RSS Texans Team Notes

[Houston Texans]

Houston Texans vs. San Francisco 49ers NFL Week 8 opponent preview

The players may be combatants on the field, but we are one big happy family here at SBNation. My favorite feature every week is the five questions feature because it allows me to get behind enemy lines to see what is going on with that week’s opponent. Nicholas McGee of Niners Nation was kind enough to join me for five questions in advance of this week’s game

Battle Red Blog: The 49ers gave Brock Purdy a huge pay day, but he has been hurt much of the year and Mac Jones has been the quarterback for much of the season. Is there a quarterback controversy in San Francisco or is Purdy still the man when he is healthy?

Nicholas McGee: It’s still Purdy’s team, for as much as Jones has been extremely impressive. Jones simply doesn’t have the same ability Purdy does to make plays outside of the structure of the offense and, when healthy, that gives Purdy a much greater upside.

The problem is that Purdy’s turf toe is proving extremely troublesome. It’s not on the scale of Joe Burrow’s injury clearly, but it could still be a couple more weeks before we see Purdy. It will almost certainly be Jones under center in Houston.

BRB: The 49ers have been as ravaged by injuries as any team in the league. Which one is the most impactful in your opinion on offense and defense?

NM: It’s too early to know how impactful the Fred Warner injury will be. It will likely prove hugely significant, but right now the most impactful blow on defense is definitely the loss of Nick Bosa. While the defensive line stepped up in a big way against Atlanta, for the most part the pass rush just hasn’t been the same since Bosa went down. Expect the 49ers to make a trade to address the deficiency and give Bryce Huff a running mate off the edge for the second half of the season.

On offense, the most impactful injury was the hamstring injury sustained by George Kittle in Week 1. The running game was lifeless without him, but exploded back into gear last Sunday upon his return. With everything he can do in the passing game on top of his run blocking, the offense should continue to improve in the coming weeks.

BRB: We usually don’t get to watch the 49ers here in Houston, but we do see them occasionally. Who are some players on offense and defense we may not have heard about but will be impactful on Sunday?

NM: Given the strength of the Texans’ D-Line, it feels right to spotlight an offensive lineman for the 49ers. Trent Williams is a future Hall of Famer, but across from him the 49ers have seen significant strides from Colton McKivitz at right tackle, who has been their most consistent player up front. The 49ers recently handed him a contract extension, and that move is looking very smart with how he’s played this season.

There’s a couple on defense. Defensive tackle Jordan Elliott has made huge improvements on his play of 2024, while Sam Okuayinonu was outstanding at defensive end against the Falcons last week. He can rush inside and out and, with Bryce Huff sidelined a couple weeks, is probably going to be the 49ers’ main rush threat off the edge on Sunday.

BRB: The NFC West is perhaps the most competitive and interesting division in football. Which team do you see as the 49ers biggest competition for the division crown? Which NFC West team do 49ers fans enjoy beating the most?

NM: I still view the Rams as the most complete team in the division, despite how good the Seahawks have been on both sides of the ball. If the 49ers want to seriously contend for the division, they’ll need to find a way to stop Matthew Stafford and complete the sweep of the Rams. That said, I still think Seattle is the team 49ers fans enjoy beating the most. The recent string of road wins in Seattle have been very fun.

BRB: The 49ers are 1.5 point underdogs according to Fanduel. How do you see the game going? Are there any prop bets you feel comfortable recommending?

NM: This is a really tough one to call as the 49ers’ injuries continue to pile up. However, I think the 49ers find enough ways to move the ball through Christian McCaffrey and George Kittle to win a close, low-scoring game.

---

We want to thank Nicholas for taking the time to answer our questions. We also want to remind you to go to our sister site, Niners Nation, for all of your news and commentary needs on the San Francisco 49ers. We want to wish the 49ers and Nicholas the best of luck for the remainder of the season. As per usual, we hope that luck begins on Monday morning.

Source: https://www.battleredblog.com/houst...rancisco-49ers-nfl-week-8-preview-predictions

 

[Houston Texans]

Houston Texans vs. San Francisco 49ers: Offensive Answers?

Saying the Houston Texans have been a mess on offense would be an understatement. It feels like the coaching staff is getting worse as the weeks go on, and while it might not be something that gets fixed overnight, the Texans still have some talent on the roster to get things moving in the right direction.

The offensive scheme has been criticized by just about anyone who’s watched this team, and rightfully so. It doesn’t feel like they’re putting players in positions to succeed. The best weapon Houston has on offense is wide receiver Nico Collins, and his talent is undeniable. Yet, he hasn’t been featured nearly as much as he should be — and that falls directly on offensive coordinator Nick Caley.

Collins is now set to miss his first game of the season due to a concussion suffered against the Seahawks. With him sidelined, Houston will need to rely on their young receivers to step up. The Texans drafted two playmakers in the 2025 NFL Draft — Jayden Higgins in the second round and Jaylin Noel in the third, both out of Iowa State. Through six games, both have struggled to see consistent involvement, but that should change this week with Collins and Christian Kirk both out.

Another rookie that Texans fans have been begging for more of, is running back Woody Marks. Marks may not be fully better than veteran Nick Chubb yet, but it is close. The physical talent is there, but the real difference is experience, and that can only come with time and more opportunities.

On the other side of the ball, defensive coordinator Matt Burke has his unit firing on all cylinders. The Texans currently have the top-ranked defense in the league, and it still feels like they haven’t hit their full stride yet. The only concern is that if the offense continues to stall, the defense will eventually wear down.

To win games in this league, you need complementary football — and that simply hasn’t happened so far in Houston, but the key is to get your rookies more involved, and protect your franchise quarterback in C.J. Stroud.

Source: https://www.battleredblog.com/general/72088/houston-texans-vs-san-francisco-49ers-offensive-answers

 

[Houston Texans]

NFL Late Games Open Thread

Just because the Texans are done playing (after winning 26-15) doesn’t mean football’s done for the day. We still got games on CBS and Fox, as prophesized by the folks at 506 Sports.

Anyway, the maps.

CBS LATE GAMES

View Link

Red: Dallas Cowboys at Denver Broncos (Announcers: Jim Nantz, Tony Romo; Referee: Carl Cheffers)
Blue: Tennessee Titans at Indianapolis Colts (Announcers: Andrew Catalon, Charles Davis, Jason McCourty; Referee: Land Clark)

FOX SINGLE GAMES

View Link

Red: EARLY GAME
Blue: EARLY GAME
Orange: EARLY GAME
Yellow: EARLY GAME
Green: Tampa Bay Buccaneers at New Orleans Saints (Announcers: Kenny Albert, Jonathan Vilma; Referee: Ron Torbert

Sunday Night thread to come. Stay tuned.

Enjoy the games, y’all.

Go Texans!

Source: https://www.battleredblog.com/non-texans-game-threads/72079/nfl-late-games-open-thread

 

[Houston Texans]

Packers at Steelers Discussion Thread; a rematch of Super Bowl XLV

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

So, I wanted to warn y’all about something. This is going to be a rematch of Super Bowl XLV. I say this to you because you need to be prepared for Mike Tirico and (I suspect) especially Cris Collinsworth to bring this factoid up at least six or seven times every segment. I do not know much about much, but I know they love those low-hanging fruit facts.

But this is about the football.

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

Who: Green Bay Packers (4-1-1) at Pittsburgh Steelers (4-2)

What: Sunday Night Football

Where: Acrisure Stadium, Pittsburgh, PA

When: Sunday, October 26, 7:20 p.m. CDT

Why: Because it’s a rematch of Super Bowl XLV. BOOM! You weren’t expecting that were you? You need to be.

