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[Houston Texans]

Texans can only afford one more loss in a crowded playoff race

At 7-5 and currently out of the postseason, the Texans have little margin to work with.

According to ESPN, they hold a 52% chance to get into the playoffs after their win against the then-division leading Indianapolis Colts on Sunday. Houston’s ascension up the AFC playoff polls has been remarkable even if offense lacks the same conviction.

Even with the win against Indianapolis, Houston’s playoff hopes didn’t budge from since last week due to every wild card team winning last week. Plus, Jacksonville’s stalwart refusal to go back to their den at the bottom of the AFC makes Houston’s chance to win the division much more arduous.

This playoff race is more hotly contested than getting into the door at Target on Black Friday. The remaining AFC contenders didn’t do the Texans any favors after the Chargers, Jaguars, and Bills all moved to 8-4. Plus, both the Ravens and Chiefs loom large in the playoff hunt.

The updated AFC playoff picture after the Broncos thrilling victory. pic.twitter.com/J2wM5W7Ht9

— Adam Rank (@adamrank) December 1, 2025

So, why can Houston only afford to lose one more game this season? It comes down to history, statistics, and the remaining schedule. Houston faces Kansas City, Los Angeles Chargers, and Indianapolis plus two doormats in Arizona and Las Vegas. Losses to two of the three quality opponents will give them head-to-head tie breakers, not to mention improved overall records. If Houston splits the series with Indianapolis, the Colts will most likely have the AFC South division tie breaker.

Even so, this year has been incredibly competitive. Since 2020, the average wild card team has won 10.3 games. Eleven wins almost guarantees a berth, while 10 wins typically keeps a team in the hunt. However, with every wild card contender already at eight wins, Houston needs to go 4–1 while at least one other team goes 3–2. That’s a tall task given their schedule. The win over the Colts bought them some breathing room and opened the door to winning the division for the first time all season. This race is like merging onto 610 after work—technically moving forward, but the looming stress is brutal.

What’s more interesting is the tightening AFC South race. Houston has only one more divisional game left, but winning it would strengthen both their division record and conference record (currently 6–2), which could become their ace in the hole.

Next up, Houston goes to play a wavering Kansas City Chiefs team. Both teams must win to keep their playoff hopes alive. Kansas City lost a close game against the Cowboys last week due to their defense struggling against Dak’s prolific passing offense.

Whether Houston makes it through the wild card or AFC South, they’ll need to keep an almost clean sheet to do so.

Source: https://www.battleredblog.com/houst...afford-one-more-loss-in-a-crowded-playoff-rac

 

[Houston Texans]

The Day After the Day After: Revisiting the Houston Texans’ 20-16 win over the Indianapolis Colts

View Link

Key to the Game: The Upright: Weather was not a factor inside Lucas Oil Stadium. Yet, kicks still hit the upright. In particular, the upright played a major role in two XP attempts, which altered the strategic direction of the game. First, in the 2nd quarter, Colts PK Michael Badgley doinked the XP off the left upright after a Jones-to-Pierce TD pass, giving the Colts a 6-3 lead vs.7-3. In the 4th quarter, the Texans, after a Nico Collins rushing TD, lined up for their XP attempt. Fairbairn hit it high and left. It went so high that it went over the upright, creating a rather interesting ref decision. The TV angle made it seem that Fairbairn hooked it past the upright, making it a miss and giving Houston only a 19-13 lead. However, the refs decided that the ball was just inside the line of the upright, awarding Houston a critical point, 20-13. Given that the Colts settled for a FG on the subsequent drive (20-16), the upright played a major role in the game. The Colts make their XP, it is 20-17, and they did get well inside Badgley’s FG range on that last drive. Houston doesn’t make the XP, it is 19-16. Looking at the scenarios, the doink (the most impressive one I’ve ever heard) and the judgement call put the Colts in a situation where they needed a final TD. It need not have come to that.

