RSS Texans Team Notes

[Houston Texans]

Texans lose slug fest, fumble away game against Rams 14-9

We’re back, Texans fans! After what seemed like a journey through the sports wilderness since the Super Bowl last February, we’ve finally arrived to week 1! The storylines wrote themselves this week, as the Texans came into SoFi Stadium to face the Rams and make an early statement to being their new campaign.

C.J. Stroud made his first start in his home state, facing off against veteran gun-slinger Matthew Stafford. The story of this game would be, how will the Texans respond with a number of key players out for their week 1 matchup? On the Rams side, Stafford has been nursing a back issue that had limited his football activities leading up to today.

Regardless, we had some ball to play today, Houston. It’s good to be back!

First Quarter:

Texans score first on 4th & 7 from the Rams 33 yard line. (3-0)

With 1:20 left in the 1st, Ka’imi Fairbairn drilled a 51 yarder after 13 plays to give the Texans their first score of the season. Texans lead 3-0.

Second Quarter

Texans score again and increase their lead. (6-0)

Another double digit drive aided the Texans in getting within field goal range again. After starting at the 46 of the Rams, they went 10 plays and 19 yards to set up Ka’imi for the three point score. This made it 6-0.

Rams responded with an 11 play scoring drive of their own. (7-6)

Starting at their 35, they went 65 yards and found the endzone on RB Kyren Williams’ run over left tackle. Josh Karty’s extra point made it 7-6 Rams. This left about 57 seconds on the clock for Stroud and the offense to work with to close the half.

Texans retake the lead on Fairbairn’s leg. (9-7)

After an eight play drive that started on their own 23, Fairbairn kicked another field goal to retake the lead 9-7.

Third Quarter

Rams begin the 3rd Quarter with a touchdown drive. (14-9)

Going eight plays and 63 yards, the Rams scored on a 13-yard Matthew Stafford touchdown pass to TE Davis Allen. The key play on the drive was a 36 yard deep ball to WR Xavier Smith.

Stroud throws his first INT of the season

On a deep pass intended for WR Jayden Higgins, Rams CB Cobie Durant took it out of his hands for a suspect interception. It was suspect because, upon replay it definitely appeared as though the ball hit the turf as Durant crashed to the ground. But, the referees thought otherwise.

Fourth Quarter

Clutch fumble gives Texans one last chance for the comeback (1st & 10 at Texans 12)

With about 4:17 left in the quarter, Matthew Stafford threw what was initially called an incomplete pass to WR Colby Parkinson after a brutal hit by LB Azeez A-Shaair popped the ball loose. Upon review, it was determined that Parkinson had possession, thus the Texans got the ball with four minutes left.

AZEEZ AL-SHAAIR WITH THE PLAY OF THE DAY FOR HOUSTON.

THEY HAVE LIFE pic.twitter.com/FkHhB3Lkzx

— Jacob (@TexansJacob) September 7, 2025

Rams cause a fumble to retake possession and close out the game

To the heartbreak of everyone outside of SoFi Stadium, RB Dare Ogunbowale fumbled at the Rams 25 yard line. This happened when Rams LB Nate Landman punched the ball out of the back’s hands after a seven yard catch and run. This left roughly 1:50 on the clock for the Texans to possibly get the ball back after keeping all three timeouts.

Unfortunately, Jalen Pitre got beat on 3rd down via a game sealing out breaking route by WR Puka Nakua. The completion from Stafford went for 24 yards and the first down, which is all the Rams needed to ice the game.

Final: Texans lose 14-9 to the Rams

Final Assessment:

The Texans played a hard fought game against a Rams team who many view as a dark horse superbowl contender. They came into this game with a number of key injuries to the offensive side of the ball, including OL Ed Ingram, WR Christian Kirk, and WR Braxton Barrios.

Even still, there are a number of items that Nick Caley and that offense should want cleaned up before their week 2 home opener against Baker Mayfield and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

C.J. Stroud went 19/27 for 188 yards and 0 touchdowns in the game. The offensive line was responsible for a number of key penalties, including OT Cam Robinson’s holding penalty on the 1st offensive play of the game. And the rushing attack didn’t do much, with the game high coming from Nick Chubb on 13 carries for 60 yards.(4.6 yards/carry)

The only scoring that happened was by Ka’imi with everything by way of the field goal. He probably helped win fantasy for a few players after today.

Source: https://www.battleredblog.com/houst...-slug-fest-fumble-away-game-against-rams-14-9

 

[Houston Texans]

Value of Things: By the Numbers

The 2025 season started with a thud as the Houston Texans lost to the Los Angeles Rams 14-9. It was a lackluster defensive effort as the offense spotted the defense nine whole points and a two point lead going into the second half. The defense wasn’t able to shut out a Hall of Fame quarterback in the second half, so the team loses its first game of the 2025 season. Okay, I can’t keep that farce going. This game was an obvious offensive failure as Nick Caley and company will need to go back to the drawing board before week two.

There were certainly moments in the first half offensively. Stroud utilized more short passes than last year to keep some drives going and he was able to use his legs to extend some other drives. There were a few good Nick Chubb runs and the Fairbairn had three good kicks to put the team up going into halftime. That was the last time they would put points on the board.

This is a reminder that we look at the numbers every week to see which numbers correlate best between winning and losing. We also want to see if there are any patterns we notice overall in the team’s performance. Obviously, we won’t know that after week one, but by the time we get through the first month of the season I am sure we will begin to see some commonalities.

The Numbers​

• Total Yards: Texans 265, Rams 296
• Rushing Yards: Texans 27/114, Rams 25/72
• Passing Yards: Texans 30/151, Rams 27/154
• Sacks: Texans 3, Rams 3
• Turnovers: Texans 2, Rams 1
• Penalties: Texans 11/80, Rams 7/60
• Time of Possession: Texans 31:25, Rams 28:35

The Texans actually ran the ball fairly well. They averaged more than four yards a carry and that included Chubb and his 60 yards rushing. If he continues at that pace he will have more than 1000 yards rushing. Stroud obviously contributed with some timely runs in the first half that extended drives. The running game actually helped sustain some drives and helped them win the time of possession battle. That is the only major battle that they won.

Everyone will focus on the turnover battle and rightfully so, but the passing game was just not good enough on this day. The Rams limited Nico Collins to three catches and 25 yards and no one else was there to pick up the slack. Certainly, while Joe Mixon and Christian Kirk are out, the Rams gave every NFL team a blueprint on how to beat the Texans. You make someone else beat you and as they have demonstrated numerous times over the last year, there is no one there to do it.

The Good​

On balance, this was a very good performance by the defense. They are not the 1985 Bears or the 2000 Ravens, but they play a punishing brand of football and I guarantee the Rams will be feeling it for several days. They struggled against Puka Nacua, but so do most teams. Clearly, Devante Adams did not kill them and the running game didn’t kill them either.

They gave up the third quarter touchdown and kept the Rams off the scoreboard the rest of the way. They gave the offense an opportunity to mount a drive and win the game. Obviously, that didn’t happen. Needless to say, my introduction was clearly tongue in cheek. If you hold your opponent to 14 points you should win the game. If the Texans defense gives them this kind of effort for 17 weeks they should be a winning team. If they aren’t there will be major changes in store.

The Bad​

Unfortunately, bad is a relative term. The official Stroud numbers say he was 19 for 27 with 188 yards passing. He added over 30 yards on the ground. That’s close to a 67 percent completion percentage and nearly seven yards per attempt. Those aren’t terrible numbers. Most people would even say they aren’t bad numbers. They just aren’t good numbers and when your team doesn’t get in the end zone they are glaringly not good enough.

This is especially true for the quarterback that wants 60 million a season or more. Those quarterbacks have to do something to overcome whatever is going on to lead their team to the end zone. Wins and losses are a hard way to judge a quarterback. Those would say Joe Burrow was a bad quarterback last season. We know that’s not the case. Yet, when your defense holds the opponent to 14 points you have to find a way to win the game. If you don’t and you don’t consistently then you aren’t worth 60 million dollars.

This is just one football game. All of the all-time greats had duds in their career. Time will tell whether this is just one of those duds or whether it is a harbinger of things to come. It is also obvious that he is not alone in this situation. Other people on that offense and the offensive staff bear some responsibility here, but Stroud is going to have to be better for this team to get where it wants to go.

The Ugly​

Two off-seasons in a row, Nick Caserio has neglected to invest major capital in the offensive line. Yes, he did add a second round pick, but he also traded his best lineman and added a group of journeymen to replace three other spots on the line. Instead of investing in the line, he added a new offensive line coach that was already on the staff and a new offensive coordinator. Everyone was talking about how things were different. They were communicating better. Less was being asked of them. Stroud was going to dump it off more and check down quicker. Everything sounded so good.

Week one looked a lot like the last seventeen or so games from last season. There were blown assignments. Sometimes they were just beat like rented mules. Sometimes Stroud held the ball too long. We can talk in circles until I get blue in the face and throw up in the bathroom. The Giants and Dolphins were the only teams to score less. That includes some of the worst teams in football.