TV: NBC, Universo

Radio: Westwood One

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

Enjoy the game, y’all. I’ll be watching the ALCS.

Go, Texans!

Source: https://www.battleredblog.com/gener...discussion-thread-a-rematch-of-super-bowl-xlv

 

[Houston Texans]

Houston Texans vs. San Francisco 49ers analysis: Player stats, results

It’s another week and another surprising result in a rollercoaster season for the Houston Texans. Your Texans defeated the San Francisco 49ers 26-15, but the performance was more dominating than that on both ends of the game. The numbers will likely tell us as much, but we look anyway for the cumulative effect. The more often we look the more often we see patterns. Those patterns help tell us why the Texans are successful or not over the long haul.

The numbers​

• Total Yards: Texans 75/475, 49ers 44/223
• Rushing Yards: Texans 36/157, 49ers 10/48
• Passing Yards: Texans 39/318, 49ers 34/175
• Sacks: Texans 2, 49ers 0
• Turnovers: Texans 1, 49ers 1
• Penalties: Texans 8/55, 49ers 4/30
• Third Down Conversion: Texans 9/16, 49ers 3/9
• Time of Possession: Texans 41:22, 49ers 18:38

The time of possession and total plays numbers tell the whole story. When you run 30 more plays than your opponent you are going to do well. When you possess twice as long as they do you are going to do well. We can go into more of that in the great, good, and bad. Unlike most weeks this year, there was no ugly. We might even struggle to come up with a bad.

The Great​

The pundits and fans alike will focus more on the offense because they have been in the crosshairs for much of the season. That is completely understandable. Following play today, the Texans have given up only 103 points this season. My crack math skills tell me that is a shade under 15 points per game. The Rams are in second place with fourteen more points surrendered. Before anyone says anything, they are currently in their bye week. The Kansas City Chiefs are third and they have surrendered 21 more points before they play their eighth game of the season.

I cannot emphasize how huge this is. They don’t lead the NFL in sacks. They don’t lead the NFL in takeaways. They just make things miserable for opposing quarterbacks and skill position guys. They hit hard and they hit often. They hit late a few times too many for many of us, but that is a part of being aggressive. No one likes to play the Texans even when they win. One of the hallmark of DeMeco Ryan defenses in San Francisco was the paltry won-loss record of teams in the game after they played the 49ers. I haven’t done the research, but I imagine he has a similar effect as the Texans head coach.

The key in this one was their ability to force the 49ers into three and outs. They didn’t turn them over or sack them that often, but they bottled up one of the best running backs in the NFL. When you take away the other team’s best player, your chances of winning go way up. No, they didn’t completely shut down Mac Jones and the passing game because shutouts are extremely rare. They are paid to play too. Still, this was as dominating a performance as we have seen in awhile.

The Good​

People will focus on the 150 yards rushing and the over 300 yards passing and rightfully so. One group made that possible and it was the offensive line. The stat of the game was zero sacks. Stroud was hit a few times, but this was as clean as he has ever been throughout a game. Sure, the 49ers were banged up like the Baltimore Ravens before them. We can make all the excuses in the world as to why we should discount this performance, but I’m not going to do it after all the grief we have given this offensive line.

The hat tip isn’t a full tip without celebrating Stroud. The 30 for 39 performance is good by itself and the only interception wouldn’t normally be one. When you consider there was no Nico Collins or Christian Kirk it is a revelation. The 50 yard pass play to Woody Marks is a perfect example of how this offense is supposed to work. Most of the passes were short or intermediate throws, but Marks broke a short dump off into a huge gain. The old Patriots system was designed that way. Give the receivers and backs chances to make big plays.

The Texans are 3-1 in their last four games and the offense has looks between functional and brilliant in three of those four games. The Seattle game is the turd in the punch bowl that makes predicting consistent success difficult at best. I am not making any predictions about what the rest of the season will look like. We are still in the hope and pray stage.

The Bad​

I’ve been a Texans fan since day one and one of the hallmarks for much of this franchise’s history is a penchant for doing things the hard way. It might be on Bill O’brien’s tombstone when he passes from this Earth. “I made easy games look hard.” When you blow your opponent’s doors off as the Texans did most of this game, you should blow them out on the scoreboard. Part of that is settling for four field goals all inside the red zone. Part of that is giving up an easy touchdown before the end of the first half.

The lack of a killer instinct hasn’t been a big issue this season. Heck, they only have two other wins and those were blowout victories. Ryans’ first two seasons were full of these one score type games. Yes, they technically won by 11, but it took a late interception to seal the deal in their own territory. Credit to Kamari Lassiter for securing his third interception of the season, but up until that point the game felt way too close for a game the Texans dominated from first whistle to last whistle.

The margin for error is still very slim. They need to finish 7-3 to win ten games and ten wins is likely the minimum bar to get in. There are some tough games left on the schedule. They will need to beat a very good team or two to get to ten wins. They cannot do that by allowing easy touchdowns or failing to score touchdowns and settling for field goals.

Source: https://www.battleredblog.com/the-v...lysis-score-results-stats-san-francisco-49ers

 

[Houston Texans]

Commanders at Chiefs Monday Night Football Discussion Thread

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

It’s Monday night, and now that the Texans game is over (we do NOT talk about last week’s MNF in this house) it’s time to settle in for more football. Whether that’s watching Joe Buck and Troy Aikman or the Manning boys, we have you covered for tonight; which will, from what I understand, not have any more Monday night double features for the foreseeable future.

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

Who: Washington Commanders (3-4) at Kansas City Chiefs (4-3)

What: Monday Night Football

Where: Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, MO

When: Monday, October 27, 7:15 p.m. CDT

Why: Because the Jaguars are NOT a philosophical zombie football team, despite the vibe they give.

TV: ABC, ESPN, ESPN Deportes

Radio: Westwood One

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

Source: https://www.battleredblog.com/gener...hiefs-monday-night-football-discussion-thread

 

[Houston Texans]

NFL Trade Deadline 2025: Houston Texans could be buyers or sellers

The NFL trade deadline is fast approaching, closing Tuesday, Nov. 4, at 4 p.m. ET. The 3-4 Houston Texans could be both buyers and sellers, leveraging their roster and supplemental draft picks.

If Houston is looking to add talent, they hold an extra second- and fourth-round pick in next year’s draft—each capable of netting an immediate starter at a position of need. A second-rounder, in particular, could deliver an impact player where the Texans are hurting most, such as along the offensive line.

Trading a second-round pick for a veteran would be a short-term move aimed at salvaging a season tied to the so-called “Super Bowl window” defined by C.J. Stroud and Will Anderson Jr.’s rookie contracts.

Both picks came courtesy of the Washington Commanders, whose Monday loss moved the Texans’ second-round selection into the top 40.

Heading into the deadline, Matt Bowen and Jeremy Fowler recently listed their top 25 trade candidates. Among interior offensive linemen, the only player mentioned was the New York Giants’ backup guard, Evan Neal.

This feels like an ideal time to deal away Neal, the No. 7 pick in 2022 who has been inactive all season. The Giants’ starting offensive line finally feels settled, which would make parting with Neal easier, even if for just a late-round pick swap. Teams are always looking for offensive line help.

While a washed up, rusty, and backup offensive guard doesn’t move the needle for Houston, it is another rotational piece that Houston can test out as an improvement over either Ed Ingram or Laken Tomlinson. What is beneficial is that Houston wouldn’t have to give up either their second or fourth round picks; Neal would only incur a 6th – 7th round pick.