CJ Stroud’s up-and-down return: After missing three games, Stroud seemed quite eager to get back to leading the Texans’ offense. The first half saw a Stroud still trying to find his rhythm, with some questionable results (a throw well-beyond the line of scrimmage, a bad overthrow for an INT that lead to a Colts TD, scrambling out of a clean pocket near the Colts’ goal-line). Stroud ended the 1st half 13-of-22 for 153 yards, 1 INT, 1 sack. However, Stroud settled down in the 2nd half (9-of-13 for 123 yards, no INTs, 1 sack). Stroud looked far more poised, standing in the pocket, even with pass rushers right on top of him. If Stroud can play like that 2nd half version, then things might be looking up for Houston at the right time.

Bad Caley showed up: Over the past few games, the offense shows improvement. However, “Bad Caley” can still show up. In the 1st quarter, Houston’s opening drive got them down to the IND Red Zone. The result: Six plays from the IND 11 and only 3 points. Some Stroud issues, but a “Wild Toro” with Chubb? Houston did score two Red Zone TDs, and scored on 4 of 5 Red Zone trips. Then there is that last Red Zone trip. Midway through the 4th quarter, Houston, up 20-16, had a 2nd and 1 inside the IND 17. Three running plays (one Marks run up the middle and two Stover tush pushes) yielded nothing. At that point in the game, understand the want to run the ball (the Stover tush push worked in two previous attempts), but no play-action/Stroud roll-out? No attempt for an outside run? Even a short FG gives you a 23-16 lead, and with that defense, a full TD lead might be less stressful than a mere 4-point lead.

3rd and 10 or greater, a fatal flaw for the Texans’ defense: The Texans’ defense is good (Duh!). However, over the past three games, the Texans’ defense has an Achilles Heel: stopping teams from converting on 3rd/4th and 10+ yards. Houston’s formidable defense can’t seem to get off the field in those situations. Against the Titans and Bills, the Houston defense forced seven 3rd/4th and 10+ yards to go situations. The Houston defense allowed FIVE conversions in those situations (Titans converted a 3rd and 10 and 3rd and 16; the Bills converted a 3rd and 12, 3rd and 13 and that 4th and 27). Against the Colts, Houston allowed the Colts to convert two such situations in the second half (3rd and 11, 3rd and 19). They did stop the Colts on a 3rd and 10 in the first half, but for a defense with such capability, it seems odd that they struggle in the ideal defensive scenario.

View Link

The Play That Decided the Game:

3rd and 15 at the IND 25, 14:51 4th; CJ Stroud incomplete pass to Xavier Hutchinson, DPI called on Colts, 8-yard penalty.

Likely our sister site feels the same way (for different reasons). Even as a Houston fan, the Colts might have a point. For the play, Houston lines up in shotgun formation. A False Start penalty and two Stroud incompletions blunt a strong drive. The crowd was getting into it and Houston seemed to have trouble getting in position. Stroud hadn’t received the snap as the play clock read 00. Sometimes the refs give a bit of a grace period between the end of the play clock and when the ball gets snapped. Likely should have been a delay of game, setting up a Texans’ 3rd and 20. Then, Hutchinson, as he was breaking in towards the middle, had a bit of contact with the Colts’ DB. Out comes the flag. Suddenly, 3rd and long becomes 3rd and 10 at the IND 17. Four running plays later, Houston scores the go-ahead TD. No DPI and/or the Delay of Game call is made, Houston likely settles for the FG and we have a much different ball game. No, it was not the sole reason that the Colts lost (a immobilized Daniel Jones and the Texans’ defense the primary culprits), but it didn’t help the home team.

FUN WITH NUMBERS:

4: Houston winning streak at Lucas Oil Field. Remember when Houston couldn’t buy a win in Indy? 0-13 to start the franchise’s history. Since the Jordan Akins “octopus” in 2022, Houston hasn’t lost at Indy. Ryans is the first Texans’ coach to win three games there. The margin of victory is small (2.7 points/game over the 4 games), but they are wins.

