A Late Kick Decides It in London
The Houston Texans secured a narrow 34-31 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday, October 18, 2026, at Wembley Stadium. The game remained tense until Ka’imi Fairbairn delivered a decisive 49-yard field goal in the final moments to seal the win for the visiting squad. The outcome leaves the Texans with a 2-4 record, while the Jaguars improve to 4-2 on the season.
Texans Strike First and Take Control Early
Houston established early dominance, scoring all seven of its first-half points in the opening period. C.J. Stroud connected with Foster Moreau on a 6-yard touchdown pass, giving the Texans a 7-0 lead before Jacksonville could respond.
The Jaguars finally answered in the second quarter when Trevor Lawrence threw a 27-yard touchdown pass to Bhayshul Tuten, tying the game at 7-7. However, Houston regained the advantage later in the period through Fairbairn’s 25-yard field goal, making it 10-7.
Jacksonville quickly reclaimed the lead with another Lawrence-to-Tuten connection, this time a 2-yard pass that pushed the Jaguars ahead 14-10. But Houston immediately countered. Stroud found Moreau again on a 1-yard touchdown pass, restoring the Texans' lead at 17-14 heading into halftime.
Third Quarter Surge Extends Lead
The Texans extended their margin in the third quarter, outscoring Jacksonville 14-7 during the period. Stroud threw his second touchdown pass of the game to Jaylin Noel on a 13-yard strike, increasing Houston’s lead to 24-14. The Jaguars responded with a Nate Boerkircher 1-yard touchdown pass from Lawrence, trimming the deficit to 24-21.
Houston added another score later in the third quarter when Jawhar Jordan rushed for 25 yards and a touchdown, pushing the lead to 31-21. The Jaguars fought back in the fourth quarter, with Trevor Lawrence finding Travis Hunter on a 7-yard pass to make it 31-28. Cam Little then kicked a 60-yard field goal to tie the game at 31-31, setting up a dramatic finish.
Final Moments Define the Outcome
With the score tied and time winding down, Fairbairn stepped onto the field for a 49-yard attempt. His successful kick gave Houston a 34-31 lead that held until the final whistle. Stroud finished with 312 passing yards and three touchdowns on 24-of-34 passing, alongside one interception. C.J. Stroud’s performance was complemented by Woody Marks, who rushed for 56 yards on 15 carries.
For Jacksonville, Trevor Lawrence threw for 306 yards and four touchdowns on 24-of-41 passing, but also recorded one interception. Chris Rodriguez Jr. contributed 55 rushing yards on 11 carries, while Jakobi Meyers caught five passes for 83 yards. The game drew an attendance of 82,497 at Wembley Stadium, highlighting the global appeal of this international matchup.
Sources
ESPN