ESPN lists Evan Neal as a player who could get traded at the deadline (via Matt Bowen):

"Teams could be willing to take a chance on Neal as a reclamation project due to his traits as a top-10 draft pick." pic.twitter.com/tZTKYXZU65

— Big Blue Film Room (@BigBlueFilmRoom) October 22, 2025

Other interior lineman options are Arizona Cardinal’s Evan Brown and Las Vegas Raiders Dylan Parham. Parham is young, 26, and on his rookie contract. and has started at both guard positions.

On the other hand, Houston is on the outside looking in from a playoff perspective. Both the Colts and Jaguars are having marquee seasons and are not showing signs of slowing down. Their easy schedules lend themselves to playoff runs, which would all but shut Houston out of its first three-peat in franchise history.

With an uphill battle ahead of them, Bowen and Fowler listed Texans LB Christian Harris as the 24th most potentially valuable player that could be traded. They list the Dallas Cowboys and San Francisco 49ers as potential trade partners.

The buzz: Harris is a once-productive starter relegated to a reserve role in Houston’s defense, due in part to injuries. But he is healthy now and still 24 years old. Texans coach DeMeco Ryans is a disciple of the 49ers coaching staff, and San Francisco might need linebacker help after Fred Warner‘s season-ending injury. And Texans general manager Nick Caserio is among the most aggressive dealmakers in the league.

Harris has been sidelined, falling behind Henry To’oTo’o, E.J. Speed, and Azeez Al-Shaair due to inconsistent play. Houston isn’t likely to get much in a trade, but a player-for-player swap for a rotational safety or tight end could make sense. Both positions are thin, especially with Jimmie Ward out and injuries piling up.

Other Texans who could be moved include Davis Mills, Dameon Pierce, and Derek Barnett. Mills has popped up in trade rumors before, but GM Caserio has shown no appetite to part with the backup quarterback. Pierce has been a healthy scratch most of the season and would bring minimal value. Barnett, meanwhile, recorded his first sack of 2025 on Sunday, adding to the five he posted last year in a reserve role. He could be a quick fix for a team like the 49ers, desperate for edge pressure, or even the Eagles, who are painfully thin at defensive end.

At this point, whether Houston is buying, selling, or doing a bit of both, the clock is ticking. A move at the trade deadline could shape what’s left of their 2025 season. The alternative is grim: no action, a narrow miss of the playoffs, and a draft pick that doesn’t carry much weight. After a promising win, the Texans are still trending toward that outcome, facing a steep climb to stay in postseason contention.

Source: https://www.battleredblog.com/houst...neal-evan-brown-dylan-parham-christian-harris

 

[Houston Texans]

Houston Texans NFL Power Rankings Week 9: Moving Up

Magic is real.

This may come as a shocking opening statement to read, but consider just what you saw on Sunday. Was the San Francisco 49ers vs. Houston Texans game what you were expecting? Did the Texans’ offense look like what they had last week? It may sound far fetched, but if this pass to Jaylin Noel taught me anything, it’s that magic is, indeed, real.

First down factory!

: @nflonfox pic.twitter.com/ySfTXfaF4S

— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) October 26, 2025

Everything and everyone (well…except for Vegas) had given up, sold off, and cast away their hopes of a good Texans season as the San Francisco 49ers arrived at NRG Stadium. 2-4, left for dead in a division where the Indianapolis Colts have stolen all of the thunder thanks to Daniel Jones of all people, that floundering Houston team was running out of time to get the show back on the road, and they played like it! Quarterback CJ Stroud, undaunted by the reality of missing two starting wide receivers this game, went on a heater – targeting nine different receivers for a total of 318 passing yards (77% Cmp), two touchdowns, one interception, and a 106.6 passer rating. And, the granddaddy of all stats: Zero sacks!!!!

If you can believe it, the Houston Texans offensive line showed up, pushed the 5-2 49ers around like some loose rag dolls, and propelled Houston’s offense to their best game of the year. A development like this was so spine-chilling to the opposing team that Mac Jones just started hucking the ball downfield in random directions hoping to ignite a fire in his chilled team. This almost worked too…if it wasn’t for Kamari Lassiter coming from the GRAVE:

Yeah, safe to say it was a pleasant surprise of a game. Now, the Texans are still 3-4 and have a mighty stretch of opponents directly in front of them, but as of right now, they’re a spicy team. Looking so ugly against the Seahawks and than pounding Seattle’s sworn rival the very next week will do more than just ruffle some pundits power rankings, it might even make them say something positive about the Texans!

Alright, that’s enough fanfare. Here’s where everyone is rankings the spicy Houston Texans entering week nine of the 2025 Regular Season:

NFL.COM​

16. Houston Texans (3-4) (Last Week: 21)

The Texans might have the best defense in football. They’ve allowed more than 20 points only once and have forced eight turnovers in their past three games, holding Christian McCaffrey in check Sunday and winning the battle at the line of scrimmage. Mac Jones was sacked twice and under fire much of the day, but there were even more plays for Houston to make up front. Sweetening the win over the Niners was the 26-point performance by the offense. Even with the INTright before halftime, C.J. Stroud was as sharp as he’s been all season, and he can thank some unexpectedly great pass protection for that. The Texans will win 90 percent of the games in which they pass block and score like that.

– Eric Edholm

ESPN:​

17. Houston Texans (3-4)

Week 8 result: Beat the 49ers 26-15
Week 8 ranking: 21

Best offseason addition: RB Woody Marks

The fourth-round pick has been a nice addition to the offense. Marks is boom or bust at times, but when he booms, he shows explosiveness and dynamic ability in the running and passing games. He has had three catches for over 20 yards this season. The rookie out of USC has been a nice complementary player to Nick Chubb, who is more of a bruiser on early downs. Marks leads the Texans in scrimmage yards with 379.

– DJ Bien-Aime

SPORTS ILLUSTRATED:​

17. Houston Texans (3-4)

Last week’s ranking: No. 24
Last week’s result: beat 49ers, 26–15
This week: vs. Broncos

I thought some of C.J. Stroud’s best throws of the day were against pressure. That, after watching Seattle completely undress the Texans’ offensive line and Stroud by association, was the kind of relief that gives me faith in a playoff berth.

– Conor Orr

BLEACHER REPORT:​

17. Houston Texans (3-4)

Last Week: 23

Week 8 Result: Won vs. 49ers 26-15

C.J. Stroud wasn’t sacked a single time by the 49ers. Let that previous sentence sink in for a second. It’s the first game of the season where the quarterback remained mostly untouched. The Niners only hit Stroud on two occasions.

With the injuries San Francisco endured, the 49ers defense isn’t operating at a high level. Instead, the unit became the salve that Stroud and Co. needed to finally get on track, even without the quarterback’s WR1, Nico Collins, absent because of injury.

The Texans threw for 318 yards, with 475 total yards of offense. The confidence-builder was necessary for Houston with the Denver Broncos and their elite defense next on the docket.

– Brent Sobleski

CBS SPORTS:​

14. Texans (3-4) (Last Week: 21)

The offense clicked in a big way against the 49ers, which gives them hope going forward. But now that unit faces a tough test against the Denver defense.

– Pete Prisco

USA TODAY:​

15. Houston Texans (22) (3-4): The passing offense finally came to life Sunday − naturally, the absence of WR1 Nico Collins (concussion) was the missing piece.

– Nate Davis

YAHOO! SPORTS:​

18 (22): Houston Texans (3-4)

Houston’s defense didn’t allow the 49ers a first down until the final minute of the first half. The offense gained 475 yards. The defense isn’t a question; it’s one of the best in the NFL. If the offense improves, there’s still time to jump in the playoff race.

