Reviewing the five statistical projections I made before the Texans-Jaguars game. Houston won 27-7.
1. MAURICE JONES-DREW’S CARRIES
Projection: 23.
Actual: 12.
Jones-Drew returned to the starting lineup in part because Rashad Jennings was out with a knee injury. The Jaguars had only 14 carries as a team. Jones-Drew rushed for 60 yards, averaging 5 yards per carry but when the deficit was 17-0 at halftime, there was no choice – the Jaguars had to pass.
2. J.J. WATT’S SACKS/BATTED PASSES
Projection: One sack, two batted passes.
Actual: 1.5 sacks, two batted passes.
Hey, I got a projection actually correct. Or maybe just a
half-projection. Watt was the Texans’ best defensive player, leading them with five tackles, two tackles for lost yardage and a fumble recovery. He lined up most of the time over right tackle Guy Whimper and that’s low-hanging fruit for a player like Watt.
The Texans didn’t need Johnson to be himself because they rushed for 216 yards and got a combined 19 catches from their tight ends and running backs. Johnson had only 21 yards receiving.
If the Jaguars had the ball for more than 16 minutes, 43 seconds and 38 plays, the turnover total would have been higher. The only giveaway came when back-up quarterback Chad Henne and center Brad Meester fumbled an exchange.
The Jaguars went 9-of-18 last week (50 percent), but were a dismal 0-of-9 against Houston. It was only the third time in franchise history they failed to get a third-down conversion.
