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!
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!
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.
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)
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).
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.
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.
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:
ESPN:
SPORTS ILLUSTRATED:
BLEACHER REPORT:
CBS SPORTS:
USA TODAY:
YAHOO! SPORTS:
THE ATHLETIC:
PRO FOOTBALL TALK:
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:
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!
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.
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 Houstonpic.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.
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!!!!
The Most Interesting Defense in the NFL showed up on Thursday night. It wasn’t the greatest defensive performance in the history of football. There were breakdowns and plays that made you yell at your television. Still, it was a brilliant performance just the same and the Texans pulled out an improbable 23-19 victory over the vaunted Buffalo Bills.
Even a day after that brilliant win, emotions are running high. Most of them are of the positive variety. When the Texans were 0-3 this day didn’t seem possible. When they were 3-5 and without C.J. Stroud at quarterback it didn’t seem possible. Yet, there are also moments through this 3-0 run and 6-2 run that make you want to scream as well. This is the life of a Houston Texans fan. It isn’t always great or even good, but it is never boring. In this feature, we try to put the feelings behind and look at the data.
The Numbers
- Total Yards: Texans 56/261, Bills 66/326
- Rushing Yards: Texans 26/108, Bills 24/143
- Passing Yards: Texans 30/153, Bills 42/183
- Third Downs: Texans 2/12, Bills 5/16
- Sacks: Texans 8, Bills 0
- Turnovers: Texans 0, Bills 3
- Penalties: Texans 5/40, Bills 6/54
- Time of Possession: Texans 27:38, Bills 32:22
The important column is obviously the turnovers. The Texans have lost more +3 turnover games than any team in the history of the NFL. They almost lost another one last night. It took the third turnover of the game to seal the deal for the Texans. Of course, that starts to spill us into the great, good, and bad. We will get there soon enough.
In most Texans wins, they far outgain their opponent, possess it longer, and run more plays. These games usually leave you scratching your head about how the game was that close. This is one where you leave wondering how the game ended in a victory. Add in a return for a touchdown by the Bills and it seems improbable that the game turned out this way. Things usually even out in the end and this is one of them that levels things out in the universe.
The Great
We cannot move on without extolling the efforts of Will Anderson and Daniele Hunter. I honestly can’t decide between them for AFC Defensive Player of the Week, but one of them deserves the honor. Anderson had 2.5 sacks and Hunter had 2.0. I suppose Calen Bullock and his two interceptions also might have a claim on the honor. Hell, let’s just give it to the whole defense and call it a day. Take away the kick return and this defense held the Bills to 12 points.
It is mind-boggling that they did this two years in a row. Yes, it was not perfect. Matt Burke and DeMeco Ryans will definitely have a field day in the film session. They surrendered a little over 300 yards on the day and about 200 of them came on about six plays. It was hard to maintain contain on every play and that is the peril of playing someone like Josh Allen. He will make you pay when don’t play disciplined football and I don’t care what kind of defense you have. It is nearly impossible to play disciplined football for more than 65 plays.
Not only did they hold the Bills offense to 12 points, but they also took the ball away and gave it to their offense twice deep in Buffalo territory. The Texans scored six points off of those turnovers. The Texans offense scored three points in the second half. The defense still somehow kept the Bills from scoring more than three points. It wasn’t the best defensive performance in franchise history, but it may have been the most important one.
The Good
Anyone that calls for Davis Mills to be the Texans starting quarterback from here on out is delusional. He showed us two things on Thursday night. First, he showed us why he is one of the better backup quarterbacks in the league. Second, he showed us why he is a backup quarterback. He still misses too many throws over the course of a game to be a franchise quarterback. Still, when you need to win a game he will keep your team in the game.
Mark my words. Some team this offseason will come calling and will offer the Texans a draft pick for Mills to come in and be there guy. The smart ones will do so with the understanding that Mills is not a franchise guy. He is a guy that can get you to the next draft that has a deeper quarterback pool. On a good team, he is a guy that can win you some football games until your starter is ready to return. The Texans are a good football team on balance. They are great defensively and more or less average offensively. At the end, the numbers will say he threw six touchdowns and one interception in three and a half games. No one should confuse him with Norm Van Brocklin, but those are some pretty darn good numbers.
The Bad
The Bills defense is not one of the better defenses in the NFL. Yes, they were 7-3 coming in and if the playoffs were to start today they would be one of the wild card teams. They would be a wild card team because of their offense. Nick Caley took a pretty mediocre defense and made them look like the 1985 Chicago Bears in the second half. If I see one more run up the middle I’m going to puke.
Caley was clearly guilty of what we call turtling around these parts. He came in with a four point lead and pray to the lord almighty that the defense could do enough to lead them to victory. Their three points came as a result of a fumble recovery deep in Buffalo territory. Watching this team inside the ten, on third down, and any other short yardage situation is painful. They succeeded a few times by the sheer will of Woody Marks. He deserves a game ball on the offensive end.
