Williams’ sacks lead Texans over Jaguars, 30-17

HOUSTON (AP) — Mario Williams, Steve Slaton and the Houston Texans put on quite a show in their Monday Night Football debut.

Williams had a season-high three sacks and forced a fumble and Slaton ran for a pair of touchdowns to lead the Texans to a 30-17 win over the slumping Jacksonville Jaguars.

Andre Johnson added a TD reception and Kris Brown kicked three field goals in the win, a highlight in Houston’s disappointing season so far.

The top pick in the 2006 draft, Williams brought down quarterback David Garrard in the second, third and fourth quarters. He forced a fumble by Garrard on his last sack and Houston recovered on the 7.

Slaton scored on the next play to make it 23-3 with about 5 minutes left.

The Texans led 10-0 at halftime and Brown added a season-long 50-yard field goal with 10:12 left in the third quarter.

The score followed Jacoby Jones’ 28-yard punt return to the Jaguars’ 38.

Late in the third quarter, the Jaguars’ Fred Taylor broke a 24-yard run later on the drive, setting up Josh Scobee’s 29-yard field goal.

The Jaguars tried an onside kick, but Chaun Thompson recovered for the Texans at the Jacksonville 42. Slaton took a screen pass and ran to the Jaguars’ 2, but the Texans settled for another field goal from Brown, a 20-yarder.

Williams picked up his first sack in the second quarter, and Houston’s 18th-ranked defense held Jacksonville to 113 yards and five first downs in the first half.

The Texans set up for a 21-yard field goal in the last minute of the half. But holder Matt Turk bobbled a bad snap from Bryan Pittman and threw a pass out of the end zone.

Sage Rosenfels made his fourth consecutive start.