1: Plays Colts targeted Derek Stingley, Jr. You won’t find Stingley in the box score. No tackles, no passes defended, no nothing. Yet, he was targeted only once, and that was at the end of the game, resulting in an incompletion for the Colts. Normally, a defender with no stats indicates a bad game. Yet, the Colts also deliberately did not test Stingley. Easy to understand, given what Stingley can do if a wounded Jones made a mistake.

GAME BALLS

WR Nico Collins: 5 receptions for 98 yards and 1 rush for 7 yards and a TD. Collins does like the Indy hospitality.

DC Matt Burke: No turnovers forced, only one sack and no stats from Stingley. Yet, they held Indy to 129 yards and 13 points below their season averages…at Indy. Well-executed defensive game plan by The Most Interesting Defensive Coordinator in the World.

SHOULD GET BASHED OVER THE HEAD WITH THE LATE JIM ISRAY’S OLD GUITARS BY HIS DAUGHTER WHILE LISTENING TO HIS OLD BAND’S OUT OF TUNE OUTTAKES:

The Refs: They made this game about them. Never a good thing.

HC DeMeco Ryans: Yes, Ryans won his 3rd straight game here. However, this was not a particularly smart performance by Houston. The multiple illegal formation penalties in the 1st quarter reflect a team not ready to play. Another big road game with a lot of penalties is another feature of the Ryans’ regime. I have no idea why the Texans played the end of the 1st half like they did, when they lacked key urgency and put themselves in a bad Hail Mary situation when they could have at least attempted a better-odds FG. Then, allowing Caley to try the same play again. when either a different 4th down call or a FG attempt might have better served the Texans. Houston won, but far from an A effort from the Head Coach.

Houston moved to one game back of the AFC South lead. Yet, it does not get any easier. Next stop: a trip to Kansas City to face a desperate Chiefs’ team in a Sunday Night tilt. Kickoff is slated for 7:20 CST on NBC/Peacock.

Source: https://www.battleredblog.com/houst...-texans-20-16-win-over-the-indianapolis-colts

 

[Houston Texans]

Houston Texans NFL Power Rankings: Week 14

THE. TEXANS. ARE. BACK!!!!

At one moment a little over a month ago, the world seemed to be imploding around the Houston Texans. During and immediately after the heart-wrenching loss to the Denver Broncos, several of the Texans’ impact players showed up on the injury report. Quarterback CJ Stroud and safety Jalen Pitre suffered concussion injuries that would force each of them to miss three games, two of Houston’s best offensive linemen, Ed Ingram and Tytus Howard, missed playing time of their own, and the team’s most underrated scorer, kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn, also wound up on the injury report and missed time, as well. For many teams, especially those with a record of 3-5, this is the moment the floor would give out on the season. But, somehow, maybe willed to life through the sheer might and manner of the NFL’s premiere defense, the Houston Texans fought on.

A crazy, incomparable comeback marked the first victory after this litany of injuries, shocking the fanbase back to life like a set of defibrillators. Then came a second win in a row…then a third…and then a fourth win in a row! Instead of succumbing to their record and their injuries, the Texans thrived! Defensive stars like CB Derek Stingley, DE Will Anderson, and DE Danielle Hunter shone brightest when their team needed it, but their side of the ball was boosted to unprecedented levels of dominance via complementary play by players like DL Tim Settle, LB Azeez Al-Shaair, CB Kamari Lassiter, and S Calen Bullock. Thanks to them, this group has become the undisputed best defense in the NFL. It was not just the defense, though: while not as star studded or spectacular, the Texans offense was able to recover from their September struggles and became enough of a force through the arm of backup QB Davis Mills that some even floated the idea of a quarterback controversy.