We should also note that Christian Kirk is in fact alive. He scored his first touchdown as a Texan. Jayden Higgins continues to improve. He has 27 catches on the season with four of those coming for touchdowns. I am ready to say the Texans made a solid pick there. They still cannot seem to use Higgins and Jaylin Noel consistently. I’m not for firing offensive coordinators in the middle of a playoff drive, but Nick Caley is on borrowed time.
American Hero Case Keenum. | Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images
Hello, good evening and welcome to week 12 of the NFL season.
Tonight, we have the unfortunate honor of watching the Houston Texans in prime time. Yes, Thursday night on Amazon still counts. And if you’ve watched the Texans in prime time at any point in the last, I dunno, 20 years, you’ll understand why it’s an unfortunate honor.
The Texans are at home and clad in their battle red finest to take on the Buffalo Bills.
If you are not a Texans fan watching this game, my sincerest apologies for what you’re about to see.
If you ARE a Texans fan watching this game, my sincerest apologies for what you’re about to see.
But enough apologizing for something I have no control about, let’s get to the matchup details (as if you didn’t know).
Who: Buffalo Bills (7-3) at Houston Texans (5-5)
What: Thursday Night Football
Where: NRG Stadium, Houston, TX
When: Thursday, November 20, 7:15 p.m. CST
Why: Because if you don’t watch tonight, you can’t complete the season set.
How: Fox (local area only), Amazon Prime Video*, NFL+* (*subscriptions required)
Enjoy the game, y’all.
Go Texans!
As if the Houston Texans hadn’t made enough news coming from their RB corps, now it looks like the team will be operating with one less running back.
The same day they announce that RB Joe Mixon won’t play for the rest of the season (which, again, has been disputed by Mixon himself), the Texans have also made the decision to waive former star running back Dameon Pierce.
Pierce, who started out really well, who nearly reached 1,000 rushing yards (939) in his first season, never quite got back the spark he showed in his rookie year. His production totals dropped off steeply from that point. As of right now, he has run for exactly 26 yards on 10 carries.
That he has barely seen the field this season did not speak well to his long-term prospects with the Texans, and Woody Marks’ performance this season has essentially made Pierce redundant.
It makes me sad, to be honest. I really thought after his rookie year, the Texans had found something special. But, alas, the world doesn’t work like that and here we are with Pierce now looking for an opportunity with a new team. I really hope he lands with someone, he deserves another chance to show what he’s capable of.
With Mixon’s injury of indeterminate length and Pierce’s waiving, the remaining RBs on the staff include Marks, Nick Chubb, Dare Ogunbowale, and British Brooks.
I think I speak for all of us here at BRB that we hope he gets his shot somewhere.
It is has been widely speculated that Joe Mixon was likely to miss the entire season with a mysterious foot injury. Now, it would appear that the Texans are finally acknowledging what has been speculated by people around the league and in press rooms in Houston and beyond. It would appear that the team will be stuck with Woody Marks and Nick Chubb as their primary ball carriers.
Both DeMeco Ryans and Nick Caserio have been dancing around that concept all season long at press conferences and interviews on the team’s flagship station (610 AM). We still don’t know what the injury is and how he got it. We don’t know what the future holds beyond the 2025 season. As of now, Mixon will be under contract, but they may choose to move on if he is not physically able to perform
Whether the Texans make the playoffs or not will depend a lot on whether Woody Marks and Nick Chubb can remain healthy and productive. Obviously, there is room for discussion and potential criticism based on this news. Should the Texans have made other moves to buttress their roster given that Mixon was never going to play? What do you have to say.
UPDATE: Well, this is awkward. Ordinarily we don’t post tweets that contradict reporting because, for the most part, Ian Rapoport is pretty reliable. But when the person contradicting him is the subject of Rapoport’s tweet, well, you gotta make changes.
Now, I get everyone’s looking for splash news & clickbait… but I’m just curious, Ian how do you know more about me than me?
@peterjschaffer get yo mans bro. https://t.co/5G6e6rWtAT
—️Primetime!!!
Which part of Rapoport’s tweet is incorrect is unclear. But if Mixon said it, well, it’s hard to argue with the man himself.
We’ll keep you posted as the story progresses.
If you haven’t gotten over the Texans win against the Buffalo Bills on Thursday, I can’t say I blame you. But just because the Texans are off today doesn’t mean football takes a day off. Here are week 12’s early game locations, brought to you by 506 Sports.
Here’s who will be playing in your part of the world.
