McClain: Jaguars could be cautionary tale for Texans
When the Texans won at Indianapolis to finish 10-7, they clinched at least a wild-card spot in the playoffs. They needed the Titans to beat the Jaguars, and they did, 28-20. Jacksonville finished 9-8 and tied for second place with Indianapolis, one game behind the Texans.
The Jaguars still haven't recovered. After their 8-3 start last season, they're 3-14, and Pederson is on the hot seat because he and his staff haven't been able to engineer a transformation since they left Houston with a 24-21 victory on Nov. 26.
Going into Sunday's game, the similarities between what's happening to the Texans this season compared to the Jaguars last season are striking.
One season after earning the AFC South crown and defeating the Browns in the wild-card round, the Texans were the consensus pick to successfully defend their division title. There was speculation they might even be Super Bowl contenders in their second season under Head Coach DeMeco Ryans.
The Texans won five of their first six games. But then injuries and mistakes started to pile up. They were penalized 11 times for 81 yards in their loss to the Titans. They've committed the second-most penalties for the second-most yards in the NFL.
Quarterback C.J. Stroud is struggling with consistency. The offensive line has allowed him to be sacked 39 times, one more than last season. He's the most pressured quarterback in the league. He's thrown nine interceptions, four more than last season. Receivers have dropped passes. In the last two games, Stroud thrown touchdown passes to Nico Collins that were called back because of penalties.
The defense is second in the league with 42 sacks and will shatter the team record of 46 set last season. The Texans lead the league in pressuring quarterbacks. Ends Danielle Hunter and Will Anderson Jr. have combined for 20 sacks. And yet the defense has surrendered a league-high 24 touchdown passes.
No wonder the Texans have lost four of their last six games. Five games remain in the season, and Sunday is a must-win situation.
After visiting Jacksonville, the Texans have their bye week. They close the season at home against Miami, at Kansas City, at home against Baltimore and at Tennessee, a team that'll be looking to sweep the division series.
If the Texans need any extra incentive about what's at stake in Jacksonville, all they have to do is to look across the field at the Jaguars to see what can happen to them if they don't undergo a quick metamorphosis and become the team they're capable of being.
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