Jaguars one step closer to division title after blowout win over Texans

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Travis Etienne ran for 108 yards and a touchdown before halftime, Tyson Campbell returned a fumble for a score and the Jacksonville Jaguars snapped a nine-game skid against Houston by routing the Texans 31-3 on Sunday for their fourth straight victory overall.

Jacksonville (8-8) is in first place in the AFC South and would win the division for the first time since 2017 with a victory at home over slumping Tennessee next week in the regular-season finale. The Titans (7-9) have dropped six straight.

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Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback Tyson Campbell (32) recovers a fumble by Houston Texans running back Royce Freeman (26) during the first half of an NFL football game in Houston, Sunday, Jan. 1, 2023. Campbell (32) scored on the play.  (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)

Trevor Lawrence threw for 152 yards, but played just one possession in the second half, and Etienne didn't carry the ball after halftime with the Jaguars up 28-3 in what would be the team’s first win over Houston since 2017.

The Jaguars were up by 21 at halftime and a 3-yard run by Snoop Conner made it 28-0 early in the third quarter.

The Texans (2-13-1) snapped a nine-game losing streak with a win over Tennessee last week but struggled in all areas Sunday against Jacksonville to leave them without a home win for the first time in franchise history.

Davis Mills threw for 202 yards, but couldn't get the Texans in the end zone and fumbled the ball Campbell returned for the touchdown.

Houston Texans quarterback Davis Mills (10) is pressured by Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Roy Robertson-Harris (95) as he passes during the first half of an NFL football game in Houston, Sunday, Jan. 1, 2023.  (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)

NFL OFFICIATING DRAWS IRE AFTER DOLPHINS FUMBLE TAKEN OFF THE BOARD VS PATRIOTS

Houston was stopped on fourth-and-1 from its 45 on the first possession to give Jacksonville great field position on its first drive. The Jaguars took a 7-0 lead when JaMycal Hasty scored on a 5-yard run.

Jacksonville made it 14-0 when Etienne dashed 62 yards for a touchdown early in the second quarter. Rookie Jalen Pitre had a shot to stop him at the line, but missed the tackle and Etienne simply outran the rest of Houston’s defenders for the score.

The defense got in on the scoring when Josh Allen sacked Mills on Houston’s next possession and forced a fumble which was scooped up by Campbell and returned 12 yards for a TD to make it 21-0. It was the first touchdown of his career.

Desmond King intercepted Lawrence after that, but the Texans came up empty when Mills threw an incomplete pass on fourth-and-5 from the 10.

Houston finally got on the board when Ka’imi Fairbairn’s 56-yard field goal made it 28-3 with about six minutes left in the third quarter.

Jacksonville Jaguars running back Travis Etienne Jr. (1) runs for a touchdown against the Houston Texans during the first half of an NFL football game in Houston, Sunday, Jan. 1, 2023.  (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)

Riley Patterson extended the lead to 31-3 with a 53-yard field goal with about six minutes remaining.

C.J. Beathard took over after Lawrence went out and threw for 29 yards and was picked off by Pitre, who leads the Texans with five interceptions this season.

KIRK’S MILESTONE

Jacksonville's Christian Kirk had 21 yards receiving to give him a career-high 1,009 this season, making him the fifth player in franchise history with a 1,000-yard receiving season.

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UP NEXT

Jaguars: Host the Titans next Sunday.

Texans: Visit the Colts next Sunday.