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The Jacksonville Jaguars are hosting the Houston Texans on Sunday afternoon and if the team is to avoid another four-game losing streak under Gus Bradley (we've had quite a few of them) they'll need to take advantage of another underperforming divisional rival.
Texans head coach Bill O'Brien has named Brian Hoyer the starter (for now) and while that gives them a better quarterback in the short and intermediate game, it gives them a weaker arm in the pocket. A fair trade off for a benched Ryan Mallett who isn't very accurate at all.
Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles is doing very well in his sophomore season, throwing for 10 touchdowns against just four interceptions, and overall throwing the ball with much better mechanics and making much better pre-snap reads and decisions on his progressions.
T.J. Yeldon is a gametime decision, although I suspect he'll be ready to go. And the return of Paul Posluszny and Sen'Derrick Marks cannot be overstated. Both the run defense and pass rush say thank you.
HAPPY GAMEDAY, EVERYONE!
How to watch the game
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Score predictions
Live blog
3:21 PM: BLAKE BORTLES TO JULIUS THOMAS! JAGUARS LEAD TEXANS!
BLAKE BORTLES TO A WIDE OPEN JULIUS THOMAS! TOUCHDOWN! JAGUARS LEAD! https://t.co/vyxRjLuMxr
— Big Cat Country (@BigCatCountry) October 18, 2015
2:37 PM: Blake Bortles and Julius Thomas miscommunicate in the end zone. Tipped pass leads to Bortles' second red zone interception. Could have been at least tied going into halftime. Sigh...
The Texans haven't led at halftime all year long. Not good, Jaguars! https://t.co/x3wiu0Ax7F
— Big Cat Country (@BigCatCountry) October 18, 2015
1:53 PM: BLAKE BORTLES TO ALLEN ROBINSON! TOUCHDOWN! Jaguars and Texans tied 7-7.
TOUCHDOWN! BLAKE BORTLES TO ALLEN ROBINSON! Beautiful placement, better grab. https://t.co/1WuIWChUlb
— Big Cat Country (@BigCatCountry) October 18, 2015
1:33 PM: Jaguars secondary, swiss cheese, and all that jazz. Jaguars down 7-0 at the end of the first quarter.
The guy who backed up Ryan Mallett just drove 99 yards on us or a touchdown. https://t.co/nWXTP3Nhc1
— Big Cat Country (@BigCatCountry) October 18, 2015
1:16 PM: The offenses each get a possession and stall at midfield. Maybe my 24-20 score was too high of a prediction?
11:39 AM: Undefeated at tailgating.
Oh, it is LIT. pic.twitter.com/R3Fo0unsF8
— Tim's still here. (@MadeByTim) October 18, 2015
11:33 AM: I was wrong. T.J. Yeldon is inactive. Damn.
Inactives for #HOUvsJAX. Gamday coverage: http://t.co/yfucwDT8YW pic.twitter.com/2WJXK9d901
— #MOREJAX (@Jaguars) October 18, 2015
5:17 AM: Shocking! J.J. Watt is going to play despite an illness.
Texans DE J.J. Watt, listed as questionable with illness, will play today vs. Jacksonville.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 18, 2015