Trickery helps Jackonsville win third straight

Associated Press

JACKSONVILLE, FLA.

The Jacksonville Jaguars have a bona fide winning streak.

Chad Henne threw two touchdown passes, Jordan Todman scored on some trickery and the Jaguars held on to beat the Houston Texans 27-20 on Thursday night.

The Jaguars (4-9) won their third straight — their fourth victory in five games since a bye — and continued to show signs of progress under first-year coach Gus Bradley.

They also won at home for the first time since Nov. 25, 2012, against Tennessee.

“Our guys just really believe,” Bradley said. “The biggest challenge is to keep doing what we’re doing. We’re a young team that’s learning how do this.”

Houston (2-11) extended its franchise-record losing streak to 11 games, a stunning stretch of futility that could lead the franchise to fire coach Gary Kubiak.

Kubiak and the Texans looked as if they would end the streak after a quarterback change, but Geno Hayes intercepted Matt Schaub’s pass with 2:08 remaining to seal Jacksonville’s first series sweep since 2009.

Schaub came off the bench and carved up Jacksonville’s secondary in the second half.

He replaced starter Case Keenum late in the third quarter and led the team to a touchdowns and a field goal in his first two possessions. The Texans were in the red zone again, but failed to convert a fourth-down play with 3:37 to play. Jacksonville picked up a huge first down that flipped the field — not surprising that it came on a penalty — but punted.

Hayes picked off Schaub’s next pass, a floater over the middle.

The Jaguars milked the clock from there, and Josh Scobee’s 39-yard field goal provided some insurance. Houston had one final chance, but Schaub was sacked on his first snap with 20 seconds left and 77 yards to go.

Schaub completed 17 of 29 passes for 198 yards, with a touchdown and an interception. Andre Johnson caught 13 passes for 154 yards.

Still, the Texans walked off the field with an all-too-familiar feeling.