HOUSTON (AP) – The Jacksonville Jaguars are heading to the playoffs for the first time since 1999, but not without a scare from the suddenly scrappy Houston Texans.

Jacksonville clinched an AFC wild-card playoff berth with a 38-20 come-from-behind win over the Texans on Saturday.

The Jaguars trailed 13-10 at halftime and 20-17 in the fourth quarter before scoring three touchdowns.

Fred Taylor’s 15-yard touchdown with just more than nine minutes remaining gave Jacksonville a 24-20 lead. Taylor shook off three defenders and carried another into the end zone.

Jacksonville (11-4) added two touchdowns late in the game on a 36-yard reception by Ernest Wilford and a 17-yard run by LaBrandon Toefield that was set up by an interception. That touchdown was Toefield’s third score of the day.

The Jaguars let Houston (2-13) stick around until the final quarter, but in the end the Texans were foiled by several costly penalties, dropping three would-be interceptions and missing two second-half field goals. They also have the league’s worst record after San Francisco beat St. Louis; the Texans play at the 49ers in the finale.

Wilford’s touchdown prompted about a dozen Texans fans to begin a spirited chant of “Reg-gie Bush, Reg-gie Bush,” in reference to the Southern California running back who will likely be the first pick in the draft if he decides to leave school early.

By winning, Jacksonville avoided a repeat of last season, when Houston won 21-0 on Dec. 26 to dash the team’s playoff hopes.

Houston led 13-10 at halftime on the strength of a 50-yard touchdown pass by Carr and two field goals, including a 53-yarder by Kris Brown. Brown missed a 38-yard field goal in the third quarter and one from 48 in the fourth.

Taylor was held to just 39 yards in the first half, but came on in the second, to finish with 101 yards and a score.

Garrard was hurried and harassed by the Houston defense all day, but still managed to throw for 292 yards. He fumbled twice, but both were recovered by Jacksonville. Twice he threw balls right into the hands of Houston defenders on the goal line, but they couldn’t hold on.

Toefield’s second touchdown put Jacksonville ahead 17-13 in the third quarter, but Houston answered quickly. Houston’s Andre Johnson got in front of Jaguars cornerback Terry Cousin on a 53-yard touchdown pass from Carr to take its final lead of the game.

Johnson had his second 100-yard game of the season with seven catches for 119 yards.

Only receiver Jimmy Smith, Taylor, tight end Kyle Brady and safety Donovin Darius (injured reserve) remain from the Jacksonville team that made the playoffs in 1999.

AP-ES-12-24-05 1651EST