CBS SINGLE GAMES
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Red: Indianapolis Colts at Kansas City Chiefs (Announcers: Jim Nantz, Tony Romo; Referee: Alex Moore)
Dark Blue: Pittsburgh Steelers at Chicago Bears (Announcers: Ian Eagle, J.J. Watt; Referee: John Hussey)
Green: New England Patriots at Cincinnati Bengals (Announcers: Kevin Harlan, Trent Green; Referee: Land Clark)
Yellow: New York Jets at Baltimore Ravens (Announcers: Andrew Catalon, Charles Davis, Jason McCourty; Referee: Clete Blakeman)
Orange: LATE GAME
Light Blue: LATE GAME
FOX EARLY GAMES
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Red: Minnesota Vikings at Green Bay Packers (Announcers: Joe Davis, Greg Olsen; Referee: Carl Cheffers)
Blue: New York Giants at Detroit Lions (Announcers: Kenny Albert, Jonathan Vilma; Referee: Craig Wrolstad)
Green: Seattle Seahawks at Tennessee Titans (Announcers: Kevin Kugler, Daryl Johnston; Referee: Ron Torbert)
Enjoy the games, y’all.
Go Texans!
American Hero Case Keenum. | Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images
And here we are, at the end of another week of football (MNF excluded), and it might not be a bad matchup. Tonight, we have the Baker Mayfield Bowl as Mayfield’s current team (the Bucs) face off against the Rams (his former team) in the house that avarice built, SoFi Stadium.
Here’s what you need to know to watch tonight’s game:
Who: Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-4) at Los Angeles Rams (8-2)
What: Sunday Night Football
Where: SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles, CA
When: Sunday, November 23, 7:20 p.m. CST
Why: Because if they don’t play we have an unbalanced schedule and nobody wants that.
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!
The 2025 regular season has been quite and interesting one for the Houston Texans: they kicked off the season by going 0-3, practically left for dead by much of the football viewing public, and now have since gone 6-2, most recently defeating the mighty Buffalo Bills in the final seconds of Thursday Night Football. Recuperated and reenergized, the Texans have to thank multiple rookies for their return to playoff competition, but some have done more for the team than others. Which rookies have been the most important? In this draft class where offense was the clear focus, which of the many new players is most responsible for Houston’s improvement down the stretch? And, who’s most at fault for their slow start in September? Well, now that we’re squarely in the middle of the regular season, I think it’s about time to revisit the 2025 Class and grade them for their performance thus far. Here’s my midseason grades for every 2025 Houston Texans draftee:
Note: Back in April, I posted grades for each draft selection soon after the draft had concluded. If you’d like to see my first impressions of each draftee, click here. The grade’s for this post will be more predicated upon how much they’ve produced (and played) for the Houston Texans football team during the regular season.
Pick 1: Round 2 (34th Overall) – WR Jayden Higgins
- Measurables: Height: 6’4”, Weight: 215lbs, Hand: 9 ½”, Arm: 33 ½”, 40-yard dash: 4.47s, Vertical Jump: 39”, Broad Jump: 10’8”
- Rookie Statistics (As of Week 12): 11 Games (6 Starts), 27 Receptions on 45 Targets (60.0 Ctch%), 294 Yards, 4 TDs, 26.7 Yards per Game
- Grade: B
Jayden Higgins was the Houston Texans’ first pick of the 2025 NFL Draft, so even though they traded down to the second round to get him, Higgins arrived in Texas with expectations already through the roof. The Texans went through a revolving door of wide receivers towards the end of the 2024 season, so Higgins was seen as both a starter and a remedy to their lack of quality depth at the position. Unfortuneately, though, Higgins hasn’t been the immediate plus starter that many might had been hoping for. Higgins only had six targets in the first four games of the season, becoming just another also-ran during a time in which Houston’s offense melted down into an ugly mire. This is not Higgins’ fault by any stretch, but he also was not effective (or open) enough during that stretch to raise the passing offense up and above their abysmal state. Although, he still got at least one catch in every game, using those scant opportunities to prove his size and speed are NFL-caliber.
And then, the Houston Texans travelled to Baltimore in October to face the Ravens, and everything began to change. In that blowout victory, Jayden Higgins caught all four passes thrown his direction for 32 yards, signaling greater determination by Texans offensive coordinator Nick Caley to get him involved. After this game, Higgins would see his role in the offense grow nearly every week, and by the time CJ Stroud went down with a concussion during the Denver Broncos game in week 8, Higgins had become one of his favorite targets. Then, when Davis Mills came in to fill-in for the injured Stroud, Higgins saw the attention put on him explode, with 23 targets in the last three games! Clearly, Caley was starting to really enjoy what he brings to a normally jittery Texans offense.
At multiple points of this season, Jayden Higgins used his smooth route acumen and catch radius to reel in big passes down the middle of the field. His ability to routinely come open in seam routes has become a favorite ploy of the offense, and has already reared its head in a few of his touchdown receptions. On top of that, while not as flashy as his catches, Higgins’ ability as a run-blocker also deserves some praise.
