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Heading into the fifth week of what appears to be another lost season, the Houston Texans were the lone National Football League (NFL) franchise to lack a notch on the win column.
They rid themselves of the distinction on Sunday when they grinded out a 13-6 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars on the road.
“Needed one. Got one,” the team tweeted postgame.
First-year Texans head coach Lovie Smith was understandably pleased as it was his first win in Houston.
"It's kind of a surreal feeling," Smith said in a report on the Texans’ website. “It's been a long time coming … The guys just kept competing. We haven't played a complete game. There's been moments when we've done good things. But we finished it today."
The Texans defense, one of the NFL’s lowest ranking so far in 2022, successfully kept the Jaguars out of the endzone throughout the afternoon, surrendering just two field goals in the first half.
Cornerbacks Desmond King II and Derek Stingley Jr. recorded an interception apiece, with Stingley, Houston’s first round pick out of Louisiana State University (LSU) in last spring's draft, achieving a career first.
Rookie running back Dameon Pierce continues to be a potent weapon in the Texans offense.
The ex-Florida Gator, whom Houston selected in the fourth round back in April, turned 26 touches into 99 yards, a yard short from his second 100-yard game on the ground.
Until Sunday, the fourth quarter proved to be disastrous for the Texans, but Pierce helped break the pattern when he capped a 12-play, 74-yard drive with what turned out to be the third rushing touchdown of his young career.
Pierce rushed for 412 yards in Houston’s first five games, per Pro Football Reference.
The 1-3-1 Texans have a bye on Sunday, Oct. 16 and will return to action on Sunday, Oct. 23 with a road game against the Las Vegas Raiders.
“We’ve been battling for four weeks and haven’t been able to finish it,” Smith said, according to the team. “I’m just anxious about getting the second win now.”