– Frank Schwab

THE ATHLETIC:​

17. Houston Texans (3-4)

Last week: 24

Sunday: Beat the 49ers 26-15

Something scary: The defense

The Texans held Christian McCaffrey to 25 yards on eight carries Sunday, and they lead the league in scoring defense (14.7 ppg allowed), yards allowed per game (266.9) and defensive EPA (11.9 per 100 snaps), according to TruMedia. If C.J. Stroud can keep playing like he did against the 49ers (318 passing yards, two touchdowns), the Texans can get back into the playoff conversation.

Up next: vs. Broncos, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

– Chad Graff and Josh Kendall

PRO FOOTBALL TALK:​

17. Texans (No. 23; 3-4): They still have a lot of work to do to catch the Colts.

– Mike Florio

Average Ranking: 16.44 (Last Week: 22.33)

Everything seems to be coming up Texans, now! I mean, we’re talking about a leap of an average of six spaces! Clearly, nobody is really sure what to make of the Texans after this win, but many were particularly impressed by the offensive line. Now, an injuries 49ers defensive line isn’t the most mighty group in the NFL, but it’s comforting to see Nick Caserio’s vision finally starting to come together. Unfortunately, 16th sounds a lot better than 22nd, but Houston still occupies limbo to most analysts. Hearts are starting to warm on the best team in Texas…but they’re still ready to hit the trap door lever if another big L approaches.

Personally, I like to think last Sunday’s game shows the moment where the 2025 Texans turned a corner. After a demoralizing loss in Seattle, Houston could have shriveled up against San Francisco but instead had their most complete, complementary game this season. They may not be a Super Bowl team, but this game will set the foundation inside the locker room of what they’re capable of.

What do you think, though? Will the Texans ride this win to a midseason resurgence, or are they still a few pieces away from climbing out of limbo? Let us know down in the comments below!

GO TEXANS!!!!

Source: https://www.battleredblog.com/houst...on-texans-nfl-power-rankings-week-9-moving-up

 

[Houston Texans]

Houston Texans Hold Three Top-45 Picks in 2026 NFL Draft

The final NFL Draft order is a ways away from being finalized, but it’s hard not to recognize the potential that lies in the Texans 2026 draft class. Thanks to the Laremy Tunsil trade with the Washington Commanders, Houston holds an extra second and fourth round pick. Plus, Washington sits at 3–5 amid a rash of injuries and a brutal schedule that still includes the Lions, Seahawks, Broncos, and the Eagles twice… those picks could end up being quite valuable.

Similar to the Texans surprise playoff run in 2023 with rookie QB C.J. Stroud, the Commanders are coming off of a miracle 2024 season. They rode rookie QB Jayden Daniels and resurgent WR Terry McLaurin all the way to a 12-5 record and a trip to the NFC Championship game. While they were the darlings of the 2024 season, their success meant they would face a much harder schedule in 2025.

On top of that grueling schedule, the Commanders have rarely been at full power. Dorance Armstrong, their team leader in sack is on IR, and they’ve lost their lead RB Austin Ekeler to an Achilles tear. Texans fans will also be happy to hear that Tunsil has committed seven penalties thus far. However, he’s been stellar in pass blocking and ranks as one of the top rated tackles on PFF. He is also questionable to play on Sunday with a hamstring injury.

The Commanders woes only means more opportunity and value for the Texans. If Washington’s season falls a part, Houston will have two additional picks in at least the top 115. Given the number of woefully horrific teams in the NFL this year (Saints, Jets, Titans, Browns, and Dolphins), there is only so far the Commanders pick can fall.

Either way, the more the Commanders lose, the more the Texans win.

Right now, Houston’s biggest needs are interior offensive line, running back, safety, and tight end. With four picks in the first three rounds, they can address each need with one of the top players in the class and still have four picks left.

Houston Texans current 2026 draft picks (according to PFF)

Round 1, Pick 14

Round 2, Pick 44 (from WAS)

Round 2, Pick 45

Round 3, Pick 70 (from NYG)

Round 4, Pick 112 (from WAS)

Round 4, Pick 114

Round 5, Pick 153

Round 7, Pick 227

Source: https://www.battleredblog.com/nfl-d...ans-hold-three-top-45-picks-in-2026-nfl-draft

 

[Houston Texans]

Houston Texans vs. Denver Broncos: Nico Collins Returns to Practice

The Houston Texans are fresh off a dominant victory over the well-coached San Francisco 49ers and are looking to keep that momentum rolling as they return home to face the Denver Broncos.

Quarterback C.J. Stroud took what the 49ers’ defense gave him and operated the offense at an extremely high level — something that hasn’t consistently happened in 2025. That inconsistency hasn’t been entirely on Stroud, as the regression around him has made things difficult.

Houston’s defense continues to set the tone each week. Their dominance is no surprise at this point, and they remain one of the toughest matchups for any team in the league.

DID NOT PARTICIPATE​

-TE Dalton Schultz (Knee/ Shoulder)

LIMITED PARTICIPATION​

-WR Braxton Berrios (Chest)

-RB Woody Marks (Calf)

-DE Dylan Horton (Knee)

-DE Denico Autry (Knee)

FULL PARTICIPATION​

-CB Alijah Huzzie (Knee)

-FB Jakob Johnson (Hamstring)

-S Jalen Pitre (Foot)

-WR Nico Collins (Concussion)

-WR Christian Kirk (Hamstring)

The Texans’ offense was sharp last week despite missing their top two receivers — Nico Collins and Christian Kirk. It turned into the rookie show, led by Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel, both of whom stepped up in a big way. Even with Collins and Kirk expected to return, the young playmakers have earned more opportunities moving forward.

If Houston can find a way to beat the Broncos — one of the hottest teams in the league right now — it could go a long way toward turning their season around.

Source: https://www.battleredblog.com/houst...nver-broncos-nico-collins-returns-to-practice

 

[Houston Texans]

Value of Things: “Fixed” Texans offense

One of the things that old-time hard hitting journalists did was stick to a routine until the situation absolutely warranted it. Those situations would be called “special comments.” I am not a hard hitting journalist and barely qualify as a professional one, but I am taking the opportunity to throw out a special comment. DeMeco Ryans got into it with a couple of media members this week during one of the press conferences. I’m not here to criticize Ryans necessarily. He has a right to be irritated and upset. I can’t imagine having my worst day and then having 20 or 30 reporters asking me about it the next day.

All that being said, the media has a job. Their job is to report news and in reporting the news they will need to ask questions. When you are a losing football team and you have the best statistical defense in the NFL by a wide margin then it is only logical that people are going to ask questions about the offense. In particular, they are going to ask questions about the people running the offense. This is only logical.

I know that they want us to believe that the 49ers game marks an end to their offensive struggles. Heck. you could even point to the fact that they are 3-1 in their last four games and at least three of those were impressive offensive performances. So, it would seem on the surface that we should just move and assume everything is okay. However, when you look at numbers you might be inclined to think differently.

• Week One: Los Angeles Rams 26 sacks (2nd) 3 sacks
• Week Two: Tampa Bay Bucs 25 sacks (3rd) 3 sacks
• Week Three: Jacksonville Jaguars 8 sacks (32nd) 2 sacks
• Week Four: Tennessee Titans 16 sacks (18th) 2 sacks
• Week Five: Baltimore Ravens 9 sacks (30th) 2 sacks
• Week Seven: Seattle Seahawks 23 sacks (5th) 3 sacks
• Week Eight: San Francisco 49ers 9 sacks (30th) 0 sacks

So, there are a couple of ways to look at this. We can look at the aggregate and say that the Texans have only allowed 15 sacks in seven games. That would be average if we prorated it over eight games. So, let’s say that the Texans have an average offense and an average offensive line. With the exception of the Jaguars game, they looked horrible against good pass rushes and good against bad pass rushes. So, let’s see what happens with the remaining ten games on the schedule.

