Tom Savage leads Houston Texans to 21-20 win over Jacksonville Jaguars

Lamar Miller (26) carried the ball 22 times for
63 yards and one touchdown against the Jaguars.
Photo by Darla Tamulitis, La Vita Loca Photography
Copyright 2016, All Rights Reserved

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2016 TexSport Publications

HOUSTON, TEXAs (December 18, 2016) The Houston Texans trailed the Jacksonville Jaguars 13-5 at the end of the first half; responding with 16 points in the second half to win the game by the score of 21-20 in front of 71,803 fans at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas on Sunday, December 18, 2016. The Texan defense held the Jaguars to seven points in the second half, with quarterback Tom Savage came off the bench in the second quarter to complete 23-of-36 passes for 260 yards. Running back Lamar Miller rushed for the Texans’ lone touchdown; a one-yard scamper late in the game. Houston tallied four field goals by Nick Novak and added a safety in the second quarter to close out their scoring.

Jacksonville scored 13 points in the second quarter on field goals of 26 and 50 yards by Jason Miller; along with a one-yard touchdown run by quarterback Blake Bortles and a Myers’ kicking conversion. The Texans responded with the safety and the first of Novak’s four field goals; a 39-yarder to conclude a six-play, 40-yard drive. They started off the third quarter with another Novak field goal, this time of 45 yards. The Jaguars answered with Marqise Lee returning the ensuing kickoff 100 yards for the score. The Texans added to their point total with the third and fourth of Novak’s field goals of 43 and 27 yards.

DeAndre Hopkins (10) caught eight passes for 87 yards
in the Texans win against Jacksonville.
Photo by Darla Tamulitis, La Vita Loca Photography
Copyright 2016, All Rights Reserved.

Savage entered the game at the 8:31 mark in the second quarter, replacing starter Brock Osweiler, who only completed six-of-11 passes for 48 yards. Miller carried the ball 22 times for 63 yards and the single Houston touchdown. Nine Houston receivers caught passes with DeAndre Hopkins and Ryan Griffin leading the way with 87 and 85 yards, respectively, with eight receptions each. Houston held Jacksonville to 150 yards offensively and nine first downs. Houston tallied 387 yards of total offense.

With the win, Houston held on to their lead in the AFC South, tied with the Tennessee Titans. They will have a short week to prepare for the Christmas Eve matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals, who dropped 24-20 decision to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday. Game time against the Bengals is tentatively set for a 7:25 p.m. CST kickoff in Houston. Houston will close out the season on New Year’s Day against the Tennessee Titans on the road.