News Texans Team Notes

[Houston Texans]

Texans thinning secondary a cause for concern

It’s never a good sign when players get hurt one after another at the same position. The Texans strength this season has been their secondary, where they have two of the top 10 leaders in interceptions. Kamari Lassiter leads all CBs in tackles… and that’s not because opposing QBs are throwing at him. They are seventh in coverage grade according to PFF and have 20 pass breakups on the season.

The defense works because the Texans coverage is so dominant that Danielle Hunter and Will Anderson Jr. have enough time to get to the QB. Unfortunately, the mounting injuries to the secondary are thinning out this group heading into the back half of the season.

Just this past Sunday, the Houston Texans lost starting safety M.J. Stewart for the season due to a quad injury. He was put into an air cast and carted off mid-game. Stewart took over the starting role for C.J. Gardner-Johnson after his departure in Week 3.

Speaking of CJGJ, he was bestowed the starting safety role after the Texans traded OG Kenyon Green to the Eagles to acquire him. That only lasted three weeks until the Texans and the veteran safety mutually decided to part ways. After a string of signings and releases, he’s now making game-winning plays for the Chicago Bears. At least he’s happy…

Next, Jalen Pitre entered concussion protocol and missed last week’s matchup against the Jaguars. Pitre is so valuable to the defense, they chose to run an entirely different scheme last week. His status is unclear heading into an important matchup against the Tennessee Titans. And before you think “oh, he should just sit out that game… the Titans are terrible”, the Titans were 2-8 last year when they cruised to a 32-27 victory over Houston in NRG (I was there). Pitre is the cog that makes the system go and will be desperately needed to guard tight end Chig Okonkwo, who leads the Titans in receptions.

Rookie Jaylin Smith suffered a string of injuries this season and landed on IR last week. It’s a disappointing start to his NFL career as Smith was slated to be the perennial backup and CB3 for the team. He only played in four games this year and recorded six tackles.

So who is up next? As of now, Myles Bryant will shift roles to play the second safety position. The Texans do have several options on practice squad. D’Angelo Ross is well accustomed to playing in Houston and started two games last season in place of injured Kamari Lassiter. Ross has spent the past three seasons in Houston.

Jimmie Ward is the Monopoly Card in this deck (Catan reference). Ward is still recovering from offseason foot surgery and his domestic violence case has been dismissed. DeMeco Ryans reported he could return to practice “in a few weeks” on November 3rd. He sits on the Physically Unable to Play (PUP) List right now and has not been active since the Kansas City Chiefs game in Week 16 last year. The 34 year old is Houston’s best chance at a decent secondary option if he can return to form.

Jalen Mills is the also an option as a seasoned veteran. A career starter from 2016 – 2023, but has diminished in role and performance since then. He suited up this season against the Ravens in Week 5, but has been on the practice squad ever since. He plays safety now, but spent his career at CB for Philadelphia, New England, and the New York Jets.

A break glass option can also be undrafted rookie Alijah Huzzie from UNC. Huzzie plays nickel CB and dime CB due to his small stature. He is a perfect fit for the gritty play-style DeMeco Ryans prefers from this defensive backs. He was recently removed from the Non-Football Injury list (NFI) and moved to the practice squad. Although Huzzie went undrafted, multiple teams had fourth-round grades on the cornerback. Depending on his health, and knowledge of the defense, he could provide needed depth and high upside.

Houston is edging towards a predicament in their defensive back room. Whoever can step up over the next few weeks may earn themselves a long-term role on an elite defensive.e https://www.ourlads.com/nfldepthcharts/player/54580/

Source: https://www.battleredblog.com/houst...texans-thinning-secondary-a-cause-for-concern

 

[Houston Texans]

Houston Texans Safety Suffers Season-Ending Injury

Yesterday, Houston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans announced that starting safety M.J. Stewart would require season ending quad surgery:

Texans S M.J. Stewart suffered a torn quad and will miss the rest of the 2025 season, according to @AaronWilson_NFL pic.twitter.com/tX3fyWgknA

— Nick Schwager (@NickSchwagerNFL) November 10, 2025

This comes as a destabilizing blow to the number one defense in the NFL. Houston’s defensive backfield relied heavily on Stewart after former free agent signee CJ Gardner-Johnson was released in week four after struggling to gel with the Texans’ defensive scheme.

Looks bad #Texans M.J. Stewart left leg being immobilized will be carted off @KPRC2 pic.twitter.com/2sUhV1xINC

— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) November 9, 2025

In his nine appearances and four starts during the 2025 regular season, M.J. Stewart tallied:

• 228 Snaps on Defense, 102 Snaps on Special Teams
• 30 Tackles (5 on Special Teams)
• 2 Pass Deflections
• 7 Reception on 12 Targets (58.3 Rec%) for 68 Yards and 1 Touchdown
• 4 Stops
• 1 Forced Fumble
• 102.1 Passer Rating Allowed
• 49.7 PFF grade

An eight year veteran in his fourth year in Houston, M.J. Stewart had become one of the unsung heroes on Houston’s dominant defense this year. Stewart has been a tackling machine since stepping up into the starting role after Gardner-Johnson’s unexpected departure. He perfectly embodies the swarm mindset that forms the base of DeMeco Ryans’ defensive philosophy, and on special teams, M.J. Stewart was a bully:

1st play of the game, big hit by MJ Stewart on kick off.

Frank Ross likes it. pic.twitter.com/UEakYOWmUT

— Houston Stressans (@TexansCommenter) October 1, 2025

Stewart had signed his third contract with Houston this year, a 1-year, $2.5 million extension with the Texans in March 2025. His instincts and athleticism made him an integral part of what current head coach DeMeco Ryans, former head coach Lovie Smith, and current special teams coordinator Frank Ross wanted to implement in Houston. So, even though M.J. Stewart may just seem like another replaceable DB on the Texans’ uber-athletic roster, his impact on the team goes much further than what is conveyed on a stat sheet.

#Texans coach DeMeco Ryans on adapting at safety to M.J. Stewart out for season with torn quad, surgery, IR @KPRC2 https://t.co/a7bkIvQzdk pic.twitter.com/OUnZFp9N3R

— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) November 10, 2025

After Stewart was carted off the field during the Week 10 game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Texans moved cornerback Myles Bryant to the starting role. Bryant, recently elevated from Houston’s practice squad, is a multi-year veteran of his own and has recent experience from playing snaps for the Texans late in the 2024 season and during the preseason. Starting safety Jalen Pitre was inactive for the game, as well, so when Houston played in nickel formation, they brought out backup cornerback Tremon Smith to play nickel.

Pitre will eventually return from injury, but Stewart won’t, so Bryant will have to adjust to the safety position and fill in Stewart’s role on defense and special teams to the best of his ability. If not Bryant, then other Texans DBs like rookie sixth round pick Jaylen Reed from Penn State, cornerback Damon Arnette (who elevated to the active roster as of Nov. 8th), veteran safety Jalen Mills, or recent practice squad signee Alijah Huzzie will need to step up.