Back in April, Battle Red Blog’s Kenneth Levy had this to say of Jayden Higgins in his film review of the Iowa State receiver:
Houston didn’t receive immediate, high-level production from Jayden Higgins, but his growing role in the offense bodes well for his role as a Texan. He’s become a reliable #2 option behind Nico Collins, with the potential to become much more with Stroud’s incoming return to the lineup.
Pick 2: Round 2 (48th Overall) – T Aireontae Ersery
- Measurables: Height: 6’ 6” Weight: 331 lbs, Arm: 33 ⅛”, Hand: 9 ½”, 40-Yard Dash: 5.01s, 10-Yard Split: 1.75s, Vertical Jump: 29.5”, Bench Press: 25 Reps
- Rookie Statistics (As of Week 12): 748 Snaps (444 Pass Blocking, 246 Run Blocking), 62.6 Pass Blocking PFF grade, 47.0 Run Blocking PFF grade, 5 Penalties (3 Accepted), 7 Sacks, 5 Hits, 18 Hurries
- Grade: A
What a pick! When preparing for the draft, I heard a lot of talk about the great offensive linemen coming out of Ohio State, LSU, and Alabama. I certainly did not hear or read much at all about the Minnesota stalwart tackle Aireontae Ersery. While Ersery was still on many draft boards after finishing a senior season that contained a game where he locked up Abdul Carter and won Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year, he was still a surprising selection when Nick Caserio took him 48th overall in the second round. He did not have the celebrity of a player like Josh Simmons, nor Kelvin Banks, nor Donovan Jackson, but Aireontae Ersery would end up being an unlikely day-one NFL starter, and arguably just as effective as those top selections.
Since becoming the starting left tackle after a failed attempt at playing him on the right side in the first game, Aireontae Ersery provided the highly debated Texans offense a quick cork to plug the gaping hole Laremy Tunsil left when he was traded to the Washington Commanders back in March. He’s got a long way to go before completely replacing Tunsil, but Ersery has shown his patience and stickiness in blocking is a force to be reckoned with. He’s even shown a level of speed and balance I was not expecting at the onset of his professional career, effectively driving back defenders like the 49ers’ defensive end Trevis Gipson and holding off Ravens’ defensive end Odafe Oweh.
Not all of the games have been pretty, though. In the NFL, some defenders have been able to trouble Ersery by bull-rushing straight through him, like Rams in week one and the Jaguars in week three. In total, PFF has credited Ersery with giving up 30 total pressures this season, a far cry from the lockdown tackle that Tunsil was for most of his Houston career. So, it hasn’t been all sunshine and roses on the quarterback’s blindside, yet, Ersery improves week after week, and when the Jaguars returned to Houston for the week ten rematch, Ersery had his revenge against Josh Hines-Allen:
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Nearly every week, Ersery takes another step towards being a complete left tackle. He’s not perfect, but he’s already more than capable just halfway through his rookie year. The Tennessee Titan’s edge rusher Arden Key showed last weekend that Ersery is still trying to figure out the bull rush, but I’m going to go out on a limb here and give this selection an A. When considering this pick in the context of how destitute Houston’s offensive line was after they had traded Laremy Tunsil and let go of both starting guards from the 2024 season, Ersery has done just about as well as anyone could have asked him in his first year in the pros. Thus far, he has been Nick Caserio’s most important selection in the 2025 NFL Draft. Taking a risk on Ersery had to pay off, and it did in spades.
Pick 3: Round 3 (79th Overall) – WR Jaylin Noel, Iowa State
- Measurables: Height: 5’ 10”, Weight: 194 lbs., Arm: 29 ½”, Hand: 8 ¾”, 40-Yard Dash: 4.39s, 10-Yard Split: 1.51s, Vertical Jump: 41.5”, Bench Press: 23 Reps
- Rookie Statistics (As of Week 12): 11 Games (3 Starts), 20 catches on 26 targets (76.0 Ctch%), 209 yards, 1 TD, 20.9 Y/G
- Grade: C+
Why not double-dip at Iowa State? Collegiate teammates Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel both received NFL Draft hype after productive 2024 seasons, but both for different reasons. While Jayden Higgins etched a position out for himself by being a big-body receiver that’s a force at the catch-point, Jaylin Noel rather excelled at being the speedy and agile slot receiver. Although, Noel had only seen sparing snaps on offense in the first month of the regular season, so his impact (or lack there of) is not fully his responsibility. Except, when he is on the field, Jaylin Noel is a problem!