• Week Nine: Denver Broncos 36 (1st)
• Week Ten: Jacksonville Jaguars 9 (32nd)
• Week Eleven: Tennessee Titans 16 (18th)
• Week Twelve: Buffalo Bills 22 (8th)
• Week Thirteen: Indianapolis Colts 23 (5th)
• Week Fourteen: Kansas City Chiefs 17 (16th)
• Week Fifteen: Arizona Cardinals 12 (27th)
• Week Sixteen: Las Vegas Raiders 15 (22nd)
• Week Seventeen: Los Angeles Chargers 22 (8th)
• Week Eighteen: Indianapolis Coltss 23 (5th)

We could almost predict how these things will turn out based on how the last seven games have turned out. They have five games remaining with teams in the top ten in sacks. They need to win two of those games and that assumes they win every other game. They do have three games against teams that rank in the bottom ten. Those games look like slam dunks now. That gets the team to six wins.

So, the Texans are not a horrible football team. They are not a good football team. They are an average football team. Average football teams win between six and nine wins every season. That is likely where the Texans end up. We could wring our hands and rend our garments, but the average range is where a lot of teams end up. Yet, there is more than one way to look at an average season. It is also plausible to blame the schedule maker. The average number of sacks through week eight for their opponents is 18.3. 18 sacks would rank 14th. 19 sacks ranks 12th.

Another way to look at it is that their 153 points gives them a total of nearly 22 points per game. That would also fall in the average range. Logic would clearly dictate that if you are in the average range offensively and elite defensively then you should be a good football team. You shouldn’t be an average football team. In some instances (say the 2000 Baltimore Ravens) you might even be a great football team.

This brings us full circle to Ryans. When a team clearly does not meet expectations, the head coach and general manager have to answer for that. It’s not an unforgivable sin. Teams underachieve for one reason or another all the time. The other beauty is that the future is unwritten. Past trends do not guarantee future performance. They simply inform us as to what we possibly can expect. The Texans match up against the number one pass rush in the NFL on Sunday. All indications are that this one will be a slog for their offense.

Another rough performance will bring back those same questions that have been asked throughout the first seven weeks of the season. However, hopefully special comments like this one will linger as an explanation. Maybe they aren’t as bad as their worst performances or as good as their best ones. This is Ryans and Nick Caley’s chance to prove these trends wrong. Let’s see how they do.

Source: https://www.battleredblog.com/the-value-of-things/72177/value-of-things-fixed-texans-offense

 

[Houston Texans]

Broncos at Texans: How to watch, TV schedule, and more

Welcome back my friends to the roller coaster that is Texans fandom (hat tip to the original fearless leader: Tim). This week, the Texans get to stay home again to welcome the Denver Broncos. There’s been some animosity between these two teams in recent years so this could be a really interesting game.

Or it’s going to be a nightmare. There is no other option.

At any rate, at least it’s not in Denver where they do that stupid “incomplete” chant.

But will you be able to watch the game at home on Sunday? The fine folks at 506 Sports can help out.

View Link

FOX SINGLE GAMES

Red: Minnesota Vikings at Detroit Lions (Announcers: Kevin Burkhardt, Tom Brady; Referee: Clay Martin)
Blue: Denver Broncos at Houston Texans (Announcers: Kevin Kugler, Daryl Johnston; Referee: Brad Allen)
Green: Carolina Panthers at Green Bay Packers (Announcers: Adam Amin, Greg Olsen; Referee: Land Clark)
Yellow: LATE GAME
Orange: LATE GAME

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

Who: Denver Broncos at Houston Texans

Where: NRG Stadium, Houston, TX

When: Sunday, November 2, 12:00 pm CDT

Why: Because there is a chance the Texans might still be good.

TV: Fox (Kevin Kugler, Daryl Johnston)

Radio: KILT Sports Radio 610 AM

Streaming: Fox One*, Fox Sports, Hulu + Live TV*, NFL+*, SlingTV*, YouTubeTV* (via Sunday Ticket) (*subscriptions required)

Go Texans!

Source: https://www.battleredblog.com/houst...s-at-texans-how-to-watch-tv-schedule-and-more

 

[Houston Texans]

Five good Texans questions with Mile High Report

The Denver Broncos are one of the under the radar great stories in the NFL this season. Bo Nix is playing even better this season than he did last season and the Broncos lead the NFL in sacks through week eight of the season. Ian St. Clair of Mile High Report was kind of enough to carve out a few minutes from his busy schedule to answer some of our questions. The game is a huge game for both clubs. The Broncos are trying to hold off the hot Kansas City Chiefs to keep a hold on their lead in the AFC West. The Houston Texans are looking to get back into the AFC Wild Card race with a fourth victory in five games.

Battle Red Blog: Four of the six Broncos wins have been in one score games. Do you feel like this can continue or will their luck even out?

Ian St. Clair: The short answer is, yes. However, context is obviously needed to understand why. The Broncos are learning how to win games. The defense is one of the best in the league, and that’s still true even with Pat Surtain II out with a pectoral injury for the next few weeks. That defense will keep Denver in every game it plays. On top of that, you have Sean Payton, who remains one of the best coaches in the NFL. But the biggest reason is Bo Nix. No matter the situation or how the game unfolds, he plays his best in the fourth quarter. In fact, Nix is one of the best quarterbacks in the league in the fourth quarter. He shares many similarities with John Elway in that regard. No matter what, the Broncos have a chance.

BRB: Bo Nix is in his second season at the helm. How is he developing as a quarterback?

ISC: According to former Broncos cornerback Aqib Talib, Nix is the best quarterback in the 2024 NFL Draft class. So if you listen to a former player in the league, Nix is progressing quite well. From a fan’s perspective, you couldn’t ask for more at this point. There are still times when you see he’s a second-year player, but he’s coming into his own, and the game is starting to slow down for him. Add in the fact that he has Payton, and now one of the best running games in the league, and you can see why he’s building on his strong rookie season. What’s exciting as a fan of the Broncos: Nix is just getting started.

BRB: Denver has been known for having a stout defense in recent seasons. What is the key to their success?

ISC: The Broncos have a complete defense. The defensive front and the pass rush are arguably the best in the league, especially the pass rush with Nik Bonitto and Jonathon Cooper. However, the secondary is one of the best and deepest in the NFL as well. Obviously, that will get put to the test with Surtain out, but that’s another reason why the Denver defense is so good. The biggest question mark, or weak link, so to speak, was inside linebacker. Since Dre Greenlaw has played in just one game at this point, that remains the case. However, with Greenlaw back on the field, this defense will become even better. When he’s healthy, few inside linebackers make the impact that Greenlaw does. And then, to top it off, Vance Joseph does a great job calling a defensive game. About the only thing this defense doesn’t do is create turnovers. If the Broncos start doing that, this defense will be scary.

BRB: The AFC West looks like a three team race. Who do you see as the Broncos main competition? Who in the AFC West do Broncos fans enjoy beating the most?

ISC: As much as I hate to say this, the main competition is Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs. That franchise has won the AFC West nine straight seasons. In the words of wrestler Ric Flair, “to be the man, you have to beat the man.” Justin Herbert and the Los Angeles Chargers will inevitably “Charger.” So that leaves the Chiefs. I’m clearly biased, but this is the year the Broncos knock Kansas City off the perch and win the division. And not just because I had placed a bet on that happening before the season started.

BRB: According to Fanduel, the Broncos are slight undergogs on Sunday. How do you see the game going? Are there any prop bets you feel comfortable recommending?