Safety Jimmie Ward also remains on the roster after he was removed from the commissioners exempt list, but has yet to appear in a game. According to Aaron Wilson, Ward had, “…made major progress from pair of offseason foot surgeries” and, “…[the Texans are] expecting him to be ready medically to to start practicing in next few weeks” as of Sept. 24th. Despite this, he remains on the Reserve/PUP list on the Texans website.

Out of all these options, I expect Jaylen Reed and Myles Bryant to absorb the most snaps in replacement of M.J. Stewart. This could have been an opportunity for rookie third round pick Jaylin Smith to get more snaps on defense, but he was also placed on season-ending IR on Nov. 5th.

MJ Stewart closing in from 10+ yards to break up a screen. Also great recognition by WAJ to help clean up. pic.twitter.com/aBI85vLnZk

— Houston Stressans (@TexansCommenter) October 13, 2025

DeMeco Ryans also announced that quarterback CJ Stroud, right tackle Tytus Howard, and safety Jalen Pitre all remain in concussion protocol as of Monday. They will need to clear concussion protocol this week if they plan to play in Sunday’s contest against the Tennessee Titans. If not, Houston will be relying on depth once again to keep their playoff hopes alive.

We here at Battle Red Blog are wish M.J. Stewart a speedy recovery!

Source: https://www.battleredblog.com/gener...s-s-m-j-stewart-suffered-season-ending-injury

 

[Houston Texans]

Texans Stats: Houston Texans vs Tennessee Titans

Your Houston Texans currently have the #1 defense in all the land. Danielle Hunter was awarded AFC Defensive Player of the Week. He a fellow quarterback predator Will Anderson Jr. are both within 3 sacks of double digits on the season.

Derek Stingley Jr. has 3 INTs so far, including an amazing 1-hander against Trevor Lawrence and the Jacksonville Jaguars last week. That puts him at 14 in his career, only 3 back of Jonathan Joseph, the Texans all-time leading interceptor.

Based on the #2 defense on the Los Angeles Rams facing the Seattle Seahawks this weekend, it’s very likely Hunter, Anderson, Sting and the rest carry that #1 D belt into next week as well.

The Texans defense is a clear cut #1 in the NFL after week 10.

The offense still has work to do to get into positive territory. pic.twitter.com/qYQ6KQVejd

— Will Kunkel (@WillKunkelV) November 12, 2025

Meanwhile, the BESFs are averaging a mighty 14.4 points per game with their steamrolling offense. /s

With C.J. Stroud ruled out again this week due to concussion, Davis Mills has a pretty good chance to pad his resume against a middle of the road Titans defense. A defense that will likely face utter exhaustion by the 3rd quarter after spending most of the first half on the field.

Now, the BESFs are boasting the top rookie passer, Cam Ward, who brings 1760 passing yards into this tilt. But leverage that number against the average points per game, and it’s easy to extrapolate that number is inflated due to having to the throw the ball on nearly every down.

His completion percentage is 57.8, while he’s thrown 5 touchdowns against 6 picks. Hunter, Anderson and Sting are likely jonesing for a chance to get after him this weekend.

Houston Texans Week 11 Stats​

• QB DAVIS MILLS completed 27 of 45 pass att. (60%) for 292 yards, 2 TDs & INT in Week 10.
• RB WOODY MARKS led team with 63 rush yards on 14 carries & TD in Week 10. Aims for 2nd straight on road with rec. TD. Is 1 of 5 rookies (Emeka Egubka, Omarion Hampton, Quinshon Judkins & Cam Skattebo) with 2 games of 110+ scrimmage yards in 2025.
• RB NICK CHUBB has 202 rush yards & TD in 2-career games vs. Ten.
• WR NICO COLLINS led team with season-high 136 rec. yards on 7 rec. in Week 10. Has rec. TD in 2 of his last 3 on road. Aims for 3rd straight with 7+ catches.
• TE DALTON SCHULTZ had 7 rec. for 53 yards & first rec. TD in 2025 last week.
• WR JAYDEN HIGGINS (rookie) had 3rd rec. TD of the season last week, 4th most among rookie WRs in 2025.
• LB AZEEZ AL-SHAIR led team with 8 tackles in Week 10 & PD. Has 6+ tackles in 3 of his last 4. Aims for 2nd in row on road with FR.
• LB HENRY TO’OTO’O had 4 tackles, 0.5 sack & PD in Week 10.
• DE WILL ANDERSON had sack, TFL, PD & FF last week. Aims for 5th in row with sack. Has 4 sacks in 3 career games vs. Ten.
• DE DANIELLE HUNTER had 2nd career game with 3.5 sacks last week, 1 of 9 players with multiple games of 3.5 sacks since entering the league in 2015. Added 7 tackles & FF in Week 10. Ranks 4th in NFL in sacks (107) since 2015. Had 2 sacks in last meeting.
• DT SHELDON RANKINS had 32-yard FR for TD last week.
• CB DEREK STINGLEY had 3rd INT of season & 14th career in Week 10. 1 of 4 players (Jessie Bates, DaRon Bland & Kerby Joseph) with 14+ INTs since entering the league in 2022. Aims for 5th straight with PD.

Now, Houston’s defense is the talk of the town – as it should be. And, the offense is, well, not worth talking about aside from about 7 quarters so far this season. But, here’s a take that might just make this team a true threat down the stretch:

Point Blank on how to fix the Texans offense pic.twitter.com/zIM7TvKl0i

— Joel Blank (@PackManJoel) November 11, 2025

The Texans offense is currently hitting 22.7 points per game, notably behind the league average of 24.5. The AFC South Division leading Indianapolis Colts are landing 32.1 per game. And, Houston has to face the baby horses twice between now and the end of the season. #1 defenses have carried teams all the way in the past – but that was before the NFL slanted the rules so heavily in favor of scoring.

Nick Caley can’t score consistently.

AFC championship contenders can.

Thankfully, the BESFs are neither a top scoring team or a championship contender.

Tennessee Titans Week 11 Stats​

• QB CAM WARD completed 12 of 21 att. (57.1 pct.) for 145 yards in Week 9. Has TD pass in 3 of his past 4 games at home & overall. Ranks 1st among rookie QBs with 1,760 pass yards.
• RB TONY POLLARD had 68 scrimmage yards (56 rush, 12 rec.) in Week 9. Has recorded 50+ scrimmage yards in 9 of his past 10 games, incl. each of his past 5 at home. Has 60+ rushing yards in each of past 3 games vs. Hou.
• RB TYJAE SPEARS had 62 scrimmage yards (36 rec., 26 rush) in Week 9. Has 3+ catches in each of his past 4 games.
• WR CHIMERE DIKE had 3 punt returns for 98 yards & 1st-career kick/punt return touchdown in Week 9. Also had 117 yards on 4 kick returns.
• WR ELIC AYOMANOR led the team with 46 rec. yards on 3 catches last week. 1 of 5 rookies (Tetairoa McMillan (10), Tyler Warren (10), Emeka Egbuka (9) 7 Harold Fannin Jr. (9)) to record 2+ catches in 9 straight to start the season.
• DT JEFFERY SIMMONS has sack in 3 of his past 4 games. Had 4 tackles for loss in last game vs. Hou. Has sack in 2 of his past 3 games vs. Hou.
• NT T’VONDRE SWEAT had 3 tackles & tackle for loss in Week 9. Aims for 4th in row with TFL. Has sack in 2 of his past 3 games.
• LB CODY BARTON had 6 tackles & 1st-career INT-TD in Week 9. Is 1 of 4 LBs (Tremaine Edmunds, Ernest Jones & Devin Lloyd) to have 3+ INTs in 2025.
• LB CEDRIC GRAY had 16 tackles & 1st-career sack in Week 9. Is the only player this season to record 10+ tackles & TFL in 4 games. Is the only player this season to record 15+ tackles & sack in a game. 1 of 4 (Nick Bolton, Jordyn Brooks & Roquan Smith) to record 3 games of 12+ tackles.
• LB JIHAD WARD had 4 tackles & career-high 2.5 sacks in Week 9. Has sack and TFL in 2 of his past 3 games.
• S AMANI HOOKER had 7 tackles in Week 9. Has 6+ tackles in 5 of his past 6 games at home.

