The Jacksonville Jaguars return to Wembley Stadium on Sunday looking to maintain their impressive recent form as they take on AFC South rivals the Houston Texans.
For the third time in four seasons, Jacksonville are playing back-to-back games in London and that experience could prove decisive against a Texans side playing their first overseas game in seven years.
The Jaguars moved to 4-1 and clear at the top of their division with a dramatic 19-17 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium last Sunday.
Trevor Lawrence threw for 331 yards and two touchdowns — both of them caught by Parker Washington, who had 124 yards receiving on the day.
Meanwhile, Houston finally got off the mark last week with a much-needed win over the Tennessee Titans, improving to 1-4, and then made headlines by trading for former fourth overall draft pick Marvin Harrison Jr.
Whether the former Arizona Cardinals wide receiver is ready to make an immediate impact remains to be seen, but the Texans head into this contest short-handed.
Tank Dell has not travelled, veteran running back David Montgomery is sidelined by a groin injury and star safety Jalen Pitre is also unavailable.
Those absences leave DeMeco Ryans' side facing a difficult challenge against a Jacksonville team that looks more balanced on both sides of the ball.
Jacksonville Jaguars v Houston Texans Betting Tips
Best Bet – Jaguars -2.5 @ 25/29
Alternative Bet – Parker Washington Anytime Touchdown @ 17/10
Bet Builder – Jaguars to Win (Moneyline), Trevor Lawrence 250+ Passing Yards & Parker Washington Over 4.5 Receptions @ 5/1
Jacksonville Jaguars v Houston Texans Prediction
Best Bet: Jaguars -2.5 @ 25/29
Several factors are working heavily in the Jaguars’ favour this week, not least their acclimatisation advantage over the Texans.
They will have been in London for exactly a week longer than Houston and, although their early Friday arrival for last Sunday’s game seemed to do them no harm, the Texans are not as familiar with transatlantic travelling.
Jaguars head coach Liam Coen has also developed a habit of taking care of business when his team is expected to win. Jacksonville are 11-1 straight-up as favourites during his tenure and have won those games by an average margin of more than two touchdowns.
Meanwhile, Houston's lone victory in 2026 came against a Tennessee side still searching for its first win and stepping up in class here represents a far tougher assignment.
The Texans are just 1-6 straight-up under Ryans when facing teams with winning percentages of 75 per cent or better, while Jacksonville have gone 3-0 both straight-up and against the spread against teams with winning percentages of 25 per cent or worse.
The Jaguars have steadily improved as the season has progressed and looked particularly impressive in last week's win over Philadelphia, where Lawrence consistently exploited mismatches through the air.
The injuries suffered by Houston only strengthen the Jaguars' case and Jacksonville can secure a convincing divisional victory, covering the relatively small spread.
Alternative Bet: Parker Washington Anytime Touchdown @ 17/10
Washington has emerged as one of Trevor Lawrence's most reliable targets and looks well placed to snag another touchdown catch on Sunday.
The former sixth-round pick has become a focal point of Jacksonville's passing attack over the last five games, recording 22 catches and two touchdowns.
His versatility is a major asset, as he lines up out wide, in the slot and occasionally in the backfield, making him difficult to scheme against.
That's particularly important against a Texans secondary that typically keeps its cornerbacks on their respective sides rather than assigning top corner Derek Stingley to shadow the opposition's top receiver.
Washington may also be ideally placed to exploit Jalen Pitre’s absence from the Texans’ secondary.
He could burn Houston’s backup safety on post routes from the slot, making him a leading candidate to reach the end zone at Wembley.
Jacksonville Jaguars v Houston Texans Bet Builder Tip
- Jaguars to Win (Moneyline)
- Trevor Lawrence 250+ Passing Yards
- Parker Washington Over 4.5 Receptions
Pays 5/1
Lawrence looked sharp against Philadelphia and should enjoy another productive afternoon against a Houston defence missing key personnel in the secondary.
The Jaguars quarterback has an excellent collection of pass-catching weapons at his disposal and should comfortably challenge the 250-yard mark if Jacksonville control possession.
Washington has emerged as one of Lawrence's most trusted targets and leads the Jaguars with 16 receptions for 228 yards and two touchdowns.
His growing role within the offence makes five receptions an achievable target.
Combine that selection with a Jacksonville victory and Lawrence's passing total for an appealing 5/1 Bet Builder.
Learn more about how Bet Builders work in our Bet Builder guide.
Key Match Stats
- Jacksonville beat Philadelphia 19-17 in London last week
- Trevor Lawrence threw for 331 yards and two touchdowns against the Eagles
- Parker Washington leads the Jaguars with 16 catches, 228 yards and two touchdowns
- Houston are 1-4 this season
- The Texans will be without Tank Dell, David Montgomery and Jalen Pitre
- Jacksonville are 11-1 straight-up as favourites under Liam Coen
Tactics, Form and Team News
Jacksonville's pass attack is beginning to click with Lawrence spreading the ball effectively between Washington, Jakobi Meyers and Brian Thomas Jr.
They also have one of the best run defences in the NFL, allowing just 210 rushing yards to running backs through the first five games.
Houston will need their backups to step up in the absence of WR Dell, RB Montgomery and S Pitre.
Woody Marks, who had 62 total rushing yards and caught all four of his pass targets for 23 yards against Tennessee, will see an expanded role in the rushing attack.
The arrival of Harrison Jr adds intrigue and potential upside, but expecting immediate chemistry and production may be unrealistic.
Read more NFL betting tips and predictions on site.
This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.
