Houston Texans to face Blake Bortles in Week 17

Having a chance to win the AFC South championship in Week 17 the Houston Texans now know they will be facing a familiar foe in Blake Bortles.

There is just one week left in the 2018 NFL regular season and for the Houston Texans they will take on the Jacksonville Jaguars, and they now know who the opposing starting quarterback will be this upcoming Sunday.

Jacksonville will be sending Blake Bortles to the field to stop the Texans this Sunday. Michael DiRocco of ESPN.com quoted Jaguars head coach Doug Marrone on Wednesday about having Borles back as the starting quarterback against the Texans:

"“We just feel like his mobility will give us a better chance against obviously a very tough team,” Marrone said.”"

Earlier this season against the Texans Bortles on Oct. 21 was 6-of-12 for 61 yards passing with no touchdowns. He also rushed for 30 yards on six carries. In games last season against the Texans, Bortles on Sept. 10, 2017 was 11-of-21 for 125 yards passing with one touchdown. Then in the second meeting of 2017, Bortles was 21-of-29 for 326 yards with three touchdowns.

In nine career games against the Texans, Bortles has thrown 10 touchdowns and eight interceptions. Here are his game-by-game numbers against the Texans since 2014:

• Dec. 17, 2014: 20-of-39 for 205 yards, one touchdown, one interception

• Dec. 28, 2014: 14-of-33 for 117 yards, no touchdowns, no interceptions

• Oct. 18, 2015: 30-of-53 for 331 yards, three touchdowns, three interceptions

• Jan. 3, 2016: 17-of-32 for 239 yards, no touchdowns, two interceptions

• Nov. 13, 2016: 32-of-49 for 265 yards, two touchdowns, one interception

• Dec. 18, 2016: 12-of-28 for 92 yards, no touchdowns, one interception

• Sept. 10, 2017: 11-of-21 for 125 yards, one touchdown, no interceptions

• Dec. 17, 2017: 21-of-29 for 326 yards, three touchdowns, no interceptions

• Oct. 21, 2018: 6-of-12 for 61 yards, no touchdowns, no interceptions

This season Bortles has battled injures, poor play and has been benched. None of the changes made offensively have helped the Jaguars this season as they are 5-10 overall on the season. Bortles has played in 12 games in 2018 where he is 228-of-375 for 2,611 yards passing with 13 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.

The Texans have sacked Bortles 25 times in his nine career meetings against them, but failed to to sack him in their first meeting this season.

Bortles — who has been sacked 28 times this season — has completed 60.8 percent of his passes in 2018 and with an QBR (ESPN Rating) of 48.2 percent and Passer Rating of 82.2. Also for Bortles in 2018, Pro Football Focus has him graded at 25th overall at 68.2 with 729 snaps.

For this upcoming weekend, the Texans have the advantage as he’s not played much in recent weeks. The Texans have everything to play for and should be bringing extra intensity because the win will give them the AFC South championship and maybe even more if they get enough help.

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