Right now we’re all riding the high of the incredible comeback Houston pulled off last weekend. It was definitely one for the ages. Unfortunately, all the 4th quarter success doesn’t erase the 1st 40 minutes of mediocrity Caley’s offense brought to the field with Davis Mills under center.

Now, Mills is a quality backup QB for sure. Possibly the best the Texans have ever had for a consistent amount of games. But he’s not proven to be the answer to “how do you win with a bad play caller?” over the course of the last several seasons.

Texans vs Titans Prediction:​

Even though it’s the BESFs, expect Houston’s offensive struggles to continue, while the defense bails them out time and again.

Houston Texans – 23

Tennessee Titans – 10

And, just to appease any BESF fans reading this, here’s the always necessary reminder:

A franchise-record 57 points, five TDs from @deshaunwatson and a win over the Titans.#TexansTop100 » No. 19 pic.twitter.com/m4aBPM9KP7

— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) August 21, 2019

QB Ryan Fitzpatrick threw a franchise-record six touchdowns in a 45-21 win over the Titans in 2014.#TexansTop100 » No. 27 pic.twitter.com/1iCMqbSZuG

— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) August 14, 2019

In honor of #Titans vs #Texans this week, throwback to the Cortland Finnegan vs Andre Johnson fight pic.twitter.com/S8C4RbJi8h

— Top Fantasy Plays (@TopFantasyPlays) December 11, 2019

Source: https://www.battleredblog.com/houst...xans-stats-houston-texans-vs-tennessee-titans

 

[Houston Texans]

Thursday Night Football Open Thread

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

Hello, good evening and welcome to week 11 of the NFL season.

Tonight, we travel to the chilly northeast for an AFC East “battle.” The New York Jets travel to Foxboro to take on the, unfortunately, resurgent New England Patriots.

I ain’t gonna lie, this game looks like it could be ugly. Uglier than Amy Adams-Strunk’s soul (I refuse to call her Amy Adams because the actress Amy Adams doesn’t need to be associated with such ugliness).

But I digress. Here’s what you need to know for tonight’s game.

Who: New York Jets (2-7) at New England Patriots (8-2)

What: Thursday Night Football

Where: Gillette Stadium, Foxboro, MA

When: Thursday, November 13, 7:15 p.m. CST

Why: Because…sorry, got too distracted thinking of Amy Adams so I don’t have one this time.

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

Enjoy the game, y’all.

Call me, Amy Adams (not Strunk).

Source: https://www.battleredblog.com/general/72521/thursday-night-football-open-thread

 

[Houston Texans]

Five good Texans questions with Possum Holler Tribune

Week 11 brings the second of the divisional bouts with the Tennessee Titans and Cornelius Bumfuzzle of the Possum Holler Tribune was kind enough to join us for five questions for the upcoming titanic bout between the Texans and the Titans. The Possum Holler Tribune has been covering everything Tennessee sports for the past few decades. Bumfuzzle is the three time winner of the Cletus Snarbuckle Award for journalistic excellence given to the best Tennessee beat writer for a sports publication.

The Texans won the last game 26-0 and the Titans have since fired their head coach. They have struggled across the board from giving Cam Ward an offense to function out of to having a defense that can slow down anyone. We started the conversation with the number one overall pick and what Bumfuzzle has seen from the young quarterback so far.

Battle Red Blog: The Titans made a significant move when they made Cam Ward the number one overall pick. How do you feel about the young quarterback so far?

Cornelius Bumfuzzle: Dat boy can sure chuck that ball. He can sure run it too. There ain’t nobody there to catch it tho. The Titans needs to git on down there git and git themselves some ballcatchers for this kid. Them defenders need to lasso some guys too. He has to throw the ball all the time because them other guys are always them scoring. Da boy will be alright tho once we get a real ball coach in this place.

BRB: Brian Callahan was fired with less than two seasons under his belt. How much of this was his fault?

CB: Da boy could coach em up. We were the best one win team in the business I tell you what (Editor’s note: the Titans are in a distant last in the NFL with a -127 point differential). Bud Adams’ spawn has handcuffed the boys by firing everyone before those boys could git down and do der jobs. We at Possum Holler were in favor of da boy getting a chance to pick some of dem players in the next draft to help dat dere quarterback. I saw dem beat the Vols in an intersquad game. If you can beat a mediocre SEC program you can coach in da NFL.

BRB: Turning our attention to the defense, the Titans have given up the fourth most points in the NFL in spite of already having their bye. They are surrendering over 28 points a game. What do you attribute the struggles to?

CB: Struggle? Boy I oughta go over and beat you senseless. 28 points a game would be good enough to win in a lot of conferences in America. Sure, the AFC isn’t one of them. It’s not Callahan’s fault he wasn’t coaching in one of dem other leagues. Them boys need dem tackle dat guy with the ball sooner. Strunk is petitioning the league to allow thirteen defenders. Said somethen bout “unexplained diminished competence” or some such nonsense words dem college educated folk use. I just calls dem like a see em.

BRB: The Titans are all but mathematically eliminated from the divisional title. Who do Titans fans most want to see win this division? Who do you most enjoy beating?

CB: I want dem boys in Indiana to win this thing. You sophisticated boys from Houston want to steal our colors. That Columbia Blue represents excellence and performance under da pressure of da playoffs. I’ll put da Oilers playoff record up against any other pro team based in Tennessee. Why wouldn’t we want to keep dat dere legacy for ourselves. We do enjoy watching dem Glitter Kitties fumble a playoff berth year after year. It takes some of that there attention away from our boys.

BRB: FanDuel has opened the Texans up as 7.5 point favorites for Sunday’s game. How do you see the game going? Do you have any prop bets you feel comfortable recommending?

CB: Let’s see. The Titans are losing by an average of 14 points per game and they have no head coach. Sign me up for a surprise victory for the 13 man squad in Possum Holler. We gonna crunch that neck on dat dere chucker you got going and we will see your third string chucker before half time. Ward will throw a career high four pigskin scores and Derrick Henry will run all over the Texans stoppers (editor’s note: Henry has in fact not been a Titan for over a year and a half). I’m going with A.J. Brown and the over on receiving yards (Editor’s note: Brown still plays for the Eagles). The over feels like a good bet der too.