CJ Stroud on Davis Mills on @PatMcAfeeShow:

“That’s my brother man. I’ll always support him, always root him on. I just think it’s funny that people will ask these questions now cause he had some really good games. I root that on. I think he’s a starter in the NFL & he’s proven… pic.twitter.com/TvP7tDGOAv

— Houston Stressans (@TexansCommenter) December 1, 2025

While this notion is a bit over-the-top, it just underscores the contrast between the desperate place the Texans found themselves in back in September/October to the position they are in now. A win against the division-leading Colts in their own building, too? Oh, that’s just the cherry on top! Surely, a turnaround of this magnitude, capped off with a big win in Indy will cause Houston to go surging up those Power Rankings lists, right? Well, here’s where the Houston Texans are ranked entering Week 14 of the 2025 NFL season:

NFL.COM​

13. Houston Texans (7-5) (Last Week: 15)

By winning four straight and five of their past six, the Texans have climbed two games over .500 and back firmly into the playoff race, even keeping their division-title hopes alive. After missing three games due to a concussion, C.J. Stroudlooked rusty early, watching the Colts take the lead after his overthrown interception. But he battled back and was sharp on third downs, leading the Texans on two time-consuming scoring drives after halftime to seize control of the game. They had a chance to truly step on the Colts’ necks late, if two tush-push tries hadn’t come up short, but the stout Houston defense finished things off. It was the first time since Week 2 that the Texans didn’t force a takeaway, but they still held the Colts to 281 total yards, including just 86 rushing. This was good, complementary football from Houston, a sign this team could be trouble for other contenders in January — if the Texans make it there.

– Eric Edholm

ESPN:​

12. Houston Texans (7-5)

Week 13 result: Beat the Colts 20-16
Week 13 ranking: 16

X factor for final stretch: Quarterback C.J. Stroud

The Texans have an elite defense that’s the No. 1 scoring unit in the league (16.4 points per game allowed). So all Houston needs is an effective offense, led by Stroud, that can score 24 points per game. Usually, that’s all the defense needs to capture the win — it has given up more than 20 points in only two games. Stroud admitted he was a “little rusty” in his return from a concussion Sunday, but the Texans need him to return to form with a defense that could power them to another divisional title and potentially a deep playoff run.

– DJ Bien-Aime

SPORTS ILLUSTRATED:​

16. Houston Texans (7–5)

Last week’s ranking: No. 14
Last week’s result: beat Colts, 20–16
This week: at Chiefs

The Texans did a much better job keeping C.J. Stroud out of harm’s way, especially by working the middle of the field and the quick game over the scripted portion of Houston’s offense. With more big formations and less reliance on being vertical, Houston is taking back more of a ball-control approach.

– Conor Orr

BLEACHER REPORT:​

12. Houston Texans (7-5)

Last Week: 15

Week 13 Result: Won 20-16 vs. Indianapolis

With C.J. Stroud back from concussion protocol, the Houston Texans extended their winning streak to four games, and they’re in the thick of the race for another AFC South title. Regardless of who’s under center, the Texans offense will struggle to score against respectable defenses, but they field a shutdown defensive unit.

The Texans’ lack of scoring will keep them out of the top 10, but they’re climbing our power rankings with a string of victories

– Maurice Moton

CBS SPORTS:​

11. Texans (7-5) (Last Week: 16)

The defense has this team back in the playoff race. They head to Kansas City to play the Chiefs on Sunday night in what is essentially a playoff game.

– Pete Prisco

USA TODAY:​

6. Houston Texans (11): The Seahawks allegedly have the best defense in the world, but the numbers support the Texans − who are allowing the fewest points and yards per game in the league. Now, is it good enough to snap a five-game losing streak to the Chiefs?

– Nate Davis

YAHOO! SPORTS:​

14 (17): Houston Texans (7-5)

The Texans trailed the Jaguars 29-10 going into the fourth quarter of a Week 10 game. They came back to win, beginning a four-game winning streak. That might be a pivotal moment in the AFC playoff race. The Texans’ defense has raised its level even further, and a win at Indianapolis solidifies Houston in the AFC North race. This is the type of team that could ride a late wave of momentum into a playoff run, especially with a top-ranked defense causing havoc.

