPTS
|
B. Bortles | 11/21 | 125 | 1 | 0 | 12 |
Rushing | ATT | YDS | TD | LG | FPTS |
L. Fournette
27 RB
18 FPTS
|
L. Fournette | 26 | 100 | 1 | 17 | 18 | ||||||||||||||||||||
C. Ivory
33 RB
5 FPTS
|
C. Ivory | 9 | 42 | 0 | 17 | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||
B. Bortles
5 QB
12 FPTS
|
B. Bortles | 3 | 13 | 0 | 15 | 12 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. Bohanon
40 RB
6 FPTS
|
T. Bohanon | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
Receiving | TAR | REC | YDS | TD | LG | FPTS |
A. Hurns
88 WR
4 FPTS
|
A. Hurns | 4 | 3 | 42 | 0 | 20 | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
L. Fournette
27 RB
18 FPTS
|
L. Fournette | 3 | 3 | 24 | 0 | 12 | 18 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
J. O'Shaughnessy
86 TE
1 FPTS
|
J. O'Shaughnessy | 1 | 1 | 18 | 0 | 18 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
A. Benn
17 WR
1 FPTS
|
A. Benn | 1 | 1 | 12 | 0 | 12 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
C. Ivory
33 RB
5 FPTS
|
C. Ivory | 2 | 1 | 11 | 0 | 11 | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
T. Bohanon
40 RB
6 FPTS
|
T. Bohanon | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
K. Cole
84 WR
0 FPTS
|
K. Cole | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
M. Lee
11 WR
0 FPTS
|
M. Lee | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
M. Lewis
89 TE
0 FPTS
|
M. Lewis | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Defense | T-A | SACK | INT | FF |
M. Jack
44 OLB
|
M. Jack | 8-6 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
A. Bouye
21 CB
|
A. Bouye | 5-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
C. Campbell
93 DT
|
C. Campbell | 4-2 | 4.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. Gipson
39 FS
|
T. Gipson | 4-2 | 0.0 | 1 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Y. Ngakoue
91 DE
|
Y. Ngakoue | 3-1 | 2.0 | 0 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Fowler
56 DE
|
D. Fowler | 3-0 | 1.0 | 0 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
M. Jackson
97 DT
|
M. Jackson | 3-0 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
B. Church
42 SS
|
B. Church | 3-3 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Ramsey
20 CB
|
J. Ramsey | 2-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Smoot
94 DE
|
D. Smoot | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
A. Colvin
22 CB
|
A. Colvin | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. Smith
50 OLB
|
T. Smith | 1-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
L. McCray
55 DE
|
L. McCray | 1-2 | 1.5 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
E. Ankou
99 DT
|
E. Ankou | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
P. Posluszny
51 MLB
|
P. Posluszny | 1-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. O'Shaughnessy
86 TE
|
J. O'Shaughnessy | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Payne
52 LB
|
D. Payne | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
S. Day
92 DT
|
S. Day | 0-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
A. Jones
95 DT
|
A. Jones | 0-2 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 |
Kicking | FG | LG | XP | PTS |
J. Myers
2 K
0 FPTS
|
J. Myers | 3/4 | 42 | 2/3 | 11 |
Punting | NO | AVG | IN20 | LG |
B. Nortman
3 P
|
B. Nortman | 4 | 46.8 | 0 | 61 |
Kickoff Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
Punt Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
M. Lee 11 WR
0 FPTS
|
M. Lee | 1 | 7.0 | 7 | 0 |
Passing | CP/ATT | YDS | TD | INT | FPTS |
Rushing | ATT | YDS | TD | LG | FPTS |
L. Miller
26 RB
9 FPTS
|
L. Miller | 17 | 65 | 0 | 8 | 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Watson
4 QB
7 FPTS
|
D. Watson | 2 | 16 | 0 | 9 | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. Ervin
34 RB
1 FPTS
|
T. Ervin | 3 | 8 | 0 | 6 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Foreman
27 RB
0 FPTS
|
D. Foreman | 1 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
Receiving | TAR | REC | YDS | TD | LG | FPTS |
D. Hopkins
10 WR
11 FPTS
|
D. Hopkins | 16 | 7 | 55 | 1 | 12 | 11 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
L. Miller
26 RB
9 FPTS
|
L. Miller | 2 | 2 | 31 | 0 | 26 | 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
T. Ervin
34 RB
1 FPTS
|
T. Ervin | 5 | 4 | 18 | 0 | 6 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
S. Anderson
89 TE
1 FPTS
|
S. Anderson | 5 | 2 | 14 | 0 | 11 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
R. Griffin
84 TE
0 FPTS
|
R. Griffin | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
B. Ellington
12 WR
0 FPTS
|
B. Ellington | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
B. Miller
13 WR
0 FPTS
|
B. Miller | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Defense | T-A | SACK | INT | FF |
K. Jackson
25 CB
|
K. Jackson | 4-2 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
B. McKinney
55 ILB
|
B. McKinney | 3-6 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
C. Moore
43 SS
|
C. Moore | 3-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
A. Hal
29 FS
|
A. Hal | 3-3 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |