Jacksonville @ Houston preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 21, 2018 ) Houston 20, Jacksonville 7

The Houston Texans were in a position to clinch a first-round bye in the AFC playoffs and possibly the No. 1 overall seed before dropping two of their last three games. The Texans will try to clinch the AFC South and keep their hope of a bye alive when they host the Jacksonville Jaguars in the regular-season finale on Sunday.

Houston will clinch the AFC South with a win and can grab the No. 2 seed with a win and a loss by the New England Patriots, who close out the regular season by hosting the New York Jets. "You start off 0-3 and then then you’re sitting here at 10-5 with a chance to win the division on Sunday," Texans defensive end J.J. Watt told reporters. "We've done a lot of good things over the course of those games since we were 0-3, but we have to make sure we do what we need to do to make sure that doesn't all go to waste. All the work that we put in over the last couple of months, we have to make sure that we make all of that work count. We have to go out there on Sunday and take care of our business and obviously, trying to do that moving forward." The Jaguars already clinched last place in the AFC South after reaching the AFC championship game last season and are reduced to the role of spoiler on Sunday. "The biggest thing is just being consistent and finishing strong, defensive end Calais Campbell told reporters. "They're playing to win the division. I don't like that. Not on my watch. If we can prevent it, we will."

TV: 1 p.m. ET, CBS. LINE: Texans -6.5. O/U: 40.5

ABOUT THE JAGUARS (5-10): Jacksonville coach Doug Marrone benched quarterback Blake Bortles following a seven-game losing streak but will return him to the starting role Sunday after he came on in relief and led a field-goal drive at Miami last week. "It feels good anytime to play football when they let you play," Bortles told reporters. "I know for me at least I enjoy the hell out of getting to come to work every day and practice with these guys. This is our last week, our last opportunity to play a game together as this team. Nobody knows what's going to happen next year, so I think most importantly just enjoying this." The Jaguars averaged 11.3 points in the four games Cody Kessler started in place of Bortles.

ABOUT THE TEXANS (10-5): Houston suffered a 32-30 loss at Philadelphia last week, but it wasn't for lack of effort from quarterback Deshaun Watson, who wowed teammates and coaches with his performance. "He's just got incredible instincts, he sees things well, he hangs in there," head coach Bill O'Brien said. "The football field for him is heaven on Earth ... I think the ball in his hands is the best thing for our offense and for our football team, no doubt about it." Watson threw for 339 yards and a pair of touchdowns against the Eagles and rushed for two more scores, and he needs 69 passing yards on Sunday to reach 4,000 for the first time in his career.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Texans WR Demaryius Thomas was placed on IR Monday after suffering an Achilles injury last weekend.

2. Jaguars WR DJ Chark Jr. (quad) missed the last five games but is practicing this week and could play Sunday.

3. Houston took seven of the last nine in the series, including a 20-7 triumph at Jacksonville on Oct. 21.

PREDICTION: Texans 24, Jaguars 13