– Frank Schwab

THE ATHLETIC:​

11. Houston Texans (7-5)

Last week: 17

Sunday: Beat Colts 20-16

Best-case scenario: C.J. Stroud gets rolling

While Stroud missed nearly a month, the Texans showed they can win ugly, low-scoring games behind a great defense. Now, with Stroud back, if the offense can get moving again, this could be a tough team to beat in January.

Up next: at Chiefs, Sunday, 8:20 p.m. ET

– Chad Graff and Josh Kendall

PRO FOOTBALL TALK:​

12. Texans (No. 15; 7-5): Can they finally beat the Chiefs in Kansas City?

– Mike Florio

Average Ranking: 11.89 (Last Week: 15.11)

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Since the Texans were dismantled by the Seattle Seahawks in Week 7 and I witnessed every ranker of the powers that be listed above sink them into the twenties, I have been waiting for a moment like this. Since they were banished to the bottom third of the league, I have been biding my time, fingers crossed that a win-streak like this would happen, proving everyone that had prematurely bailed on the Texans to be reactionary. Now, officially and definitively in the top half of everyone’s list, I can now confidently say the power rankings tastemakers have noticed the err of their ways, reconciled their early judgement by launching the Houston Texans up all of their respective lists (some pushing them up by seven or more spots in just two weeks), and are now touting the Texans as one of the deadliest groups in the AFC as the playoffs approach. What an about-face!

Finally, after such an elongated stretch of endless debate about what was wrong with the Texans, we are now seeing widespread embrace of what the Texans are: an offense piecing their way towards average levels of competence, and a defense worth marveling at on a weekly basis. Now, this isn’t to say the Texans have solved all of their problems and that criticizing them is a waste of time, but it’s nice to see widespread positive discussion about a team that has earned it. The season could have ended weeks ago, but instead of crumbling, the Texans fought their way back to playoff contention, and have earned some commendation. One thing that I’ve learned after a few years of doing these power rankings is that, sometimes, it takes a lot of success to get some authors to say anything positive about the Houston Texans. So, when all of them are finding common ground on how much Houston has improved, that must mean the Texans are BACK!

What do you think, though? Are the Texans really back, or are they still playoff-hopefuls overdue for a season-ending spoiler? Am I overhyping their midseason return to form, or are these Texans just getting better with time? They’re next game will be against the defending AFC Champion Kansas City Chiefs on their home turf Sunday night at 7:20 PM CST on NBC, so another major test lies just beyond the horizon. Do the Texans have enough gas in the tank to push this win-streak to five games, or will this be the moment it all comes crashing down? Only time will tell, but let us know your predictions for the pivotal Week 14 matchup between the Texans and the Chiefs!

GO TEXANS!!!!

Source: https://www.battleredblog.com/houst...988/houston-texans-nfl-power-rankings-week-14

 

[Houston Texans]

Houston Texans vs. Kansas City Chiefs: Injury Report

The Texans are currently one of the hottest teams in the NFL, and are now set to face the Chiefs in Kansas City. This is arguably the biggest game of the season for the Texans so far, and have the ability to stop quarterback Patrick Mahomes from getting into the playoffs, which would make their journey to the Super Bowl that much easier.

Houston has had great games with Kansas City throughout the past few years, but have not won since the Deshaun Watson era in 2019. The Texans will be ready for this matchup, and the whole league will be watching very closely.

Here is a look at Wednesday’s injury report:

Did Not Participate​

-DE Will Anderson Jr. (Chest / Shoulder)

-CB Kamari Lassiter (Foot)

-S Jaylen Reed (Forearm)

-RB Woody Marks (Ankle)

-LB Jamal Hill (Hamstring)

-RT Trent Brown (Hand)

-DE Denico Autry (Knee)

-DT Tim Settle (Foot)

Limited Participation​

-LB Azeez Al-Shaair (Knee)

This Texans team is peaking at the right time, and trending in the right direction as they make their push towards the playoffs.

