The AFC South showdown everyone circled on their calendars arrives early this season when the Houston Texans march into TIAA Bank Field to face the Jacksonville Jaguars in a Week 3 clash that could set the tone for division supremacy. Both teams enter this Sunday afternoon battle (1:00 PM ET) with playoff aspirations and rosters brimming with young talent, but only one will leave Jacksonville with momentum—and potentially an early leg up in what promises to be a fiercely contested division race.

While records won’t be factored until after kickoff, the stakes feel undeniably high: this isn’t just another early-season matchup, but a chance for either franchise to announce itself as the team to beat in the AFC South. The Texans and Jaguars have spent years trading punches in a division often overshadowed by powerhouses elsewhere, but 2025 could be different. With both squads fielding explosive offenses and defenses hungry to prove their mettle, expect a high-energy, back-and-forth duel where every snap carries weight. The question isn’t just who wins—it’s who dominates the moments that will be replayed all season long.