The Texans are learning how to win, even when their offense has an off day.
Arian Foster rushed for 112 yards and a touchdown and Matt Schaub threw a scoring pass and ran for another for Houston (5-3), off to its best eight-game start. The Texans took one more step toward the franchise's first division title and playoff berth by improving to 3-0 in the AFC South.
"We knew it was going to be a tough, dirty game," said Houston linebacker Brian Cushing, who led his team with seven tackles. "In this league, it's tough to get a win. We just had to do what we had to do."
Houston stayed in control by holding Jacksonville (2-6) to 61 yards and five first downs in the second half.
Blaine Gabbert, making his sixth career start, completed 10 of 30 passes for 97 yards and two interceptions for an anemic 26.7 rating.
Gabbert's 5-yard TD pass to Jason Hill in the second quarter was Jacksonville's first touchdown since the third quarter of a 17-13 loss to Pittsburgh two weeks ago.
Jacksonville 0 7 0 7--14
Houston 7 0 7 10--24
FIRST QUARTER
Hou -- Schaub 2 run (Rackers kick),
8:21.SECOND QUARTER
Jac -- Hill 5 pass from Gabbert (Scobee kick), 5:41.
THIRD QUARTER
Hou -- Dreessen 7 pass from Schaub (Rackers kick), 9:10.
FOURTH QUARTER
Hou -- Foster 4 run (Rackers kick), 12:32.
Jac -- Jones-Drew 2 run (Scobee kick), 5:15.
Hou -- FG Rackers 39, :18.
Jac Hou
First downs 13 20
Total Net Yards 174 358
Rushes-yards 25-84 39-156
Passing 90 202
Punt Returns 2-12 5-56
Kickoff Returns 4-57 0-0
Interceptions Ret. 0-0 2-5
Comp-Att-Int 10-32-2 16-30-0
Sacked-Yards Lost 1-7 2-23
Punts 8-46.8 6-45.3
Fumbles-Lost 1-0 2-2
Penalties-Yards 5-39 7-60
Time of Possession 24:41 35:19
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Jacksonville rushing -- Jones-Drew 18-63, Gabbert 4-14, Karim 3-7.
Houston rushing -- Foster 33-112, Tate 5-42, Schaub 1-2.
Jacksonville passing -- Gabbert 10-30-2-97, McCown 0-2-0-0.
Houston passing -- Schaub 16-30-0-225.
Jacksonville receiving -- Lewis 4-45, Thomas 3-24, Dillard 1-12, Jones-Drew 1-11, Hill 1-5.
Houston receiving -- Walter 5-70, Daniels 4-60, Jones 3-59, Dreessen 2-19, Foster 1-12, Mason 1-5.
Missed field goals -- Houston, Rackers 46 (WR).
A -- 71,412.
