His Pro Bowl season began with a showdown against one of the NFL's top receivers. It will end with more of the same.

Ahead of the Jaguars' finale Sunday at Houston, Jaguars cornerback Jalen Ramsey declared the Texans' DeAndre Hopkins and the New York Giants' Odell Beckham Jr. his toughest assignments this year.

"He's No. 1," Ramsey said when asked about Hopkins. "Him and Odell. They are probably 1A and 1B."

Ramsey and Beckham squared off in Week 1, and the third-year cornerback was not quite at his best. Beckham had 11 catches (on 15 targets) for 111 yards and likely could have had a bigger day if not for some misfires by quarterback Eli Manning.

However, aside from a 68-yard touchdown run by rookie tailback Saquon Barkley, the Jaguars kept the Giants' offense from establishing a rhythm. They won 20-15 at the Meadowlands, part of a 3-1 start to the season.

Ramsey and Hopkins met for the first time this season in Week 7. The results were mixed in a 20-7 Texans win, part of the Jaguars' season-ruining seven-game losing streak. Hopkins finished with three catches (on eight targets) for 50 yards but had a 10-yard touchdown in the third quarter to blow open the game.

Hopkins' 50 yards was his second-lowest output this season; he had four catches for 36 yards and a score in a Week 14 loss to Indianapolis. He did have an outstanding, one-handed catch over Ramsey that went for 31 yards.

"He had like three receptions for 50 yards, one long catch, 38 yards or something like that," Ramsey said. "But he had a touchdown and that was a big game-changer for their team and ours."

Ramsey couldn't remember a better play made against him this season than Hopkins' one-handed beauty, which was made down the left sideline. Facing press coverage from Ramsey, Hopkins used a quick move at the line of scrimmage to get outside position. Once he was downfield, he used his right hand to shield Ramsey and his left to snatch quarterback Deshaun Watson's pass out of the air.

Ramsey was impressed but not surprised by the effort.

"I'm sure he will make a good catch again this coming Sunday," Ramsey said. "When it's a good battle and it's good coverage on a good route, then sometimes you have to make a spectacular catch, and he's capable of making plenty of them."

Certainly so. Hopkins enters Week 17 with 103 catches for 1,425 yards and 11 touchdowns.

Only Atlanta's Julio Jones has more receiving yards (1,539). Pittsburgh's Antonio Brown (15), Green Bay's Davante Adams (13) and Indianapolis' Eric Ebron (12) have more receiving touchdowns.

"He can run great routes," defensive coordinator Todd Wash said. "Anything within his catch radius, he's going to catch. He had another one last week on the sideline, which should have been in the ESPN Top 10 if it wasn't. His catch radius, his hands, obviously his ability to get off a jam, he's just an exceptional wide receiver."

That's the challenge ahead for Ramsey, who has a team-high three interceptions, 11 passes defensed and 60 tackles this season.

Ramsey rarely turns down a challenge, and facing Hopkins is one of his favorites.

Phillip Heilman: (904) 359-4063