Postgame Notes: Texans vs. Jaguars, Week 15

Dec 19, 2021 at 05:00 PM

THE TEXANS:

Extended their win streak vs. Jacksonville to eight consecutive games, Houston's longest winning streak against a single opponent in franchise history
Swept the Jaguars for the fourth consecutive season and 11th time overall in franchise history
Converted 10-of-18 (56 pct.) third down attempts, the offense's third-best mark of the season
Held Jacksonville to 3-of-17 (21 percent) on third down, the defense's second-best mark of the season
Recorded the eighth kickoff return touchdown in franchise history and first since Week 4 of the 2009 season vs. Oakland
Logged the most kick return yards in a game (121) since Week 1 of the 2018 season at New England

SCORING PLAYS:

1st Quarter – WR Brandin Cooks caught a 22-yard touchdown pass from QB Davis Mills to cap off a 15-play, 75-yard drive (8:21), giving the Texans a 7-0 lead following the converted extra point attempt by K Ka'imi Fairbairn
1st Quarter – DB Tremon Smith returned a kickoff from K Matthew Wright for 98 yards, extending Houston's lead to 14-3 after K Ka'imi Fairbairn connected on the extra point attempt
2nd Quarter – K Ka'imi Fairbairn connected on a 52-yard field goal attempt, concluding a seven-play, 15-yard drive (4:43), extending the Texans lead to 17-10
2nd Quarter – K Ka'imi Fairbairn converted a 51-yard field goal attempt, finishing a five-play, 29-yard drive (0:21), extending the Texans lead to 20-10
3rd Quarter – K Ka'imi Fairbairn connected on a 25-yard field goal attempt, concluding a seven-play, 40-yard drive (2:13), extending the Texans lead to 23-10
4th Quarter – WR Brandin Cooks caught a 43-yard touchdown pass from QB Davis Mills to cap off a six-play, 55-yard drive (2:47), extending Houston's lead to 30-16 following the converted extra point attempt by K Ka'imi Fairbairn

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES:

The following four Texans players were inactive for the game: DB Justin Reid, DB Jimmy Moreland, FB Paul Quessenberry, QB Deshaun Watson
The following Texans were captains: OL Justin Britt, DL Maliek Collins and K Ka'imi Fairbairn
The following Texans did not play in today's game: TE Brevin Jordan, OL Jordan Steckler, QBTyrod Taylor, OL Cole Toner
Jacksonville won the toss and chose to defer to the second half. Houston elected to receive the opening kickoff

TEXANS PLAYER NOTES

RB REX BURKHEAD

Led the team with 41 rushing yards on 16 carries (2.6 avg.) and caught one pass for six yards

WR BRANDIN COOKS

Led the team with seven receptions for 102 yards (14.6 avg.), his fourth game of the season with 100-plus receiving yards
Tied a career-high with two receiving touchdowns, his eighth career multi-score game
Caught a 22-yard touchdown pass from QB Davis Mills in the first quarter to give the Texans a 7-0 lead
Caught a 43-yard touchdown pass from QB Davis Mills in the fourth quarter to extend the Texans lead to 30-16
With 945 receiving yards this season, Cooks needs just 55 yards over the next three weeks to notch his second consecutive 1,000-yard season with the Texans and sixth overall for his career

WR PHILLIP DORSETT

Finished second on the team with 43 receiving yards on two receptions (21.5 avg.)

K KA'IMI FAIRBAIRN

Scored a season-high 12 points on three made field goals and three made extra point attempts
Connected on a 52-yard field goal in the second quarter to extend the Texans lead to 17-10
Made a 51-yard field goal in the second quarter extending the lead to 20-10
Hit a 25-yard field goal in the third quarter to extend the Texans lead to 23-10

LB NEVILLE HEWITT

Finished third on the team with nine tackles (four solo), tying his single-game high on the season, and tallied one special teams tackle

RB David Johnson

Rushed six times for 24 yards (4.0 avg.)
Moved his career total to 4,019 rushing yards, becoming the first Northern Iowa product to eclipse 4,000 yards rushing in the NFL

P CAMERON JOHNSTON

Punted four times for 193 yards (48.3 avg.) with a long of 55 yards, pinning three punts inside the 20

QB DAVIS MILLS

Completed 19-of-30 passes (63.3 percent) for 209 yards, two touchdowns, and interception and a 92.2 passer rating
Threw a 22-yard touchdown pass to WR Brandin Cooks in the first quarter to give the Texans a 7-0 lead
Completed a 43-yard touchdown pass to WR Brandin Cooks in the fourth quarter, extending the Texans lead to 30-16

DB ERIC MURRAY

Finished tied for fourth on the team with eight tackles (four solo), also notching one pass defensed

DB JONATHAN OWENS

Made his first career start and tallied a career-high eight tackles (four solo), tied for fourth-most on the team

DL DEREK RIVERS

Recorded three tackles (two solo), 1.0 sack, one quarterback hit and a career-high two tackles for loss
Sacked QB Trevor Lawrence for a loss of 11 yards in the third quarter, his first sack as a Texan

DL CHRIS SMITH

Finished with four tackles (two solo), 1.0 sack, two quarterback hits and one tackle for loss
Sacked QB Trevor Lawrence for a loss of nine yards in the second quarter, his first sack as a Texan

DB TREMON SMITH

Recorded one solo tackle and had two kick returns for 121 yards (60.5 avg.) and one touchdown, the first score of his NFL career
Returned a 98-yard kickoff for a touchdown in the first quarter to increase the Texans lead to 14-3, marking the first Texans kickoff return touchdown since a 94-yard return by Jacoby Jones in Week 4 of the 2009 season vs. Oakland

DB TAVIERRE THOMAS

WR JORDAN VEASY

LB GARRET WALLOW

Tied for the team lead with a career-high 11 tackles (six solo), also notching 1.0 sack, one quarterback hit and one tackle for loss
Sacked QB Trevor Lawrence for a one-yard loss in the fourth quarter, his first career sack