Back in July, Nickschwager of Battle Red Blog wrote of Noel:
Nick nailed Noel’s capabilities on the head back then, but watching Noel stretch the defense has unfortunately been a rare sight in the last few weeks. Attributes like his speed and route-running will invite comparisons to Tank Dell, but Jaylin Noel has not reproduced the level of production Dell had in his rookie year at this point. Right now, Noel has appeared in 11 games, caught 20 passes on 26 targets for 213 yards for 11 first downs and one touchdown. Not bad…but not the gaudy slot receiver stats that many were hoping for. Part of this is caused by Christian Kirk being the normal starting receiver in front of Noel, but at some point, he has to prove that he deserves the top spot on depth chart over Kirk, and that hasn’t happened quite yet.
So, Noel hasn’t exactly transformed the Texans’ offense, but he’s still been a big contributor in important games for the team. A touchdown against the Ravens and crucial third and fourth-down conversions against both the 49ers and Jaguars demonstrate that he can be a great instrument to a well run offense. But, unfortunately for him, a “well run offense” is the exact opposite of what Houston is right now. So, even though Noel has shown flashes, he’ll need more continuity in the passing-game before he can truly assume a starting role on the team. Battle Red Blog’s Clayton Anderson continues to cover both Iowa State receivers in his weekly “Eye of the Cyclones” review of their last game, and he continues to pound the table for increased usage of Noel in the offense. So, maybe in a different world, Noel would have earned a better grade. Maybe he deserves a better grade, but as of right now, he has yet to fully surmount Christian Kirk, so he will remain a C+ at midseason
Pick 4: Round 3 (97th Overall) – CB Jaylin Smith, USC
- Measurables: Height: 5’ 10 ½”, Weight: 187lbs., Arm: 29 ⅞”, Hand: 9 ¼”, 40-Yard Dash: 4.45s, 10-Yard Split: 1.6s, Vertical Jump: 32.5”
- Rookie Statistics (As of Week 12): 4 Games (0 Starts), 6 Tackles, 1 Fumble Recovery
- Rookie Preseason Statistics: 67 Snaps, 6 Tackles, 5 Receptions on 6 Targets (83.3 Rec%) for 28 Yards, 1 Interception, 46.5 Passer Rating Allowed, 71.7 Defensive PFF Grade
- Grade: N/A
I know it may seem like a cop out to place an “N/A” on a rookies’ grade, but I can’t fault a player for not being on the field due to injury. Jaylin Smith, like Aireontae Ersery, was another surprise pick by Nick Caserio. Taken 97th overall in the third round, many saw this selection by the Texans as a reach, as Smith had been touted as a late-round pick due to his lack of size and production at USC in his four years there. But, Nick Caserio saw something on tape that made it worth the reach: an instinctual, multi-position DB that isn’t afraid to attack rushing plays, swarming to the ball like a bee to honey. His 2024 tape had multiple games where he was a nuisance all over the field, becoming a routine run-stopper and headache in the backfield. On top of that, Smith had the motor to be a menace on Houston’s special teams, which may have contributed significantly to Caserio’s thinking all along.
Unfortunately for Houston, the injury bug that haunted him at USC seems to have followed him to the NFL. Shortly after returning from IR in week 8 following a hamstring injury, Smith ended up injured again (undisclosed) and was placed on season-ending IR. It’s especially disappointing since Smith had become a major cog in the special teams’ kickoff and punt-return duties, and had started contributing on defense, again. In a tremendously small sample size (31 snaps on defense, 77 snaps on special teams), Smith had already demonstrated a level of intensity that made him such an attractive target to the front office. Although, these 108 total snaps aren’t enough to accurately extrapolate his production to a full year’s worth of snaps, so his real value to the team is yet to be determined. But, his time on the field, while brief, was at least enough to understand where Nick Caserio was coming from when he took Smith in the third round. He has a knack for making plays on the football, and I can see a path where he becomes a solid backup DB to Jalen Pitre, in the same vein as Myles Bryant or Tremon Smith. This injury, however, will set him back in his development, which could end up being disastrous if he doesn’t show promise right away next year.
Pick 5: Round 4 (116th Overall) – RB Woody Marks, USC
- Measurables: Height: 5’ 10”, Weight: 207 lbs., Arm: 29 ⅛”, Hand: 9”, 40-Yard Dash: 4.54s, 10-Yard Split: 1.57s, Vertical Jump: 35”, Bench Press: 18 Reps
- Rookie Statistics (As of Week 12): 11 Games (3 Starts), 115 Attemps for 422 Yards (3.67 Y/A). 2 Rushing TDs, 17 Receptions on 26 Targets for 185 Yards (11.9 Y/R), 2 Receiving TDs
- Grade: A
Here’s the pick that the whole offense can thank their lucky stars for. Earlier this week, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported that Houston’s 2024 starting running back, Joe Mixon, would miss the entire 2025 season due to a foot injury:
This report was quickly put into question by Mixon’s response online the same day:
Now, I get everyone’s looking for splash news & clickbait… but I’m just curious, Ian how do you know more about me than me?