---

We want to thank Cornelius for taking the time to answer our questions. Unfortunately, the URL for Possum Holler Tribune is down at the moment. I’m not sure who the webmaster is, but I’m sure he is doing yeoman work keeping that site going. We want to wish Cornelius and the Titans 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...d-texans-questions-with-possum-holler-tribune

 

[Houston Texans]

Houston Texans vs. Tennessee Titans: Injury Report

The Houston Texans are coming off a thrilling home win over the Jacksonville Jaguars and are looking to carry that momentum into another divisional matchup — this time against the Tennessee Titans.

Quarterback Davis Mills got the start last weekend after C.J. Stroud suffered a concussion against the Broncos. Outside of the opening drive, Mills looked sharp and fully in control of the offense.

He’s now in line for at least one more start, with Stroud still dealing with concussion symptoms. Houston was extremely banged up last week, and it looks like that trend may continue heading into the Titans game:

Did Not Participate​

-QB C.J. Stroud (Concussion)

-DB Jalen Pitre (Concussion)

-K Ka’imi Fairbairn (Quad)

-TE Dalton Schultz (Shoulder)

-TE Harrison Bryant (Shoulder)

Limited Participation​

-LB Jake Hansen (Elbow)

-G Ed Ingram (Knee)

-TE Cade Stover (Foot)

-DE Denico Autry (Knee)

Full Participation​

-LB Azeez Al-Shaair (Knee)

-QB Davis Mills (Elbow)

-WR Braxton Berrios (Quad)

-FB Jakob Johnson (Hamstring)

-LB Christian Harris (Shin)

-OT Tytus Howard (Concussion)

The good news for Houston is they’ll be getting multiple starters back, including tight end Cade Stover, offensive tackle Tytus Howard, and guard Ed Ingram.

The bad news is they’ll also be without several key players: quarterback C.J. Stroud, defensive back Jalen Pitre, and kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn.

With the playoff race tightening, almost every game from here on out is a must-win for Houston. They can’t afford to take their foot off the gas against the Titans — even if Tennessee currently holds the league’s worst record.

Source: https://www.battleredblog.com/houst...ston-texans-vs-tennessee-titans-injury-report

 

[Houston Texans]

Saturday Musings: Is it better for David Mills to start this Sunday over CJ Stroud for the Houston Texans?

Right now, the Texans’ season sits on a knife’s edge. At 4-5, they sit on the outside looking in for the playoffs. Victories need to get banked, the more the merrier. Yet, Houston faces one of the roughest schedules in the league to close out the year. Over their last 8 games, they have to face the Colts (twice), the Bills (at home), the Chiefs (on the road) and the Chargers (on the road). They do get the Raiders (home), Cardinals (home) and the Titans (away), which is their next game. To say that the Titans game is a must-win is cliche, but logical. The Titans sit in the pole position for the #1 pick in the 2026 Draft. They’ve fired their head coach and the offense under #1 pick Cam Ward is beyond wretched.

For Houston, this would seem to be a “get-right” game. However, they will travel to Nashville with several concerns. Foremost among them: Injuries to the starting QB position. With Houston in desperation mode, they would want any and all available weapons ready to get this one. However, CJ Stroud is out for a second straight game after a concussion against Denver. In his place, Davis Mills, he of the insane 4th quarter comeback against Jacksonville last week. One would think that the momentum from that 4th quarter against the Jags should carry over, but how often have we said that about a QB, and Mills in particular, only to see that amount to nothing? For all of the Titans’ woes, they do possess a defense that can and has given Houston’s inconsistent offense trouble.

Yet is the worst thing in the world for Stroud to miss this game and let Mills lead the squad? Mills, while not the most successful of QBs, does have a record of success against the Titans, and in Nashville in particular. He won his start there in 2022 and guided Houston to a win in 2024 playing all but one series of the game. Perhaps the momentum from last week’s 4th quarter might just carry over, and if Houston can get off to a good enough start, that might be enough against a depleted Titans’ offense. Also, while they are facing significant attrition in the secondary, the powerful Texans’ defense has yet to surrender a point to the Titans this season. Likely that streak ends in Nashville but given the trouble that Houston’s defense presents to any offense this season, they may not surrender all that many. (Special teams and offensive turnovers…well, that might be another matter).

Also, the schedule plays a significant factor here. The Texans get their designated Thursday Night game this coming week, so it will be a short turnaround from going to Nashville to facing the Buffalo Bills at home. If there is a game you would want a healthy Stroud, it is that Buffalo game. Besides, when he last suffered a concussion in his rookie season, Stroud missed two games, but returned with a vengeance, leading Houston to two wins to secure the AFC South. Against a Buffalo squad with a suspect defense, a healthy Stroud would be a major plus.

It is a gamble for the Texans to let General Mills lead the charge in Nashville. There are no certainties in the NFL, and in 2025 in particular, whatever is expected usually doesn’t end up that way. A loss against the Titans would drop Houston to 4-6 and effectively leave the Texans in win-out mode and hope for a lot of help. However, to rush Stroud back only to see him get injured again, this time for a longer spell, would be a far worse fate for the Texans. Maybe it isn’t the worst of all worlds to leave it to Mills and that defense to deal with the Titans, saving Stroud for the Bills (pending that Stroud can clear the protocol by early this coming week).

Source: https://www.battleredblog.com/houst...-sunday-over-cj-stroud-for-the-houston-texans

 

[Houston Texans]

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

The bad news is that we’ll still be without QB C.J. Stroud and K Ka’imi Fairbairn, so we’ll have to expect Davis Mills et al to be the offense tomorrow.

The good news is the Texans play Tennessee tomorrow, so if there was going to be any game where you could theoretically go without your starting quarterback, this is the game to do it.

But will you be able to watch at home? Let’s see what 506 Sports has to say.

View Link

FOX SINGLE GAMES

Red: Chicago Bears at Minnesota Vikings (Announcers: Kevin Burkhardt, Tom Brady; Referee: Brad Rogers)
Green: Green Bay Packers at New York Giants (Announcers: Adam Amin, Drew Brees; Referee: Scott Novak)
Yellow: Carolina Panthers at Atlanta Falcons (Announcers: Jason Benetti, Brady Quinn; Referee: Clay Martin)
Light Blue: Tennessee Baby-Eating Sister-F***ers (Titans) (Announcers: Chris Meyers, Mark Schlereth; Referee: Shawn Hochuli)
Dark Blue: LATE GAME
Orange: LATE GAME

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

Who: Houston Texans at Tennessee Baby-Eating Sister-F***ers

Where: Nissan Stadium, Nashville, TN

When: Sunday, November 16, 12:00 pm CST

Why: Because:

TV: FOX (Chris Meyers, Mark Schlereth)

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...ns-at-besfs-how-to-watch-tv-schedule-and-more

 

[Houston Texans]

Vote: will the Texans stay hot?

