NFL experts predict the winner of the Jaguars vs. Texans Week 3 game.
The Jacksonville Jaguars return home in Week 3 for a matchup with the Houston Texans in the team’s first divisional matchup of the season.
With both teams coming off Week 2 losses, who do the experts believe will win this game?
Through two weeks, the Jaguars‘ offense has found a lot of success moving the ball and has been able to put up points. The defense has been one of the better units in the NFL at generating takeaways as well.
However, self-inflicted mistakes have been rampant as well and contributed heavily to last week’s loss.
The Texans, meanwhile, are 0-2 to start the season, following losses to the LA Rams and Tampa Bay.
The Houston defense ranks seventh in points per game allowed, but the offense ranks last in that category, scoring just 14.0 points per game.
Now, let’s dive into the predictions.
ESPN
Out of ESPN’s eight staff members making predictions, five are picking the Texans to win, while three are choosing the Jaguars.
Bleacher Report
Only one of Bleacher Report’s NFL analysts is picking the Jaguars to win this game. Here is why Brent Sobleski believes Jacksonville can get the job done.
“The Jaguars have the talent along their defensive line to make life miserable for quarterback C.J. Stroud, who might face another week of consistently checking down in order to get something going in the passing game,” wrote Sobleski.
Pro Football Talk
Mike Florio likes the Texans to win by a field goal, and Chris Simms likes the Jaguars to win by three.
“The 0-2 Texans badly need a win,” wrote Florio. “As I see it, the Jags will make just enough mistakes to make that happen.”
NFL.com
Again, the favorite pick here is the Texans, with four of NFL.com’s five analysts picking Houston to win this game.
Here is why Dan Parr believes the Texans will win:
“At this point, I have more trust in Ryans to cure what ails his team than I do in Liam Coen as he navigates his first season as a head coach,” Parr wrote.
CBS Sports
Pete Prisco thinks the Jaguars can win this game by a full touchdown.
“The Texans come to Jacksonville at 0-2 on a short week and haven’t showed a lot of offense,” wrote Prisco. “That’s concerning. Jacksonville is coming off a tough loss to the Bengals, but I see the Jaguars using their running game to push around the Texans front in a physical victory.”