Like Stroud, Caserio may have gotten a pass last season since the club did win the division and advance to the divisional round. He may have gotten a pass because no one could have predicted that Juice Scruggs, Shaq Mason, and Kenyon Green all sucked. Actually, some of us actually asked whether at least one if not more of those guys were going to suck. Either way, like Stroud he does not get that excuse again. You don’t get to pay for a line with the change you find in the couch cushion and express shock when it doesn’t work. That excuse won’t work anymore. It shouldn’t have worked last year.

Source: https://www.battleredblog.com/the-value-of-things/71013/value-of-things-by-the-numbers

 

[Houston Texans]

Monday Night Football Open Thread – Minnesota Vikings at Chicago Bears

American Hero Case Keenum. | Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images

Now that we’ve forgotten about all that unpleasantness on Sunday, we can cap off this first week of the regular season with a nice, soft, relaxing NFC North matchup.

Here’s what you need to know to watch/listen to/stream tonight’s game:

Who: Minnesota Vikings at Chicago Bears

What: Monday Night Football

Where: Soldier Field, Chicago, IL

When: Monday, September 8, 7:15 p.m. CDT

Why: Because football is stupid and we should watch other teams be stupid too.

Enjoy the game, y’all.

Go, Texans!

Source: https://www.battleredblog.com/gener...pen-thread-minnesota-vikings-at-chicago-bears

 

[Houston Texans]

Groupthink: Reacting to the Texans Week 1 Loss

Sunday’s game was a somber start to the football season. The Texans lost to the Los Angeles Rams 14-9 and failed to score in the second half. The offense looked anemic and suffered several injuries across the offensive line. The defense appeared stout, but were unable to turn the tide for an offense that could not get in the end zone.

After a disappointing loss, I asked the Battle Red Blog writers to provide their initial thoughts directly after the game.

Texans dropped their first game of the season to the Los Angeles Rams. Give me your initial thoughts, reactions, and frustrations.​

Joe Critz​

This loss to the Rams was overall a good defensive showing by the Texans, so most of my frustrations lie with the offense.

Positives: Will Anderson Jr., Foley Fatukasi, and Calen Bullock made good plays, then Azeez Al-Shaair made the biggest defensive play with the forced fumble on Rams tight end Colby Parkinson at the end.

Frustrations: It was disappointing to see C.J. Gardner-Johnson and Jalen Pitre give up a few big passes in coverage, though.

All of the rebuilding and drafting on the offensive line didn’t amount to much in game one and looked nearly identical to last year. I still think they should have kept Laremy Tunsil, but that’s old news now. Cam Robinson and Aireontae Ersery had solid reps here and there, but I don’t think Laken Tomlinson or Tytus Howard had good games. I’m really tired of Houston trying to make Howard work at guard, because it’s not working. It’s 2025, he’s been here for seven years, and it’s still not working. It’s time to keep him at right tackle where he excels.

The rushing attack was also disappointing to start, but I think that last drive showed that Nick Chubb still has something left in the tank. It’s literally only three carries at the end of the game that’s giving me these positive feelings, but after zero touchdowns…I’ll take whatever I can get. Stroud was able to get the young receivers involved, but this offense still has a long way to go.

L4Blitzer​

Well, I didn’t see us winning this one, but that doesn’t make this any less painful. The offense did not impress, and a strong Rams defensive line made the Texans new offensive line struggle. The left side left much to be desired.

Stroud had an uneven game, but the team had a chance at the end, which he will give you.

The defense is likely to be the main reason this team wins. Somehow, this team can’t avoid getting a ton of penalties in road games, but that is becoming a defining characteristic of this Ryans’ regime. Expect a desperate game against the Bucs as Houston looks to avoid falling to 0-2.

VBallRetired​

I’m most frustrated with the defense. This offense came up with nine whole points. They couldn’t shut out a Hall of Fame QB in the second half? What good are you then? In all seriousness, we should have seen this coming. You can’t go out and buy spare parts, spackle it together, and be surprised when there are issues on the line.

Take away Christian Kirk and there weren’t enough effective weapons. Take away Joe Mixon and the entire offense fell a part. Nick Caley received some side eye (from me), but he gets time to make adjustments. Stroud gets time to make adjustments, but this was not a great NFL defense they played Sunday. They are solid. God help him them when they play someone really good.

Clayton A. (713 ST)​

The Texans lost a tough road game to a potential dark horse Super Bowl contender in the LA Rams. The Rams looked every bit of a team that’s been there and done that, while these young Texans still have a ways to go.

The positives: Jayden Higgins was featured along with multiple TE’s in the passing game. The defensive line and linebacker core gave them a chance to win the game. This was emphasized by Azeez Al-Shaair nearly snatching the Rams’ chain when he hit Colby Parkinson and popped the ball loose late in the game. Also, Ka’imi Fairbairn looked good with three field goals. He probably helped a fantasy player or two this week.

The frustrations: Houston can’t escape injuries, huh? Houston’s physical therapy facilities are packed with the Astros and now the Texans’ Christian Kirk, Braxton Barrios, and Evan Ingram after Week 1. Also, procedural penalties along the offensive line plagued this team. Cam Robinson was called for a hold on the first drive of the game, which felt all too familiar. I was hoping new offensive coordinator Nick Caley’s new offense would help alleviate that concern. Unfortunately, there’s only so much he can do with a makeshift line opposite a high quality pass rush. QB C.J. Stroud was doing too much cardio in the backfield due to of non-stop pressure by opposing defensive lineman who made turnstiles of Houston’s offensive line.

While Chubb had a few nice runs, the RB group as a whole really didn’t provide a differentiating factor to the offense today.

Finally, our secondary were cooked throughout the game. Stingley Jr. didn’t have his best of outing against Davante Adams. No one else made a play when the ball was in the air. And oh my goodness, Jalen Pitre got routed yet again for the game ending conversion for the Rams. That semi-frequently happens to Pitre. Last year it was against the Jets, and now the Rams.

Kenneth Levy​

Whether your hopes were high or not, the harsh reality was that the Texans offense appeared little improved. Stroud was under duress much of the game, the running game was nonexistent and Nico Collins was nowhere to be found in the second half. That combination does not bode well for an offense that relies on consistency and efficiency to move the ball down the field.

I was disappointed in the offense’s inability to throw downfield. Stroud’s longest pass was intercepted and only a handful of balls crossed 10 yards down the field. The offense has tightened and cannot threaten safeties, which shrinks the field. This in turn makes the run game less impactful as there are more players in the box. This is a case of the pass game opening up the run game.

It’s a Week One loss. It stings more than it is impactful.

Source: https://www.battleredblog.com/groupthink/71040/groupthink-reacting-to-the-texans

 

[Houston Texans]

NFL Power Rankings Week 2: Where are the Texans now?

Well, that start to the season wasn’t exactly planned!

After flying into Los Angeles with the hype of half of Texas (or most of Texas) under their wings, the Houston Texans arrived at SoFi Stadium to play the Rams, and lost in a rather familiar fashion: allowing too much pressure on Stroud, too many penalties, and ending up with field goals on their best drives when they needed touchdowns.

It’s a bit of a deflating start to the season after so much focus on the offense as a whole, but it’s still only week one. This is going to give Texans skeptics all the ammo they need to send Houston plummeting down the ranking, though. So get ready: it’s time to find out where the Houston Texans are ranked entering week two of the 2025 NFL season:

NFL.COM:​

14. Houston Texans (0-1) (Last Week: 13)

The Texans lacked explosiveness offensively in the opener, and they shot themselves in the foot with some big mistakes — two big turnovers and far too many penalties. They had 11 accepted flags, including a few big ones on defense and offensive penalties that erased short and medium gains. As a result, C.J. Stroud faced a lot of long-yardage situations, and the Rams were playing to prevent the chunk plays. You can’t really blame Stroud on his INT, but Dare Ogunbowale’s late fumble was absolutely brutal. It was first down, and the Texans were in no hurry; ball security has to be job No. 1 right there. Stroud had trouble getting the ball to Nico Collins all game. Afterward, the QB called out his team’s practice workleading up to the game. They’re a tough Bucs team away from an 0-2 start, although the game is in Houston.

– Eric Edholm

ESPN:​

16. Houston Texans (0-1)

Week 1 result: Lost to the Rams 14-9
Preseason ranking: 12

Best newcomer performance: RB Nick Chubb

Chubb ran well in his Texans debut with 60 rushing yards on 13 carries. Compared with the other newcomers, the former All-Pro running back made a noticeable impact on the game with two runs over 10 yards and a positive EPA on seven rushes, per NFL Next Gen Stats. As the Texans continue to mesh within new coordinator Nick Caley’s offense, having a reliable run game will ease the transition for quarterback C.J. Stroud.

– CJ Bien-Aime

SPORTS ILLUSTRATED:​

19. Houston Texans (0–1)

Last week’s ranking: No. 16
Last week’s result: lost to Rams, 14–9
This week: vs. Tampa Bay

Here’s my question leftover from the weekend: was the Rams defense as good as I thought, or is the C.J. Stroud hangover just lingering a bit? My guess: a lot of teams aren’t going to show this Texans offensive line this much trouble. Look at how much work Stroud had to do on completions, nevermind the pressures that really affected his throws.

Chris Shula was in his bag all afternoon against Houston. Every stunt and pressure looked like a carnival. pic.twitter.com/QYsL6oOuBt

— Conor Orr (@ConorOrr) September 9, 2025

– Conor Orr

BLEACHER REPORT:​

16. Houston Texans (0-1)

Last Week: 12

Week 1 Result: Lost vs. Los Angeles Rams 14-9

The Houston Texans offense expectedly looked out of sorts.

Guard Ed Ingram didn’t suit up because of an abdominal injury. Left tackle Cam Robinson and center Jake Andrews suffered injuries; the former returned, but the latter missed most of the second half.

The Texans could be in trouble if the coaching staff has to keep moving bodies around across the offensive line.

On top of that, their top running back, Joe Mixon, is on injured reserve with an ankle injury, and they have a first-time offensive play-caller.

Houston needs time to figure out its offense.

– Maurice Moton

CBS SPORTS:​

19. Texans (0-1) (Last Week: 15)

The offense didn’t do much against the Rams with the offensive line again a problem. That unit has to be better for C.J. Stroud.

– Pete Prisco

USA TODAY:​

17. Houston Texans (16): Their defense, anchored by DEs Danielle Hunter and Will Anderson Jr., should be one of the league’s best and looked the part Sunday. But how long can it compensate for an offense, one that didn’t find the end zone in Week 1, with this many prevalent issues?

– Nate Davis

YAHOO! SPORTS:​

17 (17): Houston Texans (0-1)

The Texans’ issues shouldn’t be surprising. They have a bad offensive line, and aside from Nico Collins, are thin at the skill positions. Houston’s defense is very good, but it might not matter that much if its offense can’t block or make any plays in the passing game.

– Frank Scwhab

THE ATHLETIC:​

17. Houston Texans (0-1)

Last week: 8

Sunday: Lost to Rams 14-9

First impression: This offense needs help

The Texans made one of the surprise moves of the offseason, hiring Nick Caley as offensive coordinator to replace Bobby Slowik. The Caley era didn’t exactly begin with a bang. Houston’s leading receiver, rookie Jayden Higgins, had just 32 receiving yards. The Texans went 2-for-9 on third downs. This defense is great, but the offense? Not a good start.

Up next: vs. Buccaneers, Monday, 7 p.m. ET

– Chad Graff and Josh Kendall

PRO FOOTBALL TALK:​

13. Texans (No. 10; 0-1): It’s hard to view them as an elite team until they get a signature road win against an elite team.

– Mike Florio

Average Ranking: 16.45 (Last Week: 13)

---

Unfortunately, it looks like the Texans took a serious tumble into the teens, going as far as 19th on a few power rankings. The trepidatious feelings towards the Texans have started already in week one, where they didn’t start cropping up in 2024 until Houston’s loss to the Green Bay Packers in week seven. So, the Texans are off to the antithesis of a hot start by the power rankers’ perspectives, but there’s still remnants of belief in their new-look offensive line.

And there should be, too! This is only the second week of the long NFL regular season, it’s far too early to leap off the bandwagon now. The oasis awaits, but first, the offensive line must gel as soon as possible before their upcoming matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Bucs defensive tackles Vita Vea and Calijak Kancey could eat the Texans’ interior line alive if they aren’t careful, so big things will be expected of center Jarrett Patterson as he fills in for an injured Jake Andrews.

What do you think, though? Will the Texans get their line on the same page in time for this suddenly more dire week two matchup, or are we still in for an even bumpier ride? Let us know down in the comments below!

GO TEXANS!!!

Source: https://www.battleredblog.com/houst...ower-rankings-week-2-where-are-the-texans-now

 

[Houston Texans]

Value of Things: A special comment

One of the things that old time journalists used to do was something they called a special comment. It was something out of the ordinary that they would do when something was sticking in their craw. As you might imagine, there is always a ton of chatter amongst the masthead in between games and behind the scenes. This week was no different. A topic came up that was so important that I thought I should mention it here.

The Texans came into the offseason with the fifth highest total expenditure on their offensive line. Their 50.3 million ranked behind only the Panthers, Chiefs, Rams, and Falcons. Obviously, we know the results. So, Nick Caserio decided to cut back. According to Spotrac, the Texans have cut that amount to 31.74 million. That amount currently ranks 26th in offensive line expenditures.

It would be simplistic to suggest that the Texans are cheap. It would be simplistic and wrong. According to Spotrac, they are currently 11th in total salary and stand 22nd in available cap room. They rank 12th in dead cap space. All of those figures would indicate that they are not miserly. They aren’t spending money like drunken sailors, but they aren’t pinching pennies either. When you consider the looming contracts for Will Anderson and C.J. Stroud, the spending levels make perfect sense overall.

So, where does this leave the offensive line? Obviously, coming into the offseason it was the biggest question mark and following the first game, it remains the biggest question mark. So, it is fair to take a look back at the general decisions that were made. I generally put these into two categories. There is second guessing. We see a move. We were on board, but suddenly it doesn’t work out and so we pile on. Then, there is first guessing. This is when we were actively scratching our heads at the time and it turns out we were right.

Shopping at the Bargain Bin​

This isn’t to say that this team never spends big money. Danielle Hunter was a huge expenditure and the team paid handsomely for Stefon Diggs last season. Christian Kirk might not have broken the bank, but he is a bigger ticket guy as well. However, when we look at the tenure of Caserio we will see that he makes a number of small moves. Admittedly, sometimes this works out. If you acquire a six pack of bargain bin players then chances are that one of them will work out.

We could point to numerous examples over the years of guys that were brought in with little fanfare, but turned out to be pretty darn good players. However, that hasn’t worked on the offensive line. This is compounded when internal candidates are given deference for dubious reasons. The decision to hand the job to Kenyon Green last season without much competition and no one to be there if it didn’t work out is glaring.

That’s the part of this thing that doesn’t make sense. He tried this same thing last season at center and left guard. This year he is going with a combination of starters on the wrong side of 30 and backups that did not work in other places. Maybe one of those works out, but the odds of you finding three different starters on the interior of the line in the bargain bin seems far-fetched at best.

Taking the second half of the draft off​

Airseontae Ersery could very well turn out to be a very good left tackle. He was moved to right tackle on Sunday because the team did not want to play Blake Fisher or Juice Scruggs in the game. Maybe that negatively impacted his performance. Maybe he would have been better on the left side. Maybe if Ed Ingram returns and Ersery moves back to left tackle things will be better. However, this gets back to the first guessing thing again,

Jarrett Patterson has turned out to be a useful player as a sixth round pick. Pick after pick on draft day came and everyone on the masthead was waiting for an interior lineman that never came. It was as if they decided they had addressed it in free agency. Clearly, that wasn’t the case. We were all saying it at the time. The fact that they keep moving Tytus Howard back inside is proof that they knew pretty early on that they didn’t have enough.

This brings us to the next point. It would seem logical that when an injury occurs, you want to have as much continuity as possible with a unit like the offensive line. Instead, you moved one tackle the opposite side, moved a tackle inside, and then another tackle off the bench when he hadn’t played in nearly two weeks. All you had to do was insert the backup guard and you could have kept the rest of the line intact. The fact that you didn’t speaks volumes.

The team played Blake Fisher sparingly and he got a 15 yard face mask in limited time. I’m not a draft expert and this falls under the second guessing category. It sure looks like the Texans blew two second round picks in Blake Fisher and Juice Scruggs. Again, I and others seem to be okay with the picks at the time. Others were not. That is usually how these things go. However, this begs the question: if these two are really unplayable then what are they doing on the roster?

Final Comments​

Nick Caserio is a good general manager in the grand scheme of things. There are very few really awful contracts if any. Even the players that people think aren’t good can be moved on from without much fanfare. He has drafted gems in each of the past three drafts. I think any treatment of Caserio has to be fair and include these positive points in mind.

Maybe the offensive line is a work in progress that will take more than one year to fix. The Laremy Tunsil trade on balance was probably a good move. It needed to be done culturally and paying him probably precluded you from paying others. Yet, you didn’t pay any others. Teams like the Bears and Vikings spent big to fix their line. This is two offseasons in a row that the team has skimped and saved on the interior of the line. It is only one game, but it looks like it didn’t work again.

Source: https://www.battleredblog.com/the-value-of-things/71078/value-of-things-a-special-comment

 

[Houston Texans]

Texans Reacts Survey Week 2

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NFL. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Texans fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.