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 11, 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/72493/vote-will-the-texans-stay-hot

 

[Houston Texans]

Sunday Night Football; Lions at Eagles discussion thread

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

Have you recovered from the dumbness that was today’s Texans/BESFs game yet? No? Too bad because we still have more football tonight. And this might even be a good game! It’s an NFC matchup that could potentially be an NFCCG preview.

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

Who: Detroit Lions (6-3) at Philadelphia Eagles (7-2)

What: Sunday Night Football

Where: Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, PA

When: Sunday, November 16, 7:20 p.m. CST

Why: Because who knows what hilarious and potentially legally actionable antics Eagles fans might get into.

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/general/72567/sunday-night-football-lions-at-eagles-discussion-thread

 

[Houston Texans]

Value of Things: By the Numbers

This always takes on a different tone than the recap. The recap reflects the emotions of the moment. When you win a game 16-13 on a walk off field goal there are bound to be a number of emotions. The Value of Things is always about analyzing the data to see if we notice any trends. We also look at the great, good, and bad in wins and the good, bad, and ugly in losses.

Teams can always improve even when they are coming off a victory. That is particularly true when facing the worst team in football. When we start stacking these together we start to notice some trends. The trends say that this team has a great defense and a lousy offense. However, lousy might be overly simplistic. They are situationally awful, but we will get to that in a minute.

The Numbers​

• Total Yards: Texans 68/315, Titans 57/229
• Rushing Yards: Texans 23/75, Titans 17/58
• Passing Yards: Texans 45/240, Titans 40/171
• Third Down conversion: Texans 4/13, Titans 6/15
• Sacks: Texans 3, Titans 4
• Turnovers: Texans 0, Titans 1
• Penalties: Texans 5/53, Titans 9/62
• Time of Possession: Texans 31:03, Titans 28:57

I often struggle to understand the Houston Texans. I am a data nerd. Everything above indicates that the Texans should have won the game comfortably. They possessed the ball longer, gained more yards, ran more plays, and made fewer errors. This seems to be a hallmark of the Ryans tenure in Houston. They win close games. They play hard. Yet, they seem to make things as difficult as humanly possible. Okay, let’s check in on the great, good, and bad.

The Great​

A backup quarterback has an unenviable job. He has to come in and run the offense cold and hopefully keep the machine rolling as much as humanly possible. We can certainly assign style points if we want and other analysts will do it on their own dime, but Mills was called on to win two must win games and he did. He did while engineering two walk off drives in two weeks. We can always talk about why those drives were needed and we certainly will, but he did his job. He kept the Texans’ playoff hopes alive for another week.

Let’s be honest, he didn’t have to do much on this day. The Houston Texans have the best defense in football and the Titans are worst offense in football. He was called on to take care of the football and make smart throws. He didn’t have any turnover worthy throws in this one. Sure, he missed an occasional throw because he is a backup quarterback. We are grading on a curve here. It wasn’t an “A” worthy performance because some analysts love to throw those around. It was good enough and that is what matters.

The Good​

The defense would have made it into the great column if it weren’t for that last touchdown drive. As is usually the case in Houston touchdown drives on defense, there were some questionable penalties. The pass interference call on Derek Stingley was particularly egregious. Still, you cannot in good conscience allow a 50+ yard pass on third down and call yourself great. We can say it was a good performance though and part of a mosaic of the best defense in franchise history.

Daniele Hunter and Will Anderson combined for 2.5 sacks and a fumble recovery. We can certainly debate where their seasons stack against great seasons by J.J. Watt or Mario Williams. What we cannot debate is that the Texans have never had a passing rushing duo quite like this. Add that to the best corner duo in the NFL and you can see why this defense is the best defense in the NFL.

The Bad​

There comes a time when I go from sports hate to sports pity. Certainly, ultimately winning the game helps cool the fires of 1000 suns. I have shifted to sports pity for Nick Caley. He keeps a good poker face. When the team gets inside the five yard line he doesn’t break down crying. He would be forgiven if he did. He just doesn’t seem to have the answer. Asking him to dial up up a fourth and goal play should be considered torture according to the Geneva convention.

This is why my sports hate in the moment is aimed at DeMeco Ryans. You have to kick the ball in those situations. You have to. You can rattle off all of the analytics you want. Teams are expected to score the touchdown this percentage of the time and if you created 1000 simulations you’d score X amount of points going for it and Y amount of points kicking. We get all of that. ESPN, Fox, CBS, and Amazon can rattle off their numbers. They are irrelevant.

They are irrelevant because the Texans are incapable of scoring on fourth and goal. It’s hard to imagine many scenarios that are worse than what happened. If Mills had hit a popcorn vendor it would have at least been first down from their own two yard line. Instead, they had first down from the 15. What any normal team would do in that instance doesn’t matter. You are coaching the Houston Texans and what the Texans offense is likely to do is the only thing that matters. You kick there and you are up ten points at the end of that game. Then, a miraculous 95 yard drive doesn’t matter.

I know this feels like nitpicking and I suppose it is. However, it is a symptom of a bigger problem. It is one thing to say something to the press or general public. You pump up your coaches and your players. We all get that. However, when it comes to making decisions, you have to know your team and its limitations. In a vacuum I would love to play smash mouth football on the one yard line. In reality, I know that just ain’t happening. You could run three times, four times, and 3000 times. You aren’t getting in when you run from guard to guard. Stop doing it. When you are fourth down inside the five, stop going for it. Your chances of success are slim. Know your football team and what they are capable of. That is the coach’s main job.

Source: https://www.battleredblog.com/houston-texans-analysis/72562/value-of-things-by-the-numbers

 

[Houston Texans]

Eagles at Packers Monday Night Football Discussion Thread

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

Tonight’s MNF matchup is a matchup of two underwhelming teams that the league, for reasons all their own, insist on inflicting on America. Maybe a squirrel got loose in the scheduling computer? Maybe millions of people have made the poor life decision of being a Cowboy fan. Whatever reason it is, and I’m sure it’s a dumb one, we’re saddled with yet another Cowboys game.

Oh boy.

Anyway, here’s what you need to know to watch/listen to/stream tonight’s game:

Who: “Dallas” Cowboys (3-5-1) at Las Vegas Raiders (2-7)

What: Monday Night Football

Where: Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas, NV

When: Monday, November 17, 7:15 p.m. CST

Why: Because the world needs to see a sub-.500 Cowboys team; why would you even ask such a silly question?

TV: ABC, ESPN, ESPN Deportes

Radio: Westwood One

Streaming: ESPN*, Fubo*, NFL+*, SlingTV* (*subscription required)

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

 

[Houston Texans]

Houston Texans Opening Odds against Buffalo Bills in Week 11

The Houston Texans hit the accelerator on their drive to make the playoffs when they host the 7-3 Buffalo Bills on Thursday Night Football. The Bills bounced back from their worst loss of the year against the 3-7 Miami Dolphins with a commanding win over the NFC South-leading Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Bills hold the first AFC Wild Card spot, while the Texans are the first team out of the playoffs. This game has major playoff implications. For Houston, a win here keeps them in contention for a Wild Card spot and in line with the Chiefs and Ravens. For Buffalo, they are hunting the 9-2 New England Patriots for the AFC East divisional crown.