@peterjschaffer get yo mans bro. https://t.co/5G6e6rWtAT
—
So, regardless of what’s been ailing Mixon, it is now pretty much a certainty that the injury will cause him to miss every game of the 2025 season. While predictable at this point, this is still a critical loss to the entire offense that’s still trying to find their feet. They’ve already been managing his absence for months, putting a tremendous amount of pressure on the rookie and free agent signee Nick Chubb to hit the ground running, literally! While Chubb has been perfectly adequate, Woody Marks has taken the moment to become one the major cogs to Houston’s new ground game.
Game after game, Woody Marks makes a play that will make you re-evaluate his potential. Is he just an undersized one-cut back? His big reception against the Buccaneers in week two begs to differ. Is Marks just an another average receiving back? Well, his game against the Titans in week four, totaling 119 scrimmage yards and two touchdowns, proves that he’s more than just a pass-catching rusher. Okay, so he’s a solid multi-purpose back, but he can’t take over feature back duties and pound the rock over and over, right? Wrong again, as he started the last three games, rushed 48 times for 181 yards (3.77 Y/A) and a touchdown. Well, alright, maybe these statistics won’t blow you away, but game after game, Woody Marks sees his role on offense grow, and he continues to show he’s up for the task.
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That elusive, 100-yard rushing game has yet to pop, so Woody Marks cannot be considered a true home-run pick just yet in my book. He’s right there though, right on the cusp of fully replacing Joe Mixon…but he just hasn’t shown that level of dominance quite yet. He’s certainly a tougher back than many were expecting (including me), so I’m ready to go out on a limb here and say that Woody Marks will break that glass ceiling this season and will prove that he’s worthy of being a #1 back in the NFL. This could end up being the Texans’ best pick of the 2025 Draft.
Pick 6: Round 6 (187th Overall) – S Jaylen Reed, Penn State
- Measurables: Height: 6’ 0”, Weight: 211 lbs., 40-Yard Dash: 4.49s, 10-Yard Split: 1.51s, Vertical Jump: 33.5” Bench Press: 19 Reps
- Rookie Statistics (As of Week 12): 6 Games (0 Starts), 12 Tackles, 1 Fumble Recovery, 70.3 Defensive PFF Grade (72.0 Run Defense, 65.8 Tackling, 66.6 Coverage)
- Grade: C
So…some of these players are going to have very unreliable grades for this exercise. Jaylen Reed – the third Jaylen/Jaylin of Houston’s 2025 draft class – had only seen the field on special teams until Thursday night’s big game against the Buffalo Bills, where he finally absorbed 55 defensive snaps at safety, replacing veteran Jalen Mills’ spot on the team after he and fellow DB Myles Bryant filled in for the injured S M.J. Stewart two weeks ago. So, how did Reed perform in his first action on defense? Well, he was…not great, but adequate. PFF credited him with giving up 9 catches on 9 targets for 119 yards, but his performance was buoyed by some nice tackles and a fumble recovery that spotted the Texans offense another three points in a hard-fought win over the Buffalo Bills. Reed didn’t do anything special on this play, but he did exactly what an aware safety is supposed to do: follow the play, and be Johnny-on-the-spot if anything crazy happens. Seeing as he was purely average in his first action on defense, I’ve decided to give him a grade right down the middle: a C. He didn’t excel in coverage and overpursued to the point of opening rushing lanes for the ball carrier, but, in a similar fashion to Davis Mills, did his job sufficiently enough to not be a liability to the defense.
Still, I am a little disappointed it took this long to see him on defense. Even though Houston is loaded with DBs and Reed is just a sixth round pick, I expected him to be more of a routine contributor on defense at this point. I had the fortune of getting a front row seat to his 2024 senior season at Penn State, where he excelled primarily as a box safety. Stuffing runs and spooking quarterbacks, Reed made plays all over the field for an excellent Penn State defense, ultimately leading the team in tackles by the end of the season with 98 total. I was hoping that this, dare I say, SWARM-y quality, coupled with some improved coverage instincts would mean many more snaps on defense by week 12. Hopefully now that he’s getting more attention, Reed will use the motor and instincts he flaunted in college to carve out a solid, rotational role as another quality DB in defensive coordinator Matt Burke’s long bandolier.