Heading into Week 2, we want to know how you’re feeling after watching the team so far this year. Every week of the season we will ask fans if they are confident the team is headed in the right direction and more of the most pressing questions facing the coming game. Let us know what you think!

Source: https://www.battleredblog.com/general/71048/texans-reacts-survey-week-2

 

[Houston Texans]

Thursday Night Football Open Thread – Washington Commanders at Green Bay Packers

American Hero Case Keenum. | Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images

It’s week 2 of the NFL season and we’ve got more football for you today! Isn’t that fortunate?!

It’s an NFC showdown between a team that was last year’s NFC runner-up and a perpetually good team.

Here’s what you need to know to watch tonight’s game:

Who: Washington Commanders (1-0) at Green Bay Packers (1-0)

What: Thursday Night Football

Where: Lambeau Field, Green Bay, WI

When: Thursday, September 11, 7:15 p.m. CDT

Why: Because hope springs eternal and this week has to be better.

How: Amazon Prime Video*, NFL+* (*subscriptions required)

Enjoy the game, y’all.

Go, Texans!

Source: https://www.battleredblog.com/gener...ad-washington-commanders-at-green-bay-packers

 

[Houston Texans]

Five good Texan questions with Bucs Nation

It’s finally week two of the NFL season and the Texans are playing in prime time. This one is yet another matchup of two teams that hope to be playing in the postseason in January of 2026. We managed to catch up with Evan Wanish of Bucs Nation to get his take on the Bucs and the matchup with the Texans. The conversation began with a look back at week one.

Battle Red Blog: The Bucs won a hard fought 23-20 game against the Falcons on Sunday. Was there anything from the game that surprised you? What are your biggest positive and negative takeaways from that game?

Evan Wanish: The biggest surprise was actually one that almost cost the Bucs the game. Kicker Chase McLaughlin missing a field goal earlier in the game and then missing the extra point that would’ve put the Bucs up by 4. I’m not overly concerned about the reliable McLaughlin, but it’s something to monitor.

As far as a positive, Emeka Egbuka’s emergence in this one was exciting. He had one heck of a rookie debut with two touchdowns, the second being the game winner. The rookie made a great first impression.

BRB: Baker Mayfield is obviously one of the biggest comeback stories in the recent history of the league. In his couple of seasons in Tampa, what have you seen from him that has been different than his time in Cleveland and Carolina?

EW: I honestly think the biggest difference in Baker now vs back then is the situation he is in. Tampa has put the pieces around him and made sure he feels appreciated. Mayfield finally has the confidence back that he had in college. He’s got that swagger back and when he’s playing with confidence, that’s when he’s at his best.

BRB: Who are some guys that the pundits don’t focus on that will be huge factors in this Monday night game on both sides of the ball?

EW: On offense, Rachaad White has seen a reduced role with the rise of Bucky Irving, but that doesn’t mean he can’t do damage. Bucs will use White on mostly passing downs as he is a solid pass catcher as well as pass blocker. White may not play as much as he did in previous years, but he’s still a productive player.

On defense, I’d say Calijah Kancey. He was quietly one of the better interior defensive lineman in the NFL last season and actually led the team in sacks in 2024. He has the chance to be a real special player and might be able to take advantage of a struggling Houston offensive line.

BRB: The Bucs have been the class of the NFC South for the last couple of years. Who do you see as the Bucs biggest competition in the division this year? On another note, who do Bucs fans enjoy beating the most in the NFC South?

4. I still view the Falcons as the biggest threat to the Bucs in the NFC South. There is still a lot of talent on that roster and the division has been close the last few years and that could be the case yet again this year.

Despite Atlanta being the biggest threat in the NFC South, I think Bucs fans enjoy beating the Saints the most. That rivalry has been a heated one for years and the matchups are always scrappy. The Saints dominated the Bucs for so long that I think Bucs fans are enjoying returning the favor.

BRB: Fanduel has the Texans as 2.5 point favorites on Monday night. How do you feel tha game will go? Are there any prop bets you feel comfortable recommending?
EW: I think this game will be a low scoring one where points will be a premium but I think the Bucs will find a way to win. As for a prop bet, I like Mike Evans to score a touchdown. It’s a hometown game for him and I think he will look to show out on prime time.

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We want to thank Evan for joining us this week and for taking the time to answer our questions. Monday night’s game should be a great matchup and if the game is anything like the last time these two teams met it could be one of the more entertaining games of the year. We want to wish Evan and the Bucs the best of luck this year. As per usual, we hope that luck begins on Tuesday morning. As a reminder, you can catch Evan’s work at Bucs Nation.

Source: https://www.battleredblog.com/analysis/71118/five-good-texan-questions-with-bucs-nation

 

[Houston Texans]

Value of Things: Roses and Thorns

We’ve come to week two in the NFL season. The Houston Texans will be playing the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the bright lights of Monday Night Football. What kind of a game are we likely to see? The prognosticators have picked the Texans by a little less than a field goal. Let’s see what they are basing this on. As you saw last week, we start by looking at the top five players for each team based on Pro Football Focus. This time around, we have a week’s worth of numbers to base it on.

Additionally, we have the overall team rankings on offense and defense. Looking at both of those numbers can tell us how each team will attack the other on Monday night. Obviously, we don’t know how successful they will be. One game is not a lot to go on. That’s part of the fun of the early going. We have no idea what is a growing trend and what is simply a one off.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers​

• CB Zyon McCollum— 77.0
• CB Jacob Parrish— 76.5
• S Antoine Winfield— 75.4
• LB Lavonte David— 72.3
• WR Mike Evans— 70.9

Clearly, the strength of the Bucs after week one is the defense. In particular, three of their top five players are in their secondary. That probably doesn’t mean good things for the Houston Texans’ passing game. Baker Mayfield was surprisingly lowly rated, but their passing game had better player grades than their running game. So, that off the bat should tell us something.

Houston Texans​

• DE Will Anderson— 91.0
• DE Danielle Hunter— 86.0
• LB Azeez Al-Shaair— 80.8
• QB C.J. Stroud— 73.1
• TE Dalton Schultz— 67.6

Like the Bucs, the strength of the Texans in week one was clearly their defense. Will Anderson is likely a defensive player of the year candidate and Danielle Hunter is a potential Hall of Famer in the making. They are clearly the strength of the defense. In the interim, it would seem like betting the under on a 42.5 over/under would seem to be a good bet.

How will the Bucs offense attack the Texans?​

The Bucs offense ranks 24th in total yards after week one. Believe it or not, that actually makes them one of the few offenses worse than the Texans after week one. They ranked 22nd in passing yards and 17th in rushing yards. So, I suppose the strength of their team could be in the running game, but it is hard to say at this point without knowing who the Atlanta Falcons are. Based purely on pedigree, it would seem logical to assume that the Bucs are more likely to attack the Texans through the air.

Derek Stingley and Kamari Lassiter did not fare well on Sunday according to PFF, but they don’t have to take on the same receiving core as the Los Angeles Rams. Mike Evans is a Hall of Fame wide receiver in waiting, but outside of that the Bucs don’t have a legitimate second target with Chris Godwn on the shelf. Emeka Egbuks will have to come up big again for them to move the ball successfully against the Texans. He had a very good week one, so there is hope there.

How will the Texans offense attack the Bucs?​

The Texans were 23rd in total yards. I suppose that is not awful in the grand scheme of things, but they are 30th in points scored. They were 24th in passing yards and 13th in rushing yards. When you are struggling with keeping your quarterback upright you focus on the running game. Nick Chubb was solid enough in his 13 carries, so it might be a good bet for him to get a heavier load. The question will be who is getting the bulk of the other carries. Dameon Pierce didn’t look good and Dare Ogunbowale shouldn’t be on the field as an offensive player. That leaves Woody Marks.

The passing game simply has to improve, but with the Bucs secondary that might be a tall order. The Texans will have to be create to get Nico Collins targets because defenses are clearly keying in on him. They are betting they don’t have enough in the other wide receivers to hurt them. Based on week one, that seems to be a pretty good bet.

How will the Bucs defense attack the Texans?​

This seems pretty simple and I don’t even have to look at the rankings. The key to beating the Texans has been the same for over the past year. If you are able to control the running game enough and key on Nico Collins then the Texans don’t have another way to beat you. A lot of that depends on the availability of Christian Kirk. If Kirk is available he might be enough of a threat to make the Bucs nervous, but otherwise it could be another long day if they are able to shut down the running game.

How will the Texans defense attack the Bucs?​

The only thing the Texans defense did not do effectively in week one was turn over the Rams. Yes, they got a turnover late, but they didn’t give the offense any short fields. Anderson and Hunter will be the key there. If they can force Mayfield into some bad throws or get a sack, fumble or two and that could be enough to win. The keys are similar. Control the running game and make them one-dimensional.

Source: https://www.battleredblog.com/the-value-of-things/71086/value-of-things-roses-and-thorns

 

[Houston Texans]

Quick Hits: Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs Houston Texans

After last weekend’s game, it’s hard to get excited for this Monday. The McNairs have trotted out an anemic offense more suited for a kickball game than world class football far too often over the last 5 years.

