Jon Gruden calls Texans run game, rides Packers parlay

It started Saturday with a whiteboard and a team in trouble. Houston came into Week 6 at 1-4, Jacksonville at 4-1, and Coach Gruden called it what it was: must-win.

Barstool Sports

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Texans are in must-win mode with their backs against the wall and Coach Gruden expects that they'll show up this week against the Jaguars. @LucyNicotine

An hour later he got to the real problem. Houston can throw it. With C.J. Stroud at quarterback that was never the question. The question was whether anybody could run it, and Gruden wasn't subtle about the answer.

Then he turned to Dallas. On the Gruden Family Football Show set he drew up the Cowboys' front and coverage and said the defense needs way more heat. It's a Chevy-sponsored segment, but the take was real: whatever Dallas has been doing on that side of the ball isn't working.

Viva La Stool

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The stove is NOT hot enough for the Dallas defense right now, and they need to turn it up. Presented by @ChevyTrucks #ad #Chevy #Silverado

Sunday morning was the AFC North. With Baltimore 4-1 heading to Cleveland at 3-2, Gruden showed up in a Browns cap and a Baltimore shirt, a nod to the 2 franchises' shared roots, and argued that Cleveland's rushing numbers don't tell the whole story. Another Chevy read, another board full of notes.

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Coach Gruden breaks down how the Browns' stats are painting a different picture Presented by @chevytrucks #ad #chevy #silverado

Meanwhile the Texans were already playing in London, and the run game did enough. Houston beat Jacksonville 34-31 at Wembley on Ka'imi Fairbairn's 49-yard field goal as time expired. Stroud threw for 312 yards and 3 touchdowns, Jawhar Jordan broke a 25-yard touchdown run, and Woody Marks went for 56 yards on 15 carries. That made him the first back to top 40 yards against the Jaguars this season.

It wasn't a ground-and-pound clinic, and Stroud still threw a pick in the end zone late. But it was the balance Gruden asked for, and Houston is 2-4 with a pulse instead of 1-5 and dead. The Grudens' own show had already moved on to Green Bay, coming off a 31-7 beatdown of the Bears, and the brothers did what they always do: they drew up deep shots.

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The Gruden boys love bombs!

So it's no surprise where the money went. Gruden's Gut Check for Sunday night was all Packers: Jordan Love over 250 passing yards, Christian Watson over 70 receiving yards, Tucker Kraft over 40 receiving yards, and Green Bay to beat Dallas. It's a DraftKings-sponsored pick at +430, so $10 pays $53.

Jon Gruden

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GRUDEN'S GUT CHECK FOR SUNDAY NIGHT Let's get this one!! @DKSports #DKPartner

The moneyline leg looked good early. Green Bay led 17-0 at halftime at Lambeau, with Love throwing for 190 yards and a score and running in another, and it was 20-7 after 3 quarters. The yardage legs still have to come in, so the slip isn't cashed yet. Either way, Gruden went 1-for-1 on the Texans needing a run game, and he's leaning hard on the Packers keeping it going.