HOUSTON (SportsRadio 610) -- The Texans are finally in the win column after beating the Jacksonville Jaguars 30-14 at NRG Stadium on Sunday.
It was the Texans' first game since firing head coach-general manager Bill O'Brien last week following the 0-4 start to their season.
Interim head coach Romeo Crennel said he expected to see a team with a better attitude and more energy against the Jaguars (now 1-4). It appears the Texans delivered.
Houston led for much of the game, striking first with a 36-yard field goal by Ka'imi Fairbairn. The field goal capped a 17-play, 7:35 drive, the longest this season for Houston in terms of plays and time of possession.
Jacksonville responded with an extensive scoring drive of their own, except the Jaguars scored a touchdown after 12 plays and 7:34 off the clock.
Gardner Minshew found Keelan Cole Sr. in the back corner of the end zone for a top-tapping 13-yard touchdown pass to give Jacksonville the lead.
Houston's next drive was much more efficient, taking just four plays to get into the end zone.
Tight end Darren Fells caught and ran for a 44-yard touchdown to give the Texans a lead they never relinquished.
Houston led Jacksonville 10-7 at halftime and extended the lead in the third quarter.
The Texans outscored the Jaguars 20-7 in the second half. Fairbairn made a 33-yard field goal to extend the Texans' lead to 13-7 in the fourth quarter.
Watson found Will Fuller for a 19-yard touchdown pass early in the fourth quarter.
Jacksonville responded with a 10-play scoring drive ending with Minshew's touchdown pass to rookie wide receiver Collin Johnson (from Texas).
But the Texans added another field goal drive, then later a touchdown on 4th and 4 with a slant to Brandin Cooks.
After being shut out last week against the Vikings, Cooks had his best game as a Texan. Cooks had 161 receiving yards and a touchdown on eight catches and 12 targets. He averaged 20.1 yards per reception and posted 51 yards after the catch.
The Texans are scheduled to face the Tennessee Titans on the road next week, but it's unclear how the ongoing COVID outbreak within the Titans and around the league could impact the schedule.