Brand new offense, same old results.

As many feared, the Houston Texans’ offensive line did not look revamped, repaired or otherwise improved when they faced the Los Angeles Rams in week 1. It’s sort of mind-boggling that Nick Caserio, a GM who cut his teeth in New England – a team known for always having a good and/or great o-line while he was there – hasn’t fixed this one yet.

In large part due to the sad offensive line performance:

• C.J. Stroud and the seemingly loaded wide receiver room failed to generate 200 air yards.

• If you remove Stroud’s (likely unplanned) 32 yards on the ground, the running attack didn’t eclipse 100 yards.

New offensive coordinator Nick Caley did not have a great debut – or even a good one.

Another look into the Texans offense from @taggartkent:

Can’t win against serious football teams consistently playing like this. pic.twitter.com/5rqvly5Iqw

— Jacob (@TexansJacob) September 10, 2025

But Monday is a new day – and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are traveling to NRG to face the Texans on their own turf. In a prime time game no less.

Facing a far less potent opponent than the Rams, the Buccs edged out the Atlanta Falcons 23-20 last Sunday.

Despite putting up 23 points, Tampa Bay’s offense didn’t do much better than Houston’s, statistically.

Does that make this anyone’s game this weekend? We’ll find out in just a few short days.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers Week Two Stats​

QB BAKER MAYFIELD had 3 TD passes vs. 0 INTs for 99.3 rating in Week 1, his 6th-straight start with 2+ TD passes. Has 90+ rating in 8 of his past 9 road starts. Aims for his 3rd in row on MNF with 2+ TD passes. Passed for 265 yards & 2 TDs vs. 0 INTs for 119.4 rating in last meeting.

RB BUCKY IRVING had 1st-career TD catch last week. Has TD in 4 of his past 5 road games.

WR RACHAAD WHITE had 119 scrimmage yards (73 rush, 46 rec.) & 2 rush TDs in last meeting.

WR MIKE EVANS has 5+ catches in each of his past 6 & 50+ rec. yards in each of his past 8. Aims for his 3rd in row vs. Hou. with 85+ rec. yards. Has rec. TD in 8 of his 9 career MNF games.

WR EMEKA EGBUKA (rookie) had 2 rec. TDs in NFL debut last week & became 2nd player (Ernest Wilford, 9/12/04) since 1970 with GW rec. TD in final minute of 4th qtr. or OT in 1st career game.

LB LAVONTE DAVID had 9 tackles & TFL last week. Aims for his 3rd in row vs. Hou. with FF & 4th in row vs. Hou. with 10+ tackles. Has 12 TFL in 10 career MNF games.

LB HAASON REDDICK had sack in team debut last week.

LB SIRVOCEA DENNIS tied his career-high with 10 tackles, had career-best 2 TFL & 2nd-career PD in Week 1.

LB YAYA DIABY aims for his 3rd in row on MNF with 2+ TFL.

NT VITA VEA aims for his 3rd in row vs. Hou. with TFL.

DL CALIJAH KANCEY had sack & 3 TFL in last meeting.

CB JAMEL DEAN had 3 PD last week, tied-most in NFL in Week 1.

CB ZYON MCCOLLUM tied his career high with 10 tackles Week 1.

S TYKEE SMITH tied his career high with 11 tackles last week.

S ANTOINE WINFIELD JR. aims for his 4th in row on MNF with 10+ tackles. Had FR in last meeting.

Houston Texans Week Two Stats​

QB C.J. STROUD completed 19 of 27 atts. (70.4 pct.) for 188 yards & had 32 rush yards last week. Is 11-5 in 16 career home starts. Set career highs in pass yards (470), TD passes (5) & rating (147.8) in last meeting.

RB NICK CHUBB led team with 60 rush yards last week in Hou. debut. Had 132 scrimmage yards (116 rush, 16 rec.) & rush TD in his last game vs. TB (11/27/22 w/ Cle.) & aims for his 3rd in row vs. TB with 80+ rush yards & rush TD.

WR NICO COLLINS had TD catch in 5 of his 6 home games last season. Had 54 rec. yards & rec. TD in last meeting.

WR CHRISTIAN KIRK can make Hou. debut after spending past 3 seasons (2022-24) with Jax. Had 6 catches for career-high 138 yards & 3 TDs in only career game vs. TB (11/10/19 w/ Ari.).

WR JUSTIN WATSON spent 1st 4 career seasons (2018-21) with TB.

TE DALTON SCHULTZ set career highs in catches (10) & rec. yards (130) & had TD catch in last meeting.

TE CADE STOVER led team with career-high 4 catches in Week 1.

DE DANIELLE HUNTER had 5th-career FR last week. Had 8 sacks in 8 home games last season. Had 2 TFL, sack & PD in his last game vs. TB (9/10/23 w/ Min.).

DE WILL ANDERSON led team with 3 TFL & had sack in Week 1. Aims for his 5th in row with 0.5+ sacks, incl. playoffs. Had sack in last meeting.

DT FOLORUNSO FATUKASI had sack last week.

LB HENRY TO’OTO’O had 6 tackles, sack & PD last week. Had 5+ tackles in each of his 8 home games last season, incl. playoffs. Had FF in last meeting.

LB AZEEZ AL-SHAAIR had 7 tackles & 5th-career FF last week.

CB DEREK STINGLEY had 5 tackles in Week 1. Had 13 PD in 9 home games last season, incl. playoffs. Since 2023, ties for NFL lead with 31 PD.

CB KAMARI LASSITER led team with career-high 9 tackles last week.

S C.J. GARDNER-JOHNSON has INT in 3 of his past 4 vs. TB, incl. playoffs.

PFF Win Rate among EDGEs through week 1 pic.twitter.com/UivAg7QqYR

— Billy M (@BillyM_91) September 10, 2025

This game has the makings 0f another low scoring, defensive struggle. And games like that are usually decided by mistakes and turnovers.

If last week is any indicator of future performance, the Texans will lose this one. H-Town is currently -1 in the turnover category, while Tampa Bay is flat at 0.

But we all know one week doesn’t always indicate the outcome of the next, and hope springs eternal in H-Town.

Source: https://www.battleredblog.com/houst...k-hits-tampa-bay-buccaneers-vs-houston-texans

 

[Houston Texans]

Sunday Night Football Open Thread – Atlanta Falcons at Minnesota Vikings

American Hero Case Keenum. | Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images

To close out the Sunday slate, we have a blast from the late 90s, a rematch of the 1998 NFC championship game.

Here’s what you need to know to watch tonight’s game:

Who: Atlanta Falcons (0-1) at Minnesota Vikings (1-0)

What: Sunday Night Football

Where: U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, MN

When: Sunday, September 14, 7:20 p.m. CDT

Why: Because much like the rest of us, you have also been waiting all day for Sunday night.

TV: NBC, Universo

Radio: Westwood One

Streaming: Fubo*, Hulu + Live TV*, NBC Sports, NFL+*, Peacock*, SlingTV*, YouTubeTV* (*subscription required)

Enjoy the game, y’all.

Go, Texans!

Source: https://www.battleredblog.com/gener...n-thread-atlanta-falcons-at-minnesota-vikings

 

[Houston Texans]

Houston Texans Fall to 0-2 Against Tampa Bay on MNF

The Houston Texans defense could not hold Baker Mayfield and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers out of the end zone at the end of the game. Houston falls to 0-2 for the second time in the DeMeco Ryans era as they lose 20-19 at home on Monday Night Football.

After one great drive to start the game ended with a Nico Collins touchdown, the Texans offense failed to score another touchdown for the rest of the game. Houston’s offense has yet to get Nico Collins going. He only had three receptions for 52 yards and one touchdown.

The defense put up a strong fight, but missed tackles and soft coverage led to the Buccaneers gaining 360 yards including 169 yards on the ground. The Buccaneers were able to move the ball against the Texans run defense even with both of its offensive tackles out of the game. They started former Texans fourth round pick Charlie Heck at tackle, who held up against the combination of Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter well.

The game-defining moment came when Houston failed to convert on second and one from the goal line and eventually turned the possession over on downs. The Texans would take the lead late into the fourth, but missing out on a crucial touchdown devastated the Texans’ offense and took much of the wind out of their sails.

The Texans woes that plagued them last year persist in 2025. QB C.J. Stroud was sacked three times and continually under duress. Laken Tomlinson was bullied by Vita Via all game in a major mismatch. The run game was nowhere to be found once again and was only supported by a wide open 25-yard touchdown to Nick Chubb.

Houston is now tied for fourth in the AFC South with the Tennessee Titans. They face the Jacksonville Jaguars next week in Jacksonville.

