Jacksonville's 35-6 victory in Week 3 widens the gap in the AFC South. Houston's problems — uneven quarterback play, unclear playcalling, and an underperforming defense — leave the Texans trailing despite returning core personnel.
Texans are 0-3 heading into Week 4 and look worse than the 0-3 Titans because Houston entered the season with stable leadership and established pieces.
C.J. Stroud has completed 60% of his passes for 794 yards and no interceptions through three games, but his play hasn’t elevated the offense.
Houston's defense, despite talent at every level, ranks 19th in points scored and 16th in total yards entering Week 4, and injuries (including Jadeveon Clowney) have reduced its impact.
# Where the AFC South stands Week 3. Through three weeks, the only other AFC South team with a victory is the Indianapolis Colts. The Houston Texans and Tennessee Titans are both 0-3 going into Week 4, but the Texans' situation looks worse on paper.
# Why Houston looks further behind Tennessee's 0-3 record comes with context: Robert Saleh is in his first season coaching the Titans, and a rebuild was expected. Houston, by contrast, arrived in 2026 with continuity. Quarterback C.J. Stroud, general manager Nick Caserio, and head coach DeMeco Ryans have been in place long enough that expectations were higher.
# Defensive issues despite top-end talent The Texans' defense has recognizable talent: cornerback Derek Stingley Jr., safety Jalen Pitre, and a pass-rush group that includes Danielle Hunter, Jadeveon Clowney, and Will Anderson Jr. Despite that, Houston ranks 19th in points allowed and 16th in total yards allowed entering Week 4. Clowney's injuries are a factor, but the piece points out the pass rush underperformed even though the group managed success without Clowney in 2025.
# What this means for the Jaguars race Given Jacksonville's Week 3 performance and Houston's early struggles, the Jags have a substantive lead in the AFC South at this stage. The article acknowledges that football seasons can change quickly and points out Houston's history of slow starts that turned into playoff runs, but it treats the Texans' current state as a real obstacle to matching the Jaguars' early form.
# Short-term fixes and open questions The piece suggests multiple problem areas with no easy, immediate fix: offensive cohesion and playcalling, Stroud's ability to elevate the offense, and defensive consistency despite talent. It also calls out the contract situation and Stroud's decision to delay a deal as a subplot that has not yet paid off on the field.
# Bottom line As of Week 4, the Texans are not presenting a meaningful threat to the Jaguars in the AFC South. Jacksonville's convincing Week 3 win and Houston's uneven offense and underperforming defense have widened the gap. The Texans could rebound — the article notes prior seasons where slow starts stopped short of defining the outcome — but the current evidence favors the Jaguars.
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