If that isn’t enough, Fanduel has several lines on the upcoming match that you can take action on before this Thursday’s contest.

The Line: Texans +5.5​

Houston opens as heavy underdogs on a short week. Buffalo’s offense has proven to be one of the most formidable groups in the league. Lead by Josh Allen, the Bills are yet again in the playoff hunt and come into Houston winning three of their last four games.

Houston did upset Buffalo last season in Houston, which elevated the Texans to 4-1 and helped them cruise into the playoffs. However, the energy around the Texans is starkly different. They are teetering on the edge of the playoffs with an extremely uphill battle ahead of them.

When Buffalo has won their games this season, they’ve been clearly out ahead of their opponents. Buffalo boasts a +63 point differential, and has secured several substantial victories.

Given the lack of clarity surrounding C.J. Stroud’s condition post-concussion, I would suggest taking the Bills -5.5.

The Money Line: Texans +215​

If you think Houston will once again upset the Bills on TNF, doing this will net you a bigger payday. For instance, a $20 bet on Houston would win $43.

Josh Allen is just 1-3 all time against the Texans and that includes a Wild Card loss to the Texans in 2020. The key to the game is if Dion Dawkins and the Bills’ offensive line can stand up against Houston’s pass rush. The Bills are 11th in the league with only 20 sacks allowed in 2025. The other key to the game is if Houston can finally ignite their rushing attack against the Bills 31st ranked run defense.

Over/Under: 43.5​

I actually enjoy the Over on this one. Buffalo has scored 44, 13, 28, and 40 in their past four games. Their offense is efficient and highly effective, which could mean a high scoring game, with or without C.J. Stroud. Taking advantage of this total before Stroud clears concussion protocol would be savvy as it is most likely to increase with the news.

Houston has put up quiet but fairly consistent points lately. The offense has gained a second gear recently as Nico Collins finally found his way in the offense. Plus, rookies Jayden Higgins and Jaylen Noel are contributing more and more each week. They are fourth and fifth on the team in yards, while Higgins is tied for second in receiving TDs.

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...opening-odds-against-buffalo-bills-in-week-11

 

[Houston Texans]

Houston Texans vs. Buffalo Bills: Starting QB Ruled OUT

The Houston Texans have won their last two games with backup quarterback Davis Mills under center, and they’re looking to keep that momentum rolling at home against the Buffalo Bills.

The last time these teams met was a season ago — a game that ended up being one of the worst performances of Josh Allen’s career. If Houston wants to stay competitive on Sunday, they’ll need a similar outing from Allen, and with the way this defense is playing, that’s absolutely on the table.

Starting quarterback C.J. Stroud is set to miss another game after suffering a concussion against the Denver Broncos. He returned to practice today for the first time in weeks, and the expectation is that he’ll be back in the lineup next weekend against the Colts.

Mills hasn’t been perfect, but he’s been sharp and fully in command of the offense, which is exactly what Houston needs to keep the win streak alive. Here’s a look at Tuesday’s injury report:

Did Not Participate​

-LB Jamal Hill (Hamstring)

Limited Participation​

-LB Azeez Al-Shaair (Knee / Illness)

-QB C.J. Stroud (Concussion)

-DB Jalen Pitre (Concussion)

-DE Will Anderson Jr. (Ankle)

-OT Tytus Howard (Ankle / Knee)

-OT Trent Brown (Hand / Knee)

-DE Denico Autry (Knee)

Full Participation​

-QB Davis Mills (Elbow)

-WR Nico Collins (Ankle)

-K Ka’imi Fairbairn (Quad)

-WR Braxton Berrios (Quad)

-DB Myles Bryant (Ankle)

-LB Jake Hansen (Elbow)

-G Ed Ingram (Knee)

-TE Dalton Schultz (Shoulder)

-TE Cade Stover (Foot)

If the Texans want to keep their playoff hopes alive, this is the type of game that could change the momentum of the season with a statement win.

Source: https://www.battleredblog.com/houst...texans-vs-buffalo-bills-starting-qb-ruled-out

 

[Houston Texans]

Houston Texans NFL Power Rankings: Week 12

With great drama, suspense, and even terror, the Houston Texans surmounted the surmountable Tennessee Titans, swept them off their porch with a 35-yard kick, and grasped their fifth win the 2025 season. After much deliberation was spent after starting 0-3, the Houston Texans scratched and clawed their way back into playoff contention with seven weeks left in the NFL season.

Davis Mills is elite. pic.twitter.com/MD7jOeoZ50

— Keylow (@TheyHoedMe) November 16, 2025

This mid-season comeback has definitely caught the eyes of some power rankers out there, but this ugly, exhausting, 16-13 hiccup of a victory will quickly challenge their opinions on the Texans as a whole. Houston was one big mistake away from losing to the hapless Tennessee Titans…but, they didn’t! At the end of the day, wins are the only thing that matters in this league, regardless if they’re pretty or not. And this is what I keep telling myself as I prepare for the great neck of Davis Mills to make its third appearance of the season, fingers crossed that he will not regurgitate another opening drive interception.

These are the visuals that the journalists responsible for the power rankings will have to contend with when they consider the Houston Texans: Spicy defense, long necks, and short kicks. Will that be enough to give the team a boost up? Well, here’s where the Houston Texans are ranked entering week 12 of NFL regular season:

NFL.COM:​

18. Houston Texans (5-5)

Houston’s defense kept things under control while Davis Mills and the offense bogged down. The Texans drove inside Tennessee territory six times but came away with only 16 points and will be glad to get C.J. Stroud back soon (hopefully), even with Mills delivering two straight nail-biter wins in the final minutes. The Texans have the NFL’s stingiest defense, allowing just 16.3 points per game, but the offense now must ante up down the stretch if they want to make the playoffs. Next Gen Stats only gives Houston a 29% chanceto make it now, even as the team currently sits one spot outside the postseason field. However, that stands to change dramatically over the next three games, with the Texans welcoming the Bills to town before going on the road to face Indianapolis and Kansas City. If they can win at least two of those games, the Texans will be over .500 and in far better shape to make the dance.

– Eric Edholm

ESPN:​

19. Houston Texans (5-5)

Week 11 result: Beat the Titans 16-13
Week 11 ranking: 18

Who’s under the most pressure: Offensive coordinator Nick Caley

Houston’s defense lowers the number of points needed to get a comfortable win. This season, the Texans have allowed more than 20 points only twice and given up the fewest points per game (16.3). So, the pressure falls squarely on Caley to get a complementary offense better than the one they currently have. The Texans offense is averaging 22.0 points, which ranks 21st. If the offense doesn’t show improvement over the rest of the season, the Texans could be looking for their third offensive coordinator in three years.

– DJ Bien-Aime

SPORTS ILLUSTRATED:​

21. Houston Texans (5–5)

Last week’s ranking: No. 17
Last week’s result: beat Titans, 16–13
This week: vs. Bills

I admittedly have no idea where to put the Texans, who, yes, have won two straight games but have a horror-show schedule over the next three weeks (where the surging Cowboys and Dolphins do not). I think part of Power Rankings are a snapshot of the now, but part of it is a near-future hedge on where you think this stock is trending.