ISC: I’m actually surprised Denver isn’t a heavier favorite on Sunday. Clearly, the oddsmakers are putting a lot of weight on Surtain’s injury. I think Denver’s pass rush is going to make the day miserable for C.J. Stroud. He’s going to be under constant pressure and won’t have time to think. On the other side of the ball, Nix and the offense will use the running game effectively to set up big plays in the passing game. The Broncos come out of Houston with a big win. In terms of prop bets, I’m going with a Courtland Sutton anytime touchdown at +200 and then J.K. Dobbins’ alt-rushing yards of 70+ at +136.

---

We want to thank Ian for the taking the time to answer our questions. Remember, you can go to Mike High Report for all of your Denver Broncos news and analysis. The Broncos are coming in hot and they are looking to keep their commanding lead in the AFC West. We want to wish Ian and the Broncos the best of luck for the remainder of the season. As per usual, we hope that luck begins on Monday morning.

Source: https://www.battleredblog.com/general/72212/five-good-texans-questions-with-mile-high-report

 

[Houston Texans]

Thursday Night Football Open Thread – Baltimore Ravens at Miami Dolphins

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

Hello, good evening and welcome to week nine of the NFL season.

Last year, or even two years ago, this game would have been a prime-time matchup you circled on the calendar. Lamar Jackson and the Ravens vs. Mike McDaniel’s offense? Yes, please and may I have another?

Cut to today and the Ravens look like the bench scene from Space Jam…

View Link

…and the Dolphins have regressed so badly that there’s a non-zero chance Mike McDaniel doesn’t finish the season as head coach.

Life’s weird like that, you know?

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

Who: Baltimore Ravens (2-5) at Miami Dolphins (2-6)

What: Thursday Night Football

Where: Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, FL

When: Thursday, October 30, 7:15 p.m. CDT

Why: Because this game is gonna be a train wreck and I can’t wait.

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

Enjoy the game, y’all.

Go, Texans!

Source: https://www.battleredblog.com/gener...pen-thread-baltimore-ravens-at-miami-dolphins

 

[Houston Texans]

Denver Broncos at Houston Texans fan discussion

I’d like to direct this question to Sean Payton. This is Patrick with Battle Red Blog, because we’re professionals here; I simply wanted to ask what the bounty is you have on C.J. Stroud. Because I’ll pay double that for your players to NOT try to end our starting quarterback’s career.

This is going to be a defensive battle. And the Texans better be up to it, because I don’t know if I can live in a world where a team I care about can lose to someone named Bo Nix.

Hee hee, No Bix.

Yes, I’m easily amused.

Anyway, here’s your thread for talking about the Texans’ tilt against the Denver Broncos.

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

Who: Denver Broncos (6-2) at Houston Texans (3-4)

What: Week 9 of the NFL season

Where: NRG Stadium, Houston, TX

When: Sunday, November 2, 12:00 p.m. CST

Why: Because if you reach a high enough level of trauma, your brain rewards you with amnesia.

TV: FOX

Radio: Westwood One

Streaming: Fox One*, Fox Sports, Hulu + Live TV*, NFL+*, SlingTV*, YouTubeTV* (*subscription required)

Enjoy the game, y’all.

Go, Texans!

Enjoy the game, y’all.

Go, Texans!

Source: https://www.battleredblog.com/houst...nver-broncos-at-houston-texans-fan-discussion

 

[Houston Texans]

Sunday Night Football; Seahawks at Commanders discussion thread

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

It was supposed to go better than this, right? He was supposed to be the hot ticket offensive coordinator candidate. Five field goals. Just five field goals with the same bad offensive line that the Texans have had since the start of the Ryans era. It was supposed to be better. The days of basic losing were supposed to be over. But, apparently not. Oh, yeah, there’s also Sunday Night Football going on.

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

Who: Seattle Seahawks (5-2) at Washington Commanders (3-5)

What: Sunday Night Football

Where: Northwest Stadium, Andover, MD

When: Sunday, November 2, 7:20 p.m. CST

Why: Because if we can’t watch our team be competitive, we can at least watch other teams be competitive.

TV: NBC, Universo

Radio: Westwood One

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

Enjoy the game, y’all. I’ll still be playing Civ 5.

Go, Texans!

Source: https://www.battleredblog.com/gener...ball-seahawks-at-commanders-discussion-thread

 

[Houston Texans]

Value of Things: By the Numbers

There is always more than one way to look at these things. I suppose if we separate ourselves emotionally we can even manage to do that the day after. We predicted struggle earlier this week when we looked at the rankings in team sacks for the Texans’ opponents. We could also look at the fact that four of the five teams that have beaten the Texans are currently 6-2 and all of the teams that have beaten them have winning records. So, we could always fall back on the fact that the schedule maker wasn’t kind to them.

That being said, the hallmark of Ryans first two seasons was a sparkling record in one score games. Maybe it is fate. Maybe it is the laws of the universe balancing itself out. Maybe there are greater systemic issues at play here, but all of their losses have come in one score games. None of their victories have come in one score games. I’m not big into clutch performance as a thing. I suppose it exists, but it impossible to quantify and it isn’t particularly portable necessarily.

We break down the numbers because they might give us a clue over time what the team is lacking. It is easy to say, “just score more than the other team,” but it is more instructive to say they need to work on a specific facet of the game. I could say I need to run the ball better or convert more on third down. I can’t say, “I need to score more points.” So, let’s see what we see from Sunday afternoon.

The Numbers​

Total Yards: Texans 72/268, Broncos 61/271
Rushing Yards: Texans 28/77, Broncos 23/100
Passing Yards: Texans 44/191, Broncos 38/171
Sacks: Texans 1, Broncos 4
Third Down Conversion: Texans 3/17, Broncos 6/15
Turnovers: Texans 0, Broncos 2
Penalties: Texans 4/29, Broncos 4/41
Time of Possession: Texans 34:36. Broncos 25:24

Someone please explain to me how you can look at these numbers and arrive at a Texans loss? You were +2 on the turnover ratio. You had fewer penalty yards than your opponent. You possessed the ball longer than your opponent. I am truly befuddled. I watched most of it and I am still trying to figure it out. Let’s take a look at the good, bad, and ugly.

The Good​

I mean, the offense did give the defense three whole points to work with after half time. Why couldn’t they pitch a shut out? In all seriousness, this is the NFL. You don’t shut out teams very often and you don’t shut out good football teams ever. They are going to make plays. Yes, sometimes they are a result of defensive mistakes, but sometimes they are just good plays that professionals make. So, this game is not on the defense. When you hold a team to under 20 points you should win the game. Period. Full stop. End of discussion.

If the offense scored 20 points and exactly 20 points in every game, they would be 6-2 right now. Everyone would be comparing them to the 2000 Baltimore Ravens. As it stands, they are probably one key loss away from shutting down shop. They’ve committed only seven turnovers on the season. They’ve created 13 turnovers on the season. How in all holy hell is a team +6 in the turnover ratio and losing games?

I know DeMeco has to go with the balanced approach and talk about how close this team is to winning these games. I know he can’t come out and talk about how much his offense sucks. I get it. However, I think everyone in Houston is sick and tired with the comments about how close this team is. We know what the problem is. It’s time for just a little bit of honesty.

The Bad​

We knew this would happen. We knew they would struggle offensively. We didn’t know C.J. Stroud would be knocked out of the game. We didn’t know that the right side of the offensive line would need to be replaced. I really could care less at this point. Your defense kept forcing the Broncos to punt throughout the second half and you did absolutely nothing. You gave it back to the Broncos almost quicker than you forced them to punt.

Part of it is the fact that this team can’t run the football against a credible defenses. The trade deadline is Tuesday, but I can’t really imagine what would fix that. Your offensive coordinator sucks. Can we trade for a different one? As it stands, some people will mention lineman and some will mention running backs. There was a time when I was in favor of that, but moving to 3-5 makes it unlikely that you can mount enough to get to ten wins.

