Improving Jaguar Defense Smothers Texans

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. —  The Houston Texans came to Jacksonville thinking about piecing together their first winning streak. They left without the win, without a point and claiming a newfound respect for the Jaguars.

Tony Brackens had two sacks Sunday to lead Jacksonville’s improving defense to a 27-0 win, handing the Texans their first shutout and turning rookie quarterback Dave Ragone’s debut into a total dud.

The Texans (5-8) played without starting quarterback David Carr and running back Domanick Davis. That hurt, they agreed, but several in the locker room felt the reasons for the shutout went deeper.

“That was, by far, the most physical defense I’ve ever played against, seen or heard of,” said Texan tight end Billy Miller, a fourth-year veteran. “I don’t know what the head coach told those boys, but from the first game to this game, I think they went out and got 11 new guys on defense. I’ve never seen such a transformation.”

Indeed, it was quite a change from Week 4, when Jacksonville surrendered a touchdown with no time left to lose, 24-20, to Houston and fall to 0-4.

The Jaguars (4-9), who came in with the league’s sixth-ranked defense, held Houston to 124 yards. They got their first shutout since Dec. 3, 2000, a 48-0 win over Cleveland.

The offense was good too.

Fred Taylor broke a late 62-yard run to finish with a season-high 163 yards. Jimmy Smith caught a 32-yard touchdown, and Byron Leftwich threw for 194 yards to lift Jacksonville.

The Texans, meanwhile, lost a good chance to put together the first winning streak in the franchise’s 29-game history. But really, they never had a chance.

Subbing for Davis, whose thigh injury kept him out, Tony Hollings ran for 19 yards in 18 carries. Carr was suffering from flu and didn’t even get a chance to test his injured shoulder during warmups.

Ragone took his place. The rookie from Louisville completed 11 of 23 passes for 71 yards and an interception.