– Conor Orr

BLEACHER REPORT:​

19. Houston Texans (5-5)

Last Week: 19

Week 11 Result: Won at Tennessee 16-13

The good news for the Houston Texans is that after a last-second-win over the Titans that included a second-straight gutsy performance from backup quarterback Davis Mills, they have won three of four and five of seven and are a .500 team for the first team this season.

The Houston defense is among the best in the NFL, allowing just 258.1 yards and 16.8 points per contest.

The bad news is the Texans are going to need that defense over a brutal three-week stretch (Buffalo at home followed by trips to Indianapolis and Kansas City) that starts in Week 12, especially given the inconsistency the offense showed even before C.J. Stroud went down.

Houston isn’t going to catch Indy in the AFC South, but the next few weeks could well determine whether the Texans make the playoffs at all.

– Maurice Davenport

CBS SPORTS:​

18. Texans (5-5)

They’ve won two straight without C.J. Stroud, which keeps them alive in the playoff chase. The defense is special.

– Pete Prisco

USA TODAY:​

13. Houston Texans (13):

How good is this defense? It’s allowed more than 200 passing yards twice this season. It’s allowed more than 100 rushing yards twice this season. Allen will test it Thursday night, but whew.

– Nate Davis

YAHOO! SPORTS:​

18 (16): Houston Texans (5-5)

Barely beating the Titans is not a good look, but a win is a win. Especially with C.J. Stroud out. And the Texans might have to play again without Stroud this week. They play the Bills on Thursday night and as of Monday, Stroud hadn’t been cleared from concussion protocol.

– Frank Schwab

THE ATHLETIC:​

19. Houston Texans (5-5)

Last week: 18

Sunday: Beat Titans 16-13

A suggestion: Call Davis Mills’ agent

The Texans’ backup quarterback is on a one-year deal right now, and he’s proven his worth by winning the last two weeks while C.J. Stroud is out due to a concussion. Nico Collins has 16 catches for 228 yards in those games, so he’d be all for more Mills in his life, and Houston has won three of its last four to get back to .500 after starting 0-3.

Up next: vs. Bills, Thursday, 8:15 p.m. ET

– Chad Graff and Josh Kendall

PRO FOOTBALL TALK:​

17. Texans (No. 16; 5-5): Do they belong? Beat the Bills, and the answer is yes.

– Mike Florio

Average Ranking: 18.00 (Last Week: 16.89)

---

Yeah, people still aren’t buying in on the Texans. Nate Davis of USA Today is still all-in on this defense, though! Besides him, this win didn’t spurn much positive movement at all for the team, but that isn’t much of a surprise given the circumstances. Davis Mills and the offensive line regressed against a worse opponent, and will now have their .500 record immediately challenged by possibly the most challenging three-game stretch in the NFL: vs. Buffalo Bills, @ Indianapolis Colts, @ Kansas City Chiefs. What makes it worse was yesterday’s announcement that both CJ Stroud and Jalen Pitre will miss Thursday’s game due to concussions:

#Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud, nickel Jalen Pitre officially ruled out for #Bills game, due to timing of short week, still under #NFL concussion protocol: @KPRC2 https://t.co/ZX2nnafgHi https://t.co/2KqlQdFKrE

— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) November 18, 2025

So, once again, it will be Davis Mills and Myles Bryant/Jalen Mills filling in for the injured stars. It’s worked out so far…but, my confidence in Houston’s ability to keep pace with better AFC teams was seriously challenged last Sunday. In order to have a chance of making the playoffs, Houston will probably have to win one or two of these upcoming games, so Mills’ job still isn’t over. If that offensive line can get back on track (a more likely possibility now that Ed Ingram has returned to practice), the Texans will have a chance to rely on Woody Marks grinding out chunk yardage against a bad Bills run defense, complemented by the reliable Mills-to-Collins or Mills-to-Schultz connection. Although, if the offensive line continues to give up pressures, the offense is going to be stuck in mud and reliant on their defense getting turnovers yet again.

What do you think, though? Will the Texans be able to find enough yards on the ground and from Collins/Schultz to give Buffalo fits? Will Danielle Hunter and Will Anderson be able to shut down Josh Allen? Let us know in the comments below!

Go Texans! Beat the Bills!

Source: https://www.battleredblog.com/houst...618/houston-texans-nfl-power-rankings-week-12

 

[Houston Texans]

Houston Texans vs. Buffalo Bills: Injury Report

The Houston Texans have won their last two games with backup quarterback Davis Mills under center, and they’re looking to keep that momentum rolling at home against the Buffalo Bills.

The last time these teams met was a season ago — a game that ended up being one of the worst performances of Josh Allen’s career. If Houston wants to stay competitive on Sunday, they’ll need a similar outing from Allen, and with the way this defense is playing, that’s absolutely on the table.

Starting quarterback C.J. Stroud is set to miss another game after suffering a concussion against the Denver Broncos. He returned to practice today for the first time in weeks, and the expectation is that he’ll be back in the lineup next weekend against the Colts.

Mills hasn’t been perfect, but he’s been sharp and fully in command of the offense, which is exactly what Houston needs to keep the win streak alive. Here’s a look at Wednesday’s injury report:

Did Not Participate​

-QB C.J. Stroud (Concussion) OUT

-DB Jalen Pitre (Concussion) OUT

-LB Jamal Hill (Hamstring) OUT

Full Participation​

-QB Davis Mills (Elbow)

-WR Nico Collins (Ankle)

-K Ka’imi Fairbairn (Quad)

-WR Braxton Berrios (Quad)

-DB Myles Bryant (Ankle)

-LB Jake Hansen (Elbow)

-G Ed Ingram (Knee)

-TE Dalton Schultz (Shoulder)

-TE Cade Stover (Foot)

-LB Azeez Al-Shaair (Knee / Illness)

-DE Will Anderson Jr. (Ankle)

-OT Tytus Howard (Ankle / Knee)

-OT Trent Brown (Hand / Knee)

-DE Denico Autry (Knee)

If the Texans want to keep their playoff hopes alive, this is the type of game that could change the momentum of the season with a statement win.

Source: https://www.battleredblog.com/houst...houston-texans-vs-buffalo-bills-injury-report

 

[Houston Texans]

Houston Texans statistics: Jayden Higgins, Jaylin Noel vs. Titans

Welcome to week 11 of the Cyclone tracker!

This is where we follow our resident weather-themed duo 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.

Jayden Higgins, Jaylin Noel statistics vs. Titans​

Jayden Higgins​

Position: WR

Projected Week 11 storm path: 3.0 targets, 2.5 receptions, 30.5 yards, 1 TD, 8.5 fantasy points

Actual Week 11 path: 7 targets, 4 receptions, 55 yards, 0 TD’s, 9.5 fantasy pts

Total stats through Week 11: 36 targets, 23 receptions, 256 yards (11.1 avg.), 3 TD’s, 66.6 fantasy pts

Analysis: After five catches and, a career high in yards receiving (42) last week, and his third touchdown on the year, Higgins followed it up another four catches for 55 yards. Over the last two weeks, he has 14 targets, nine catches, 97 yards and a touchdown.