Source: https://www.battleredblog.com/texan...n-texans-fall-to-0-2-against-tampa-bay-on-mnf

 

[Houston Texans]

Value of Things: By the Numbers

The Houston Texans have begun the season 0-2 after coming into the season with lofty expectations. Unlike the first game, there will be some coaching decisions that come under the microscope in this one. In particular, the Texans had second and goal from the one and came away with zero points. Those lack of points ended up being the difference in the game. Obviously, if he had known then what he knows now he would have kicked the field goal. Hindsight is always 20/20.

There were more positives in this one as the Texans almost pulled it out in the end. The ending was reminiscent of 2023 when the Texans seem to come down to the last two minutes with the lead in nearly every game. They were able to hold off their opponents more often that season. They weren’t able to do it on this night. It is true that they played two likely playoff teams, but they still find themselves in last place of the AFC South.

The Numbers​

• Total Yards: Texans 46/266. Bucs 72/360
• Rushing Yards: Texans 19/84, Bucs 30/169
• Passing Yards: Texans 27/182, Bucs 42/191
• Third Down: Texans 2/9, Bucs 6/14
• Sacks: Texans 4, Bucs 3
• Penalties: Texans 6/45, Bucs 7/45
• Turnovers: Texans 0, Bucs 0
• Time of Possession: Texans 22:51, Bucs 37:09

This game might get me to bust out a cumulative stat I used during the dark days. Essentially, I tracked the net difference between rushing yards and rushing yards allowed. This one was one-sided for much of the game. C.J. Stroud had 27 yards on four carries. So, the running backs had 57 yards on 15 carries. I suppose it’s not terrible, but it does deserve a special comment. DeMeco Ryans has made great pains to talk about how he wants to play a physical brand of football. You can want in one hand and pee in the other and see which one fills up first.

The total sum of what you do is the truest measure of your devotion. The Texans defense made some physical plays and the Nick Chubb touchdown was impressive, but by and large they were outmuscled on both sides of the ball for much of the night. If you looked at the box score you would be led to believe the score was more lopsided. It wasn’t. We can look at why in the good, bad, and ugly.

The Good​

Frank Bush should get a lifetime contract to coach special teams for the Houston Texans. They routinely have one of the best units in the NFL and they made several key plays throughout the game that made the game a lot closer than what it should have been. Jaylin Noel was a revelation returning the ball. He had two big kickoff returns in the first half that gave the offense solid field position and returned a fourth quarter punt deep into Bucs territory.

Add in the blocked punt in the fourth quarter and you can almost account for half of the Texans points through special teams alone. Ka’imi Fairbairn continues to be one of the more reliable kickers in the NFL as well. No one wins the Super Bowl just with good special teams but every once in awhile they can make the difference between victory and defeat. They almost pulled it out for the Texans on Monday night.

The Bad​

Grading the Texans defense is difficult on this evening. They were very uneven. There were some big moments as they shut down the Bucs for much of the second, third, nnd fourth quarters. They allowed the touchdown that won the Bucs the game in the last two minutes. I’m sure Ryans will say that the offense did enough to win. I’m not sure I would go that far, but when you make the opposing team go 80+ yards to win, you should come out with the victory.

What I’m sure he won’t feel good about and what no Texans fan should feel good about is the fact that the Bucs were able to run the ball at will nearly the entire night. It put the Bucs in third and shorts and allowed them to convert nearly 50 percent of their third downs. They stayed on the field while the Texans were not able to stay on the field. In retrospect, expecting the defense to hold them down for nearly 40 minutes is probably asking a bit much. This looks like a top five defense and when you are a top five defense, more is expected of you.

The Ugly​

Don’t let the robust 19 points of offense fool you. That sum might seem like an offensive bonanza if you were the take the DeLorean back to the 1940s and the single wing. Three of the points were directly from a blocked punt where the offense proceeded to gain zero yards in three plays. They did score a touchdown in the final drive, but they likely would have scored a field goal regardless. Maybe if they had floundered around on that drive they might have won the game through their own futility.

The coup de grace was the second and goal from the one yard line that somehow led to zero points. Two very questionable pass plays were called on third and fourth down because the coaching staff had absolutely zero faith that they could generate a push on a running play. After watching their Nick Chubb run go nowhere on second down I suppose they can’t be blamed for that opinion. I certainly appreciate the idea that you want to go for it because normally that is the analytical thing to do and that it shows confidence in your team. Your team doesn’t deserve confidence right now. Take the points.

C.J. Stroud wasn’t brilliant again as he finished 13 of 24 with a touchdown. So, he has one touchdown pass on the season and nearly 400 yards passing. That’s not going to blow anyone’s skirt up, but this scheme is not doing him any favors. Everything looks difficult. I suppose a Josh Allen, Patrick Mahomes, or Lamar Jackson could make something happen in this offense. Stroud is none of those guys. He might be more similar to Baker Mayfield. Mayfield seemed to have an easier time even with the constant pressure from the defensive line. Is that on Nick Caley? Maybe. Is some of it on Stroud? Maybe. If the offense has another down week next week the whispers will become shouts.

Source: https://www.battleredblog.com/the-value-of-things/71159/value-of-things-by-the-numbers

 

[Houston Texans]

The Day After the Day After: Aftermath of the Houston Texans’ loss to the Tampa Bay Bucs

The Day After the Day After…when the raw, immediate emotions from the aftermath of a game diminish into the realm of clarity and the proverbial (or literal) hangover no longer haunts the mind. With that, a review of Week 2:

The script for the “Most Interesting Defense in the World” flips: In the 2+ years under the most interesting defensive coordinator in the world Matt Burke, the Texans’ defense found itself needing to hold off the opponent in the final seconds. In 2023, the defense held off the Saints, Cardinals, Broncos, Colts when those teams needed touchdowns to tie or win. Last season, it held off final charges from the Colts and Dolphins to secure such victories. Historically, Houston would surrender enough yards for the FG (see ATL and CAR in 2023, GB and DET in 2024). However, the 2025 defense failed to keep the Bucs out of the endzone. Was the defense likely tired from being on the field for almost 37 minutes prior to that final drive? Sure. One could argue after so many successful holds to prevent a team from score a game winning/tying TD, the team was due for some regression. Still, if Houston wants to get where it wants to go, the defense has to lead the way, and it must close out games like this.

The Two 4th Downs that decided the game: In a game like this, it can come down to but a couple of plays. Here, two 4th down plays decided the fate of the contest. One was a fourth down conversion not made, the other one was.

• HOU: 4th and Goal from the Tampa Bay 1 (4th Qtr, 11:19). Houston comes out in shotgun. This is the 3rd consecutive play starting from the TB 1 yard line. A Nick Chubb run for no gain and a Stroud incompletion to Collins got Houston to his point. Given that Houston trailed early in the 4th by 4 and was at the TB 1, few could argue against the call to go for it here. Stroud takes the snap and rolls to his left, along with most of his eligible receivers. He targets Collins, but throws high and to the right of Collins, who is under good coverage.
• TB: 4th and 10 from the TB 32 (4th Qtr, 1:24). While the Bucs still had its full complement of timeouts, this play likely meant ball game. Mayfield took the shotgun snap, desperate to find some open receiver to keep the drive alive. Houston’s front four got some good push all along the O-line. LB To’oTo’o then came on a delayed blitz along the right side of the Bucs’ line. However, he did not take the greatest angle and Mayfield was able to side-step his rush enough to only get a weak-arm outreach from the LB. From there, Mayfield saw the middle of the field wide open, as any Texans defender not rushing was in deeper coverage. He gets 15 yards before S Gardner-Johnson takes him down.

A big momentum swing on both 4th downs. The goal-line stand was somewhat mitigated by Houston with the follow-on punt block, but they only managed a FG. That left the score 13-14, which played a major factor later in the game, when Houston had to go for 2 when Chubb scored near the 2-min warning. A 5 point-lead still means a team needs a TD to win. However, if Houston gets that TD earlier in the 4th, the score is then 17-14. The strategic direction of the game completely changes then. Even if Houston doesn’t get the punt block and doesn’t get the FG, a lead is a lead. Also, if Houston still scores that final TD later in the 4th quarter, then the game is effectively over at 24-14. As for Tampa Bay, that scramble put the wind in their sails, and the Bucs marched down the field on a tired and slightly demoralized defense.

Special Teams almost won it for Houston. On a night when the vaunted defense couldn’t check the punishing Tampa Bay ground attack and where the offense was still held back by low-caliber line play and inconsistency, special teams needed to come through. In the second half, they definitely did. In the 4th quarter, after a potentially game-altering goal-line stand (see previous section), Houston needed something to flip back its way. The Bucs moved the ball to near midfield, seemingly moving a struggling Texans offense out of any chance to score. Then Jakob Johnson blocks the punt. The ball ended up back at the TB 35, leading to a Houston FG. Then, later in the 4th, Jaylin Noel provided a 53-yard punt return that set up the Texans for the go-ahead TD. Overall, special teams played a better quality game here than in LA. Most of the coverage on the game laments the Bucs’ poor special teams (they struggled in Atlanta), but let us not completely discount the Texans’ role in making the Bucs special teams look bad.