Pick 7: Round 6 (197th Overall) – QB Graham Mertz, Florida
- Measurables: Height: 6’ 3”, Weight: 212 lbs., Arm: 31 ¼”, Hand: 9 ¾”
- Rookie Statistics (As of Week 12): N/A
- 2024 Senior Statistics (Florida): 5 Games, 72 Completions on 94 Attempts (76.6%); 791 Yards; 6 Touchdowns; 2 Interceptions; 8.73 AY/A; 73.7 PFF (Season cut short due to ACL tear)
- 2023 Junior Statistics (Florida): 11 Games; 261 Completions on 358 Attempts (72.9%); 2,903 Yards; 20 Touchdowns; 3 Interceptions; 8.85 AY/A; 75.8 PFF
- Grade: N/A
Here’s another practically ungradeable pick at midseason. Former Florida and Wisconsin QB Graham Mertz has yet to make any regular season snaps, but has continued to be on the active roster all season long. Not exactly the kind of blurb you’d like to be reading right now, but beating out Kedon Slovis in the preseason for a roster spot, and then hanging on the active roster after former starters like Dameon Pierce have been waived has to mean something!
Right after the draft, in my original grades for each selection, I wrote of Mertz:
In the 69 snaps Mertz took in the preseason, Mertz gradually improved week after week, finishing off some with some pretty impressive throws against the Detroit Lions in week 3. He doesn’t have the arm of Davis Mills, but he consistently targeted the right receiver and demonstrated impressive ball-placement on difficult throws. Whether or not he’ll function as a viable heir to the Great Neck of Mills remains to be seen, but beating out Slovis for the third-string spot and then remaining on the team all of this time means the Texans staff is invested in his development. Maybe, in due time, he will winning games in prime time just like Mr. Mills! He’s gotta grow that neck, first.
Pick 8: Round 7 (224th Overall) – Kyonte Hamilton, Rutgers
- Measurables: Height: 6’3”, Weight: 300 lbs., Arm: 32”, Hand: 9”, 40-Yard Dash: 5.02s, 20-Yard Split: 2.87s, 10-Yard Split: 1.70s, Vertical Jump: 29”
- Rookie Statistics (As of Week 12): N/A
- 2024 Senior Statistics (Rutgers): 13 Games, 36 Tackles, 5 Tackles for loss, 4.0 Sacks, 18 Hurries, 1 Forced Fumble, 649 Defensive Snaps, 81.3 PFF (74.9 RDEF, 79.6 PRSH)
- Grade: N/A
This is another selection that will have to go ungraded at midseason since Kyonte Hamilton has not played at all this season due to a season-ending injury suffered during training camp. While I’m not expecting Hamilton to eventually become a starter, I still cannot predict how significant of a role he will play for the Houston Texans. For all I know, Hamilton could eventually become another Kurt Hinish for the Texans, gradually carving out a role for himself as a d-line depth piece. Or, he could end up being just another cut-candidate at midseason, like Marcus Harris…But, until we actually get to see him in Texans regalia, all we have to go on is his college tape.
Back during draft season, Battle Red Blog contributor Kenneth Levy said this about Kyonte Hamilton:
Based on some of these highlights, I can envision a future Texans team that takes advantage of his size and motor to be a run-stuffer, not unlike former Texan Roy Lopez or the aforementioned Kurt Hinish. Although, getting very little action in his rookie season may doom his chances of making an impact in Houston. Hamilton will need to show a lot of development in a hurry in his second year if he doesn’t want to end up buried on the depth chart or released before the beginning of the 2026 season.
Pick 9: Round 7 (255th Overall) – Luke Lachey, Iowa
- Measurables: Height: 6’ 6”, Weight: 251 lbs., Arm: 32 ⅛”, Hand: 10”, Vertical Jump: 35”, Broad Jump: 10’, 3-Cone Drill: 7.18s, 20-Yard Shuttle: 4.47s
- Rookie Statistics (As of Week 12): N/A
- Rookie Preseason Statistics: 99 Snaps, 5 Catches on 6 Targets for 21 Yards (4.2 Y/REC), 48.0 Offensive PFF Grade.
- Grade: F
I know this may seem a little harsh, but I would have expected Luke Lachey to do something at this point if he was any good. The Texans lost their #2 and #3 tight end before week one of the regular season was over, and Lachey still couldn’t crack the depth chart. Instead of giving Lachey meaningful attention at practice or at any point during the regular season, Nick Caserio opted instead to trade for former Eagles tight end Harrison Bryant, cut him before the season started, and then sign him again several days later to make up for losing Cade Stover. After a very lukewarm preseason, Lachey would end up becoming a a casualty of cutdown day, never even making the Texans 53-man roster nor the practice squad.
It’s hard to expect much of anything out of the seventh round pick since taking selections this far down the board is basically like taking a shot in the dark, but an athletic Iowa tight end can’t even crack the depth chart after all of these injuries? Maybe Lachey will transform into something in year two or three and end up getting re-signed in the offseason, but, even though they’re both very different players I’m getting strong Brandon Hill vibes from him right now. This is a bit a bummer, as Houston could have used some depth at the TE position several times this season. I’m not saying I expected Lachey to be a starter in his rookie year, but I would t least expected to see him on a few snaps as a blocker here and there on offense or special teams.
