Texans 23, Jaguars 17
Case Keenum threw for two touchdowns and defensive end J.J. Watt became the first player in league history to record a pair of 20-sack seasons, but host Houston's late surge ended without a playoff berth.
Keenum went 25-of-35 for 250 yards and Andre Johnson had an 8-yard scoring reception to highlight his 10-catch, 134-yard performance for the Texans (9-7), who won four of their last five but were eliminated after Baltimore posted a 20-10 victory over Cleveland. Running backs Arian Foster and Alfred Blue each had a touchdown and Watt registered three sacks - the third for a safety - to finish with 20 1/2 on the campaign.
Jordan Todman reeled in a 23-yard touchdown reception from wideout Cecil Shorts III for the Jaguars (3-13), who went 0-for-11 on third downs and lost all eight games on the road for the second time in franchise history. Rookie Blake Bortles went 14-for-33 for 117 yards and cornerback Dwayne Gratz had a 55-yard interception return for a score.
Defensive end Ryan Davis recovered a Keenum fumble and Shorts snared a lateral from Bortles before connecting with an uncovered Todman on the ensuing play to give Jacksonville a 17-14 lead with 4:52 remaining in the third quarter. Houston responded as Johnson's fourth catch of the drive resulted in an 8-yard score early in the fourth quarter, Watt tackled Bortles in the end zone for a safety with 5:37 remaining and Houston made a defensive stand to stop the Jaguars on downs at the 5-yard line.
Keenum's throw over the middle sailed behind DeAndre Hopkins, and Gratz gathered the deflection and scooted up the right sideline for a touchdown to give Jacksonville a 10-7 lead with 2:55 remaining in the first quarter. Houston answered as Blue patiently followed his blocks for a 1-yard score to cap a 14-play drive with 6:39 remaining in the second.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Flanked out to the left, Foster opened the scoring 4:37 into the first quarter after catching a quick pass from Keenum before working his way into the end zone from 10 yards out along the left sideline. The Pro Bowl running back exited the contest later in the quarter with a hamstring injury following a 3-yard run up the middle. ... The last time Johnson eclipsed the 100-yard plateau was Week 14 of last season - against Jacksonville. ... Jaguars DT Sen'Derrick Marks, who is a Pro Bowl alternate, suffered a knee injury in the second quarter and did not return.