Going into the early bye with a losing record seems almost a certainty now. Having an extremely early bye is a strange season marker. However, based on the makeup of the schedule, the idea of going into that bye in Week 6 with a losing record didn’t seem all that far-fetched. With a trip to Baltimore slated for Week 5, Houston seemingly will enter the Week 6 bye, best case, at 2-3. Plenty of season to go, and the offense line can settle in, players like Mixon can come back from injury, and the back part of the schedule sets up nicely for Houston. Yet, it is also not hard to think that the games at Jacksonville and against Tennessee at NRG are must-wins. 2-3 is one thing. 1-4 or 0-5…well, then we are having a completely different discussion.

FUN WITH NUMBERS:

3: Times that Houston started 0-2 and still managed to make the playoffs. Only 11.5% of teams since 1990 have done so. Houston’s done it three times. 2015, 2018 and 2023 started 0-2 and the Texans ended as AFC South Champions (9-7, 11-5, 10-7 respectively). Not ideal, but not impossible either.

22.2%: Houston’s 3rd Down conversion percentage this season. Only two game, but teams do not find much success at that clip. This is dead-last in the league by a considerable margin.

GAME BALLS

WR/KR Jaylin Noel: His 53-yard punt return was his main highlight, part of his 67 total punt return yards on three returns (22.3 yards/return) and 78 yards on three kick returns (26.0yds/return). He was not targeted as a receiver in 15 snaps, but he stood out as a special teams weapon.

DE Danielle Hunter: Hunter’s line for night: 5 tackles (3 solo), 2 TFLs/2 Sacks and a FF. He also went over 100 sacks for his career. Anderson also added a sack to his season total.

SHOULD BE FORCED TO LISTEN TO JOE BUCK NARRATE EVERY SINGLE EVENT FROM MONDAY NIGHT ON REPEAT WHILE CLEANING OUT TORO’S STABLE WITH ONLY A TOOTHBRUSH

Goal Line Play Calling/Execution: Houston got the ball to the TB 1-yard line early in the 4th quarter and executed one Chubb run up the middle and two mis-fired passes to Collins. Last week, Houston actually used the tush push on a 4th and 2 to convert inside Rams territory last week? Would that not be a consideration here to get only one yard? You don’t want Stroud taking too many shots, but you’ve shown it can be done, even if Vea is a far superior nose tackle to his Rams’ counterpart. And no play-action of any sort on either pass play? Good play-calling depends on execution (Stroud takes his blame here), but poor creativity from Caley here.

Run Defense: Tampa Bay’s two main backs combined for over 136 yards rushing. Throw in Mayfield’s 33 yards and the Texans’ run D had a game to forget. Big reason why the Bucs won time of possession and the Texans’ D struggled on the last drive. Last week, Houston only surrendered 71 total yards on the ground.

Houston has a short-turn to prep for its visit to Jacksonville and the 1-1 Jaguars. This will be a game where both teams will want to put aside last-second losses. Also, there might…MIGHT, be some other sub-plots of note from the last time these two dueled. Kickoff is this Sunday at noon CDT on CBS/Paramount+. See y’all there.

Source: https://www.battleredblog.com/analy...the-houston-texans-loss-to-the-tampa-bay-bucs

 

[Houston Texans]

Injured Texans WRs look to boost struggling passing game

The Houston Texans have unfortunately stumbled out of the gate of the 2025 season, beginning 0-2 after heartbreaking losses to both the Los Angeles Rams and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. This is their worst start since 2023, where they also started 0-2.

In both contests, the defense held serve for the most part, only allowing 14 to L.A. and 20 to Tampa.(It was 14 for the majority of the game before Baker engineered the game winning drive in the fourth for the final score.)

However, the Texans offense didn’t do their part to help secure the victories, scoring a measly 9 points in game one and a disjointed 19 in the second. Their 28 points through two weeks ranks dead last in the NFL behind other 0-2 teams in the Panthers and Titans.

That’s not the kind of output that Head Coach DeMeco Ryans had in mind for new coming offensive coordinator Nick Caley in year three of quarterback C.J. Stroud.

Speaking of C.J., his performances have been uneven at best to start the season. His 395 total passing yards so far have him ranked 30th, only in front of the Cardinals’ Kyler Murray (383) and oddly Tampa’s Baker Mayfield (382).

His lone touchdown pass Monday night has him tied with Tyrod Taylor and Cam Ward for second fewest among qualified signal callers (Jalen Hurts has 0. Thank you ‘tush push’).

To be fair, the offense has not had the services of three key pieces to start their campaign. That being because of injuries to starting running back Joe Mixon (foot) and newly acquired wide receivers Christian Kirk and Braxton Berrios (hamstrings). That’s a 1,000 yard rusher and a 700-1,000 yard receiver (Kirk) that’s been missing from the offensive side of the ball.

However, a news break happened yesterday that could be key to turning the season around in quick fashion. And that being, according to multiple sources, the Houston Texans expect to receive wide receivers Christian Kirk and Braxton Berrios back for their week three road game against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

It may not be a hot take to say that week three might be a virtual “must win” for the Texans, as they cannot risk falling to 0-3 if they’re truly aiming to step into “AFC Elite” status. Especially, when their division counterpart in the Indianapolis Colts have started 2-0 on the strength of unexpected quality performances by their new QB Daniel Jones (588 yards (second in NFL), 2 TD’s, and 111.1 passer rating (seventh in NFL)).

With the return of their WR2 in Kirk and quality depth piece in Berrios, C.J. and Caley may finally be able to turn the corner and establish a consistent rhythm in the passing game.

The Texans traded a ‘26 seventh rounder to the Jaguars for Kirk. He was envisioned to be a veteran slot option who could also stretch the field on any defense. In signing Berrios during free agency, they are provided with quick receiver who also can double up as a kick returner if called upon. Braxton also grabbed a 14-yard receiving touchdown against the Vikings in the preseason from Davis Mills.

With their reintegration, hopefully they can help a sputtering pass unit that is currently ranked eighth worst in receiving yards (395) and fourth worst in touchdowns (1).

I fully expect the Texans to come out aggressive and attempt to reestablish an offensive identity in week three. Let’s just hope that converts to a much needed W in Jacksonville, and serves as a reminder to the league that the Texans are not a team to take lightly when considering the power hierarchy in the AFC.

Source: https://www.battleredblog.com/houst...ans-wrs-look-to-boost-struggling-passing-game

 

[Houston Texans]

Value of Things: Roses and Thorns

Another week goes by in the NFL. With every passing week the picture becomes that much more clear. Of course, for your Houston Texans that picture doesn’t look all that good. The Texans come into their battle with the Jacksonville Jaguars with an 0-2 record. The list of teams that have gone from 0-2 to the playoffs is not unsubstantial. Heck, the Texans did it just two years ago in their first season under DeMeco Ryans. The list of teams advancing to the playoffs after starting 0-3 is considerably shorter.

Just as a reminder, we look at PFF scores for individual players and we look at the team rankings in various categories. Those two things give us some clues as to how each team will likely approach the game and it gives us some insight into how the game might go. Of course, individual people will take that information and use it for their own purposes. We at SBNation and BRB do not officially recommend any specific play, but we obviously have a relationship with FanDuel, so take that for what it’s worth.

Jacksonville Jaguars​

• LB Devin Lloyd— 91.2
• LB Foyesade Okuokun— 89.8
• S Eric Murray— 83.7
• C Robert Hainsey— 77.5
• G Ezra Cleveland— 75.5

Texans fans will notice a familiar name there in the top five. On balance, changing out C.J. Gardner-Johnson for Murray will probably end up working out in the Texans favor. Naturally, they thought they would also have Jimmie Ward on the roster. Had they known then what they know now they may have sprung for the extra dough to keep Murray in the fold. The NFL is interesting because some positions are more impactful than others. When your best players are not skill position guys, it can put some strain on your team. We have seen that happen with the Indianapolis Colts for years.

The Jaguars will continue to have a certain ceiling as long as they don’t get top end production from their quarterback, running backs, and wide receivers. As you will see, the backs have done well overall, but none of them have been brilliant on their own. Brian Thomas shows some promise, but none of their guys are elite at their position.

Houston Texans​

• DE Danielle Hunter— 90.6
• G Ed Ingram— 83.8
• DE Will Anderson— 80.4
• LB Azeez Al-Shaair— 80.4
• TE Dalton Schultz— 72.6

The Texans have similar issues. The main difference is that the strength of their defense comes in their main pass rushers. Eventually, that should lead to some big plays on defense, but we haven’t seen those yet. Seeing Ingram’s name here was a huge surprise and hopefully it is a harbinger of things to come. If the Texans can find just one more lineman outside of Ingram and Tytus Howard then maybe some good things will start to happen.

Still, the Texans have similar issues with their skill position players. None of them are really showing up making big plays. Obviously, when you are last in the NFL in points scored, it means that not a lot of guys are making plays. That will need to change in order for the Texans to be more successful.

