Josh Hines-Allen’s heroics send Jags to huge win over Texans

By Hays Carlyon

This was the Josh Hines-Allen game. I’ll certainly remember this performance for a long time, as I’m sure many of you will.

In a game the Jaguars had to have for a multitude of reasons, Hines-Allen showed up early and often in leading the Jaguars to a 17-10 win over AFC South rival Houston on Sunday at EverBank Stadium.

Hines-Allen started the game by knocking Texans quarterback CJ Stroud down after he released a pass on the game’s second play.

The message was sent.

Hines-Allen was ready to dominate.

He would close the game in spectacular fashion. The Texans drove to the Jaguars 28-yard line with 27 seconds to play when Hines-Allen once again whipped Houston left tackle Aireontae Ersery. Hines-Allen was able to scrape a finger across the back of the ball as Stroud went to release a pass. The ball fluttered 25 yards downfield where safety Antonio Johnson intercepted it to seal the victory for the Jaguars.

“They weren’t going to score,” Hines-Allen said. “That was our mentality. They’re not scoring. They can drive the field, whatever they want to do, they’re not scoring. We just made a play and Antonio was in the right spot, being where he’s supposed to be and took advantage of the opportunity.”

Hines-Allen was credited with two tackles, a half sack and three quarterback hits. He also drew two holding penalties. Coach Liam Coen said earlier in the week Hines-Allen was making plays that didn’t always show up in the box score. He reiterated that point after the win.

“It’s the way that he plays: his strain, his finish,” Coen said. “Even if he doesn’t win on a rush, those guys really up front have all done a nice job of getting their hands up and affecting the pass game in different ways. He was pretty emotional in there: excited and juiced up.”

The win snapped Houston’s run of mastery over the Jaguars, having won 12 of the last 14 meetings.

The victory also gives the 2-1 Jaguars a two-game lead over the now 0-3 Texans, the two-time defending AFC South champ.

The win also allowed the Jaguars to do something they haven’t often accomplished: overcome adversity and still pull out a triumph.

This game should make you giddy. Your team under Coen appears to have moxie and toughness. A loss Sunday after a terribly disappointing defeat last week in Cincinnati would’ve been a huge warning sign for trouble ahead.

“The mentality I have been wanting to come into this week was that we got to take it,” Hines-Allen said. “Last week we let that slip away, and we didn’t take it. This was another opportunity for us to go get it, and so for us to go out there and prove who we are.”

Now, the Jaguars appear to be in a 14-game battle to the end with Indianapolis (3-0) for the AFC South title. The Texans, having to navigate a first-place schedule, still have the following games to play: at Ravens, at Seahawks, vs. 49ers, vs. Broncos, vs. Jaguars, vs. Bills, at Colts, at Chiefs and at Chargers. They’re done.

After the game ended, Hines-Allen walked off the field with quarterback Trevor Lawernce. The two have been teammates for five years.

“We’re building something very special here,” Hines-Allen said. “We’ve got to keep capitalizing off that.”

Sunday’s win was a massive step forward.

“We’re not going to get bullied,” Lawrence said. “That’s what I feel like they want to do and I’m not saying that wrong, but that’s their mindset and it’s not going to happen to this team. So it was fun to be able to punch back and stand up in those moments where it’s like, all right, you want to throw that punch? We’re here.”

The Jaguars certainly were the aggressor against the Texans. Hines-Allen led the way in spectacular fashion.

(You can email Hays at [email protected] and follow him on X/Twitter @HaysCarlyon).