I suppose if there is any silver lining in this fiasco it is that Stroud showed his worth. As soon as Davis Mills entered the game you could see him make some throws and miss some throws. It was like the 2020-2022 period where we wanted to see if he could do it. He didn’t turn it over, so you could say he gave your team a chance to win, but that was fool’s gold. He couldn’t move the ball consistently. so you were just waiting for the Texans defense to tire.

The Ugly​

Years ago, there was a commercial where a woman wanted to get her car battery replaced. The reapair people clearly put one in that didn’t fit and she checked in to make sure. The mechanics told her they were experienced and had been doing this a long time. She flashed back to them as children trying to hit a round peg into a square hole. They just kept beating it until it went in. For some odd reason, watching this team from opponents’ one yard line reminds me of that commercial.

Just keep doing slow developing running plays up the gut. They won’t be expecting it. I suppose in some kind of perverse way, the odds of a single instance of success increases with every attempt. It is sad when my overwhelming thought on first down is just to go ahead and kick the field goal. After all, it’s just an extra point at that point. If you continue to run plays you bring in the possibility of penalties, fumbles, sacks, and possibly interceptions.

If you convert just one of those you win the football game. If you convert both of the first and ones then it is an entirely different football game. I’ll have more on this during the week. If we were being perfectly fair, the Texans have an average offense. They play well against bad defenses and play poorly against good ones. Even with the bad ones they settle for field goals a ludicrous amount of times. Sometimes they can overcome it, but it takes a huge effort by the defense. A mutiny might be around the corner.

Source: https://www.battleredblog.com/the-value-of-things/72246/value-of-things-by-the-numbers

 

[Houston Texans]

Opening Odds: Week 10 Matchup of the Jacksonville Jaguars at the Houston Texans

Well, the dust is still settling from that less-than-stellar result (at least for the home team) from the Broncos-Texans matchup. Even as we all try to make sense out of what transpired yesterday, the games continue, and we start to turn to the next matchup. To conclude the three-game homestand, the Texans (3-5) will play host to their division rival, the Jacksonville Jaguars (5-3). While more analysis of this pending matchup is forthcoming, here are the opening lines for that game:

View Link

Generally, home teams get a 3-point advantage, so being favored by only 1.5 seems to indicate that the bookmakers out there see a close matchup between these two teams. Jacksonville is coming off a dramatic 1-point overtime win at Las Vegas, with the main highlight being Cam Little’s record 68-yard FG. Houston, well, you saw what Sunday wrought. Likely the line will shift, especially pending the injury status of QB CJ Stroud, who exited the game under concussion protocol rules. Additionally, the relatively low over/under (38.5) seems to indicate that we could expect a low-scoring game. With Houston leading the league in scoring defense (15.1 points/game) and Jacksonville only managing 22.0 points/game, that tracks.

As always, this information is for entertainment purposes only. We are not an actual gambling operator, nor are we financial experts. It is the sole responsibility of the individual to make sure that you are following state and local laws related to any form of sports betting. Never, ever, ever gamble if you can’t afford to lose that money (financially or emotionally). If you or someone you love has a gambling problem, please reach out to resources such the National Problem Gambling Helpline (1-800-522-4700).

Source: https://www.battleredblog.com/houst...he-jacksonville-jaguars-at-the-houston-texans

 

[Houston Texans]

Houston Texans 2026 Mock Draft – Addressing Early Needs

The Houston Texans 2025 season is a dumpster fire. C.J. Stroud is in concussion protocol, the offensive line is in the witness protection program, and offensive coordinator Nick Caley needs to find a real estate agent back in New England.

At 3-5, the Texans have a 26% chance to make the playoffs according to NFL.com. That probability was at 45% chance before the loss to the Denver Broncos on Sunday. With such low odds and a grueling schedule left to play, it’s time to peer into the future and look into the future state of the Houston Texans.

Their top needs heading into the offseason are OG, OC, S, RB, DT, and TE

Fortunately, the Texans can address their six greatest needs within the first four picks in next year’s class.

These picks are based on where the Texans would be drafting if the season ended today. Obviously, the picks will change over time, but for now the Texans are slotted into the below picks.

Round 1, Pick 13: Vega Ioane, OG – Penn State​

Current starter: Juice Scruggs

If getting stalled at the goal line twice against the Broncos wasn’t enough to jolt Nick Caserio and staff into addressing this issue, nothing will. Get used to Ioane’ name in connection with the Houston Texans. While Penn State is an equal if not worse dumpster fire, 6’4”, 328-pound left guard is athletic, battle-tested, and a road-grader. The standout offensive lineman brings tenacity and power to a unit in desperate need of a boost.

Round 2, Pick 42: Connor Lew, OC – Auburn​

Current starter: Jarrett Patterson

The three-year starting center at Auburn had a poor outing against a ferocious Texas A&M pass rush, but he’s the type of plug-and-play center the Texans have been searching for since Ben Jones. With the selection on Lew, the Texans can spend the rest of the draft on skill positions to surround C.J.Stroud with the best arsenal of weapons possible Nick Caserio has yet to double down on early offensive line picks, but if there’s a year to do it, it’s this draft class.

Round 2, Pick 45 (from WAS): Jonah Coleman, RB – Washington​

Current starter: Nick Chubb

This pick I designate as the “fun pick.” It’s the most valuable asset from the trade with the New York Giants and lands the second-best running back in the draft. With Joe Mixon’s future in doubt, the Texans need a long-term prospect to pair with Woody Marks. Coleman only stands 5’9”, but he’s dense and packs an absolute punch that will translate to the NFL level. He’ll be a fantastic foil to Marks, secure the position moving forward, and provide more talent around Stroud.

Round 3, Pick 69 (from NYG): Keon Sabb, S – Alabama​

Current starter: M.J. Stewart

Houston needs to tidy up their secondary with a legitimate starter to pair with Calen Bullock. Adding Sabb, who has been on a tear for the Crimson Tide, would finish off a young, dynamic and fun secondary. While a new DT is more needed, the Texans have always valued secondary over DTs in the draft and won’t waver here. Sabb played two years at Michigan before transferring to Alabama.

Houston needs to tidy up its secondary with a legitimate starter to pair with Calen Bullock. Adding Sabb — who has been on a tear for the Crimson Tide — would complete a young, dynamic, and exciting secondary. While a new DT is arguably a bigger need, the Texans have historically valued the secondary over the interior defensive line and won’t waver here. Sabb played two years at Michigan before transferring to Alabama.

From NFLDraftBuzz.com on Keon Sabb: “Day two draft capital would represent a bet on Sabb’s developmental ceiling rather than his current floor. Teams valuing length, physicality and collegiate pedigree at premium programs will be more bullish on his prospects than those prioritizing movement skills and man coverage versatility.”

Round 4, Pick 110 (from WAS): Joe Royer, TE – Cincinnati​

Current starter: Dalton Schultz

In future iterations, tight end will be higher up pick in the draft due to the need incurred by injuries this season. It’s so bad that Houston has resorted to playing Blake Fisher at TE in blocking packages. Royer splits time roughly 50/50 between inline and slot snaps for a good Bearcats offense. He ranks second on the team in catches, third in yards, and averages a healthy 15.2 yards per reception.

Royer needs to add bulk to his 6’5” frame, but he plays a versatile role that would slot in nicely in Houston’s offense in dire need of multiplicity.

Round 4, Pick 113: Albert Regis, DT – Texas A&M​

Current starter: Tim Settle Jr.

