The Houston Texans missed out on the playoffs despite battling to a 23-17 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars at the NRG Stadium this evening.
The hosts needed other results to go their way to stand any chance of clinching the AFC wildcard spot, but the Baltimore Ravens' victory over the Cleveland Browns ensured that the post-season was beyond reach.
The Texans opened the scoring in the AFC South clash through Arian Foster, who collected a sideways pass from Case Keenum before tiptoeing down the left for a 10-yard score.
Jacksonville responded with a 53-yard field goal from Josh Scobee before taking the lead for the first time in the match to threaten an upset against the playoff-chasing Texans.
The score came as a result of DeAndre Hopkins being unable to collect Keenum's pass, allowing Dwayne Gratz to nip in and intercept the ball before returning it 55 yards for the touchdown.
Houston hit back in the second quarter to regain the advantage as Alfred Blue made his way over the line from a yard out to make it a four-point game at the break.
The Jaguars refused to give in in their final game of the season, however, and moved back into the lead when Jordan Todman and Cecil Shorts III combined for a 23-yard score.
The lead continued to change hands and the Texans crucially won it back early in the fourth quarter when Andre Johnson collected Keenum's eight-yard pass in between two defenders in the endzone.
JJ Watt ended his individual season in fitting style with a sack on Blake Bortles to force a safety and extend his side's lead to six points, but it wasn't enough to save their playoff hopes as results elsewhere conspired against them.