Go up and get it@luke_lachey x #Hawkeyes
pic.twitter.com/47lJng1Hi1
— Hawkeye Football (@HawkeyeFootball) September 2, 2023
And that’s the list! I have to say, at this point of the season, this is shaping up to be a pretty solid draft. I don’t know if this draft will reach the level of impact the 2023 or 2024 draft classes have had on the Houston Texans, but Nick Caserio found at least three quality starters in this draft, with a potential for that number to grow if Jaylin Noel and Jaylen Reed end up becoming real contributors down the stretch. In an offseason where Houston’s front office was determined to rebuild the offense, it’s beginning to look like their plan is bearing some fruit. It’s still too soon to call this a smashing success, but I’m very excited to see how Higgins, Ersery, Noel, Marks, and Reed in the second half of this year. They all made an impact in the Texans victory of the Bills on Thursday, and if they can keep doing that every week until January, this class might be another winner for Nick Caserio.
Overall Draft Grade: B+
What do you think, though? Will this draft class go down in history as the class where Houston rebuilt its offense for the better? Or, are the Texans going to end up regretting the selections they made back in April? Should they have gone with more offensive linemen, like we were all calling for during the draft, or should they have traded up instead of traded down and nabbed a superstar WR like Emeka Egbuka? Only time will tell if Houston made the right moves, but for right now, let us know what you think of the rookies thus far down in the comments below!
GO TEXANS!!!!
American Hero Case Keenum. | Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images
For the final game on the week 12 slate, we go all the way to the city by the bay…by which I mean Santa Clara, which is a solid 30 miles (I think) away from San Francisco proper.
Tonight, the 49ers take on the Carolina Panthers who find themselves thrust into the possibility of leading the NFC South; the only division more dysfunctional than ours.
Here’s what you need to know to watch tonight’s game.
Who: Carolina Panthers (6-5) at San Francisco 49ers (7-4)
What: Monday Night Football
Where: Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, CA
When: Monday, November 24, 7:15 p.m. CST
Why: Because the universe is weird and luck bounces around our lives like an overinflated football.
TV: ESPN, ESPN Deportes
Radio: Westwood One
Streaming: ESPN*, Fubo*, NFL+*, SlingTV* (*subscription required)
Enjoy the game, y’all.
No Houston Texans fan will ever say that Davis Mills throwing 40+ passes is the recipe for success, but that’s what was necessary to secure the win over the NFL’s worst 1-9 Tennessee Titans. Fortunately, a 10 of those 41 passes were directed towards Houston’s elite WR Nico Collins, who hauled in 9 receptions for 92 yards and a touchdown. Most recently, Mills threw only 30 passes against the Bills, but that was due to a game strategy of attacking the Bills weak run defense.
Nico Collins has seen a resurgence in production since Davis Mills took over for a concussed QB C.J. Stroud. In the seven games with Stroud at QB, Collins averaged 4.7 receptions for 59 yards on 8.14 targets. With Mills at QB the against the Titans and Jags, Collins racked up an averaged of 8 receptions for 114 yards on 12.5 targets. While it’s a smaller sample size, it’s evident that Mills has found comfort and production when throwing to the Texans’ best offensive weapon.
Week 4 vs. Titans
Collins’ performance against the Titans with Stroud illustrates a problem he’s had all season: limited route combinations. For the most part, all of these routes favor Stroud’s throwing capabilities over Collins’ route running prowess. These routes work well against zone coverage where he can find open lanes between defenders, but against man coverage, which is what a WR1 will most likely receive, they don’t get him as open. What is interesting is the lack of vertical progression. Only one target was beyond 20 yards down the field.
Week 10 @ Titans
What’s most noticeable was the diversity of routes and positions on the field Nico caught passes. Out routes, digs, slants, curls, and posts were all in Collins’ arsenal against the Titans on Sunday. This multiplicity gave Collins the opportunity to continually surprise and confuse the Titans secondary. Sure, Nick Caley had six more weeks to integrate Collins into this brand new offense, but Collins was absolutely unleashed this past weekend.
Another interesting note is that only one pass was further than 15 yards down the field. That was the post route on third and long that allowed Houston to keep a big drive going. Mills doesn’t have the biggest arm, but he demonstrated his ability to throw it all over the field.
Week 12 vs Bills
While Collins stats weren’t worthy of a NFL NextGen chart against the Bills as Christian Kirk earned that honor, but his three receptions for 55 yards were mainly due to Buffalo locking him down with double coverage. It was a tough game for Collins as Mills was forced to spread the ball around to Kirk and rookie WR Jayden Higgins. Houston pushed the running game against Buffalo due to their bottom-tier.
Collins’ three catches all came in the first half as Houston dove into running the ball and throwing to Higgins.