Working down the board, defensive tackle is the next long-term need Houston should fill. It isn’t a glaring hole since it’s currently manned by veterans on short-term contracts, but an interior pass rusher to complement the defensive ends would be a valuable addition.

There were plenty of DTs available, but Regis best fits Houston’s mold. He’s statistically one of the best run-stoppers in college football and among the lowest-graded pass rushers. That would be a major red flag in other systems, but the Texans rotate their tackles so frequently that they don’t need Regis to be a premier pass rusher. Adding a bull in the center of this defense would elevate the entire system.

Honorable mention: Tim Keenan II (Alabama), who continues to impress and get healthy after missing several games.

SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week: WK 3

Albert Regis@AggieFootball x #SECFB pic.twitter.com/GrjFWG1BqC

— Southeastern Conference (@SEC) September 15, 2025

What position do you think the Texans need to add early in this draft? Comment below. And if you have a favorite player in college add them and I’ll do a report on them.

Source: https://www.battleredblog.com/houst...texans-2026-mock-draft-addressing-early-needs

 

[Houston Texans]

The Day After the Day After: Fallout from the Houston Texans’ 18-15 loss to the Denver Broncos

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 9:

Goal line/Short Yardage offense…Ouuuccchhhh. Perhaps the most painful part of this game comes from the first half, when the Texans, holding all the momentum, could not score a TD in two drives that had them inside the Denver 2-yard line. The first time saw three straight running plays (one RB dive to Chubb and two FB dives to Brooks(???)). A fourth running play, a QB sneak, appeared the call on 4th and Goal from the 1, but then a false start pushed Houston back to the Denver 5-yard line, setting up a chip shot FG. The second time Houston got to the Denver 2-yard line, they tried a Mills sneak for no gain (I guess the giraffe neck didn’t extend far enough), and a short pass to Collins for 1-yard gain, only to see that negated by a holding call. The Texans would not get any closer to an actual TD. In the Tampa game, Houston maybe threw too much, but here, a play-action/roll out might have worked once. Stroud is mobile enough. Maybe if no holding call and Stroud gets the sneak, different story. The second drive, again, the creativity is sorely lacking. Penalties again killed options, but 5 plays inside the 2 and…nothing. At this point in the season, this is no longer inexperience. This is incompetence.

The Bane of the Texans’ D: The QB Scramble: If this season turns into a lost year for what is shaping up to be perhaps the best defense in Texans’ history, two plays will stand out. Both involved QB scrambles on walk-off drives for the opposing teams. One was the Baker Mayfield 15-yard scramble on Monday Night, benefited by a bad LB blitz angle. The other will be the Bo Nix 25-yard scramble that put Denver in FG range. To that point in the game, the defense was holding on, especially since the offense failed to do anything. However, as Houston went into zone coverage, they only rushed four. However, with no effective QB spy, Nix easily slipped past the base DL rush and ran to the left of the field, with a ton of space. By the time he stopped running, Denver flipped the field, and a tired defense effectively broke. Arguably, the LB unit is the weakest part of the D, but collectively, they’ve been solid. However, this was another 4th quarter fail by this unit, especially when it was sorely needed.

The Critical Play of the Game:

1 & 10, HOU 48, 11:10, 4th quarter

Having completed only the second 1st down of the half (and ultimately, the last Texans’ 1st down), Houston found itself is solid field position. Denver had tied the game on the previous drive, so Houston was under pressure to respond. On 1st and 10, Mills took the snap out of shotgun, dropping back. There was a rush, but not any undue pressure. He saw Nico Collins breaking open in the deep middle/left part of the field. However, his internal clock may have given him false information. Mills stepped up a launched a deep pass…that missed a wide-open Collins by at least 2-3 yards. The ball fell harmlessly incomplete. However, Houston’s momentum effectively died from there. A delay of game and two incompletions forced Houston to punt the ball. The offense did not come close to Denver territory after that. Had Mills connected with Collins, Houston would have had the ball inside the Denver 25, well inside Fairbairn’s range. Plus, a big completion might have been enough to spark something in a morbid Texans’ second-half offense. Either way, a scoring opportunity lost. Credit to Denver’s defense for holding Houston in check, but Mills and Houston missed their chance to win.

Special Teams did their part: Setting aside the patented GLORY TO ALL FG OFFENSE ™, the Houston special teams did enough to win this game. Yes, Fairbairn missed a critical 51-yard FG on the opening drive, which factored in the final result, but he provided all 15 points for the squad. Additionally, Autry logged his second FG block of the season, setting up Houston’s 1st scoring drive (see earlier discussion points). Jaylin Smith logged a fumble recovery that set up another Houston scoring chance. For all of Houston’s second half struggles, the one scoring drive came from Noel’s dynamic 45-yard punt return. Townsend had a solid day at the office (8 punts, 52.5 average, 2 inside the 20 with a long of 73), and Denver really didn’t get that much out of their punt/kick returns. Combined with another overall solid effort from the defense, the offense wears the badge of shame out of this matchup.

FUN WITH NUMBERS:

2: Total Number of 1st downs of the Houston offense in the 2nd half. Even if the Houston defense, great as it is, was channeling the best of the 1985 Bears/2000 Ravens, only getting 2 first downs in a half is no way to win a game. Especially with a team like Denver, that has a strong defense and a QB known for making things happen in the 4th quarter, you will need a lot more than that.

.539: Combined winning percentage of remaining opponents on the Texans’ schedule. Bad enough that the team is 3-5 and four games back of the division, but if Houston is even going to dream of getting to the Wild Card, they are going to have to do it the hard way. Of their remaining nine opponents, 6 have winning records and all of those have at least 5 wins to this point in the season.

GAME BALLS:

DE Will Anderson Jr.: Another sack for the team MVP. Anderson had the sole sack, but he, along with Hunter, did much to keep Bo Nix’s completion percentage under 50%, which is something that Houston can take away from this performance.

The Former Masthead at The Crawfish Boxes: Been a tough week for some of the best baseball writers out there. Shoutout to them for all of their quality work over the past few years . (Full disclosure, I did some writing for them, but this game ball is for them, not me).

SHOULD BE FORCED TO LISTEN TO ALL OF THE WORST BRANDON PERNA’S JOKES FROM THAT’S GOOD SPORTS ON REPEAT (ESPECIALLY HIS PERSISTENT TRIBUTE TO AMON-RA ST. BROWN) WHILE COMPOSING AN ESSAY ON THE BEST PARTS OF CALEY’S SHORT-YARDAGE PLAYBOOK.

WR Xavier Hutchinson: Logged two brutal holding penalties. The 1st of which pushed Houston outside the Denver 10-yard line on a goal-to-go situation from the 2-yard line. The second negated a solid Chubb 10-yard run in the 4th quarter when the Texans desperately needed something to go right on offense. Effort is fine, but results matter more. His 3 receptions for 30 yards do not even come close to making up for those two penalties.

OC Nick Caley: It is not that every Texans’ loss should be blamed on him, but especially with the nightmare of short-yardage play-calling, that is something that will cost Houston dearly in the end.

QB Davis Mills: Sure, coming in as the relief pitcher in the NFL, especially against a defense like Denver, is not an easy thing. However, this is not Mills’ first, second, or tenth rodeo. He’s done this before. However, the reasons why he will never be more than a backup came to the forefront Sunday. His second half, primarily his bad miss of Collins, attest to that.

While the pain lingers, the season is not stopping. Houston must gear up to try to end their three-game home stand on a winning note, when the Jacksonville Jaguars come to town. Game time is this Sunday at noon CST, with coverage on CBS.

Source: https://www.battleredblog.com/houst...uston-texans-18-15-loss-to-the-denver-broncos