After Sunday’s contest against the Titans, Higgins seems to have carved out his role as pass catcher #3 at worst in Houston’s offense. He made his mark yet again in another “must win” game with a number of key receptions when the team needed it. For example, in the third quarter, Mills unloaded a beautiful 23-yard fade ball to Higgins from the Tennessee 24-yard line. It would have ended with a touchdown if Higgins was able to break the endzone plane from the 1 after he stretched out for it.

As long as he continues to be featured in Nick Caley’s scheme in a consistent fashion, the team will continue to benefit tremendously. The Texans are now 4-0 in games when Higgins has 4+ catches, and 3-0 in games where he scores a touchdown.

Jayden Higgins is making a case for WR2 in Houston pic.twitter.com/qwAi3tTrUq

— Cardinal & Gold Report (@cardgoldrpt) November 16, 2025

Week 12 statistical projections: 6.0 targets, 4.5 receptions, 45.5 yards, 1 TD, 10.5 fantasy points

——————————-

Jaylin Noel​

Position: WR/PR & KR

Projected week 11 storm path: 4 targets, 3.0 receptions, 23.5 yards, 0.1 TD, 6.5 fantasy points

Actual week 11 path: 1 targets, 1 receptions, 12 yards, 0 TD’s, 89 return yards (12.7 yd avg.), 2.2 fantasy pts

Total stats through week 11: 25 targets, 19 receptions, 209 yards (11.0 yd avg.), 457 return yards, 1 TD, 31.2 fantasy pts

Analysis: Jaylin Noel being prominently featured in a Nick Caley offense is just a likely as GTA IV being dropped in 2025. The quandary continued this week, as Noel was only targeted once against the Titans for 12 yards, although he did get the lion’s share of return attempts with seven for 89 yards (51 – KR, 38 – PR)

At this point, it seems like Noel’s production will be a question mark for the rest of the season. As long as the Texans continue winning, then the sting won’t be as severe.

Week 12 Projections: 4 targets, 3.0 receptions, 23.5 yards, 0.1 TD, 6.5 fantasy points

All stats and projections provided courtesy of ESPN, RotoBaller, FantasyPros and PFF.

Source: https://www.battleredblog.com/houst...atistics-iowa-state-cyclones-tennessee-titans

 

[Houston Texans]

Houston Texans Win Thursday Night Thriller against Buffalo Bills

The Texans have had the pressure turned up to eleven all November long…and they just keep winning!

Each and every game since Davis Mills has mounted the starting job at signal caller, Houston has been clawing, scratching, and digging for every single point, barely escaping with victories that most other teams would have walked away with. Tonight’s pivotal Thursday night game against the Bills was no different: without Stroud and Jalen Pitre again, the Texans were going to have to prove everyone wrong and take it to the might Buffalo Bills. And, just like every other game this season, the game came down to the final minutes, held great tension, and was determined by a few plays on offense and defense that changed everything.

Davis Mills, after yet another abhorrent, abysmal, career-ending first quarter where you thought you’d grow a third arm before he completed a pass, came alive in the second quarter, miraculously led two touchdown drives to give the Texans the lead at halftime. The defense, as usual, was all over Josh Allen and the Bills offensive backfield, primarily thanks to a MVP-caliber game from edge rusher Will Anderson Jr. Besides the first quarter touchdown, the Bills offense was completely shut down, forced to two turnovers, and nearly scored a defensive touchdown via a Calen Bullock interception in the second quarter, but was nullified by an illegal block-in-the-back penalty by Derek Barnett. But, regardless, the Texans played excellent complementary football in the second quarter, and entered halftime leading 20-16.

And that would be it for the Davis Mills offense! As usual, the great neck retreated into his shell after a solid quarter, never to be seen again. The Bills did an excellent job dialing up blitzes on Mills in the second half, keeping him flustered and at his normal level of incompetency. In the entire second half. The Houston Texans offense totaled just 20 plays for 36 yards and two first downs. For a fleeting moment, you might have been fooled by Nick Caley and Davis Mills, thinking the second quarter performance was evidence they had improved. But, nope! As with every other game, the game was to come down the defense holding the Bills to an absolute minimum of yardage and points the entire second half…AND. THEY. DID!

Derek Barnett, Tim Settle, Dylan Horton, Henry To’oTo’o, and Danielle Hunter made life torture for Josh Allen…but none had an impact on the game like Will Anderson. Anderson LIVED in the backfield, totaling two sacks, two tackles for loss, and five tackles. But, despite all of that, Buffalo was able to nab a field goal in the fourth quarter, and get the ball back down four points with 2:48 left in the game. Houston’s defense sacked Josh Allen twice to make it fourth and 27 at the Buffalo 30 and Buffalo converted it with a hook-and-ladder play! You literally could not write a football game to have more tension and more ridiculousness in one game. Three plays later, and Houston had forced Buffalo to another 4th down, but this time, it was fourth and one at the Houston 17. Then, Buffalo left tackle, Dion Dawkins, gives up a false start penalty to make it fourth and 6! Now, Josh Allen keeping the QB-sneak would be impossible, and he was going to have to throw the ball to keep the Bills alive. He takes the snap, fires the ball to Joshua Palmer, and…INTERCEPTED!!!! CALEN BULLOCK GETS HIS SECOND INTERCEPTION OF THE GAME TO WIN IT! The defense has won it, again!

What a game! What an absolute chaotic nightmare of a game….that I think caused about five years to be shaved off of my life. To follow in VBallRetired’s tradition by handing out a game ball to one player on offense and one player on defense. It’s hard to give a game-ball to any offensive player given that they practically fell asleep the entire second half, but if I believe Woody Marks earned it this game. You could argue that Davis Mills did enough to win with his two touchdowns in the second quarter, and you could also argue Jayden Higgins deserves praise for getting crucial first downs at multiple points of the game, but I’ve been in love with Woody Marks since April! He finished with a season-high game total of 76 rushing yards on 16 attempts, good for 4.6 yards per attempt. Battered and at one point injured, Marks held no quarter and took it to the Bills defense every chance he got. On defense, I can’t think of anyone more deserving of the game ball than Will Anderson, who almost single-handedly won the football game in the second half. He had plenty of help from Danielle Hunter, the interior lineman, and a surprising dosage of Calen Bullock, but it was Anderson who controlled the game.

Now, having won three in a row with their backup quarterback, the Houston Texans get an extended break before suiting up for a pivotal AFC South matchup in Indianapolis against the 8-2 Colts. C.J. Stroud is expected to return, and if Jalen Pitre were to as well, they could ride this massive wave of momentum to a level of success many of us thought was impossible after the season started with three straight losses. Say what you will about the Texans, but they refuse to go down without a fight, and, thanks to this win on Thursday night, will be right in the middle of the AFC playoffs race for the foreseeable future. What a game!

GO TEXANS!!!!

Source: https://www.battleredblog.com/gener...thursday-night-thriller-against-buffalo-bills