How will the Jaguars offense attack the Texans?​

This one is pretty simple. The Jaguars are the number one team in the NFL in rushing yards. They have three solid running backs that can all take carries and produce solid yardage. We saw the Bucs gash the Texans all night on Monday for rushing yards. The question is whether they will succeed on Sunday. The NFL is all about adjustments and we will need to see what the Texans come up on Sunday. However, if the history of this season follows what has been done already, this will be a huge issue for the Texans.

Lawrence has been more successful this season than he was last year, but he still is not performing like an elite quarterback that everyone thought he would be coming out of Clemson. Still, the running game creates play action opportunities for him to make some easy throws and get some chunk plays when they may not have made them on their own.

How will the Texans offense attack the Jaguars?​

I’d love to say that they would use the running game to keep the pass rush from killing C.J. Stroud, but early indications are that they won’t for whatever reason. So, the key to the game will be the return of Christian Kirk. Kirk gives Stroud a nice safety valve option and a second receiver that the Jaguars must respect. The problem in the first two weeks is that no one has stepped up to be a secondary threat once teams double up Nico Collins. Stroud has spread the wealth some, but he needs that consistent second threat.

Perhaps, the Texans can almost do an inverse of the tried and true run opening up the pass. It almost needs to work in reverse. If the Jaguars have to dedicate a fifth defensive back to account for Kirk in the slot, then it might be easier for the offensive line to open up some holes in the running game. Both Chubb and Marks have shown some running ability when they get space, so we can hope we see more of that on Sunday.

How will the Jaguars defense attack the Texans?​

DeMeco Ryans can tell us how close he thinks this offense is. He can tell us how improved the offensive line is. Maybe he can make some people believe that, but this team looks almost exactly the same as last season. You beat the Texans by getting to Stroud. The best way to do that is to shut down the running game and make the Texans one-dimensional. This has been a lot easier done than said even though we say it every week.

How will the Texans defense attack the Jaguars?​

Simply put, the Texans need some big plays on defense to shorten the field or actually put points on the board. That means that Trevor Lawrence needs to make some bad throws or get strip sacked. In order to do that the Texans will need to slow down their running game enough to put them behind the chains. It will be easier said than done, but they have shown that they were able to do it in the past.

Source: https://www.battleredblog.com/the-value-of-things/71241/value-of-things-roses-and-thorns

 

[Houston Texans]

Thursday Night Football Open Thread – Miami Dolphins at Buffalo Bills

American Hero Case Keenum. | Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images

It’s another Thursday Night Football tilt! This week it’s an all AFC East match between—ooooh. Oh, dear.

A matchup between the woeful Miami Dolphins and the Buffalo Bills.

Imagine Mike Tyson fighting Don Knotts, and you’ve got this week’s game.

Here’s what you need to know to watch tonight’s game:

Who: Miami Dolphins (0-2) at Buffalo Bills (2-0)

What: Thursday Night Football

Where: Highmark Stadium, Orchard Park, NY

When: Thursday, September 18, 7:15 p.m. CDT

Why: Because I have to fill this section with something; maybe we see a fiftyburger?

How: Amazon Prime Video*, NFL+*, Hulu + Live TV* (*subscriptions required)

Enjoy the game, y’all.

Go, Texans!

Source: https://www.battleredblog.com/gener...l-open-thread-miami-dolphins-at-buffalo-bills

 

[Houston Texans]

Eye of the Cyclones: Higgins and Noel Week 2 Report

Welcome to week 2 of the Cyclone tracker!

This is where we follow our resident weather themed twins in rookie receivers Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel, both out of Iowa State (hence, the “Cyclone” twins).

As always, there will be analysis, projections, commentary, and relevant updates that happen in real time.

Week 2 Cyclones Tracker:

Name: Jayden Higgins

Position: WR

Projected WK. 2 storm path: 3.7 targets, 2.3 receptions, 28.2 yards, 0.2 TD’s

Actual WK. 2 path: 1 target, 1 reception, 28 yards, 0 TD’s

Assessment: After a week 1 loss where Higgins logged 2 receptions for 32 yards and 0 TDs, one would think the 6 ‘4” Iowa State alumni would follow it up with a more solid statistical outing. Alas, that would not be.

Against the Bucs, Jayden finished with one less reception (1), four less yards (28), and still 0 TD’s. I repeat, 28 yards on one catch. Yet, he never saw the ball again for the rest of the game.

It’s not at all the fault of the rookie receiver, as the new-look Caley offense has been highly underwhelming to start this season’s campaign. The Texans’ inability, or unwillingness, to better feature its young talent has helped hamstring a unit that ranks at the bottom of the league in various significant offensive categories.

In a virtual “must win” against Jacksonville this Sunday, hopefully Caley finds a plan that maximizes Houston’s tools and leads to a much needed first victory of the season.

Week 3 Projections: 3.7 targets, 2.3 receptions, 29.3 yards, 0.2 TD’s, 6.2 fantasy pts

Cyclone 2:

Name: Jaylin Noel

Position: WR/PR & KR

Projected WK. 2 storm path: 2.9 targets, 2 receptions, 21 yards, 0.1 TD’s

Actual WK. 2 path: 0 targets, 0 receptions, 0 yards, 0 TD’s, 145 return yards

Assessment: Here’s an excerpt on Noel’s week 2 outing vs. Tampa Bay, courtesy of thefantasyfootballers.com:

“Noel was given the fewest offensive snaps (15) among Houston’s wide receivers, but he impacted the game on special teams. He averaged 26.0 yards on three kickoff returns and 22.3 on punt returns, including a 53-yarder that set up the Texans’ final score with just over two minutes left.”

The fact that Noel has yet to see significant opportunities in the Texans’ passing attack is itself a travesty. He was arguably discussed just as highly as Higgins coming out of the ’25 draft. (If not more so, depending on whose commentary you listened to.)

Standing at 5′ 10″ and weighing around 200 lbs., I projected Noel to be a larger built Tank Dell (5’ 10”, 165 lbs.) in this offense. In spite of his size, former OC Bobby Slowik had no issue with featuring a dynamic receiver like Tank. Before getting hurt, Tank had amassed: 75 targets, 47 receptions, 709 yards, 7 TD’s, and an average of 15.1 yards per catch.

There is no reason for Jaylin to not be able to be just as effective with Caley at the helm. He’s 30 lbs heavier, and he actually posted a faster 40 time at the combine with 4.39 compared to Dell’s 4.49.

With the Jaguars on the schedule, there’s an opportunity to build on Noel’s week 2 performance and integrate that productivity into an anemic passing game. Their season might just depend on that decision.

Week 3 Projections: 2.9 targets, 2 receptions, 21.4 yards, 0.2 TD’s, 4.9 fantasy pts.

All projections provided courtesy of PFF.

Source: https://www.battleredblog.com/general/71243/eye-of-the-cyclones-higgins-and-noel-week-2-report

 

[Houston Texans]

Texans vs. Jags: How to watch, TV schedule, and more

You know what they say: third time’s the charm. Tomorrow the Houston Texans take on the Jacksonville Jaguars in northern Florida. But will you be able to watch it where you live?

I can help with that; thanks to 506 Sports for their big board, here is where you can expect to watch the Texans game in your part of the world:

View Link

CBS Single Games

Red: Cincinnati Bengals at Minnesota Vikings (Announcers: Jim Nantz, Tony Romo; Referee: Ron Torbert)
Blue: Pittsburgh Steelers at New England Patriots (Announcers: Ian Eagle, J.J. Watt; Referee: Clete Blakeman)
Orange: Houston Texans at Jacksonville Jaguars (Announcers: Spero Dedes, Adam Archuleta; Referee: Alex Kemp)
Light Blue: Indianapolis Colts at Tennessee Titans (Announcers: Tom McCarthy, Ross Tucker; Referee: Scott Novak)
Green: LATE GAME
Yellow: LATE GAME

Here’s what you need to know to watch the game today:

Who: Houston Texans at Jacksonville Jaguars

Where: EverBank Stadium, Jacksonville, FL

When: Sunday, September 20, 12:00 pm CST

Why: Because it has to get better. Right? Right???

TV: CBS (Spero Dedes, Adam Archuleta)

Radio: KILT Sports Radio 610 AM

Streaming: Hulu + Live TV*, NFL+*, Paramount+*, YouTubeTV* (via Sunday Ticket) (*subscriptions required)

Current Game Odds: ​

Point Spread:​

Houston Texans (+1.5) (opened at +1.5)
Jacksonville Jaguars (-1.5) (opened at –1.5)

Over/Under: 43.5 (opened at 43.5)​

Money Line Odds:​

Houston Texans (+110) (opened at +102)
Los Angeles Rams (-130) (opened at -120)
(per FanDuel Sportsbook)

Go Texans!

Source: https://www.battleredblog.com/houst...ans-vs-jags-how-to-watch-tv-schedule-and-more