Source: https://www.battleredblog.com/houst...on-texans-vs-kansas-city-chiefs-injury-report

 

[Houston Texans]

Houston Texans fan discussion: How confident are you in team’s future?

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 14, 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 by taking the survey, and talk about it with your fellow Texans fans in the comments!

Source: https://www.battleredblog.com/houston-texans-discussion/72981/confidence-season-results-future

 

[Houston Texans]

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

Welcome to week 13 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. Bills​

Jayden Higgins​

Position: WR

Projected Week 13 storm path: 8.0 targets, 6.5 receptions, 55.5 yards, 1 TD, 12.5 fantasy points

Actual Week 13 path: 5 targets, 5 receptions, 65 yards (13.0 avg.), 0 TDs, 11.5 fantasy pts

Total stats through Week 13: 50 targets, 32 receptions, 359 yards (11.2 avg.), 4 TD’s, 91.9 fantasy pts

Analysis: Receiver Jayden Higgins continues to grow as a reliable second option for quarterback C.J. Stroud in offensive coordinator Nick Caley’s developing offense. He took another step as a playmaker against the Colts, going a perfect 5-5 in catches and generating a career high 65 yards receiving.

Although the former Iowa State Cyclone didn’t reach the end zone at Lucas Oil Stadium, his impact was felt by maintaining time of possession with key first-down receptions and continuing to threaten defenses as the “Nico Collins-Duplicate” of the offense.

Also, the Texans are now 7-0 in games where Higgins either has a touchdown or 4+ catches.

Thought Texans' rookie WR Jayden Higgins had a good game on Sunday, really shined using his physicality at the top of his routes. Nice little throw by to create separation pic.twitter.com/gsjyUdyrFC

— JP Acosta (@acosta32_jp) December 1, 2025

Week 14 statistical projections: 5.0 targets, 4.0 receptions, 55.5 yards, 1 TD, 10.5 fantasy points

———————————————————-

Jaylin Noel​

Position: WR/PR & KR

Projected week 13 storm path: 3 targets, 2.0 receptions, 15.5 yards, 0.1 TD, 6.5 fantasy points

Actual week 13 path: 1 targets, 0 receptions, 0 yards, 0 TD’s, 106 return yards (21.2 yd avg.), 0.0 fantasy pts

Total stats through week 13: 28 targets, 20 receptions, 213 yards (10.6 yd avg.), 659 return yards, 1 TD, 33.1 fantasy pts

Analysis: Since week 10’s 4-4, 35-yard game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, receiver Jaylin Noel has only two catches on four targets combined across the last three contests against the Tennessee Titans, Buffalo Bills and Indianapolis Colts.

Against the Colts, Noel was targeted only once and had zero catches. He did eclipse 100+ yards in the return game, but he has yet to truly flip a game on its head with his special teams proficiency.

Similar to last week’s report, the winning helps to take the focus off this development in the early stages of Noel’s career, but one can’t help but imagine what could happen with this offense if Noel were fully unleashed.

Week 14 Projections: 2 targets, 1.0 receptions, 9.5 yards, 0.1 TD, 3.5 fantasy points

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

Source: https://www.battleredblog.com/gener...tatistics-jayden-higgins-jaylin-noel-vs-colts

 

[Houston Texans]

Defensive Tackle Tim Settle out for the season

Football is ultimately a violent game and players are lost to injury on a regular basis. The Houston Texans lost another good one when defensive tackle Tim Settle was lost for the season with a foot injury that will require surgery. The loss of Settle leaves the Texans a little thinner on the defensive line ahead of the most challenging part of their schedule.

#Texans DT Tim Settle Jr. is slated to undergo foot surgery that will sideline him for the rest of the season, sources say. Part of a veteran front that’s been playing very well of late and a free agent in the spring, Settle should be recovered well ahead of the 2026 season. pic.twitter.com/XeWHFGnMPy

— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) December 4, 2025

Settle was having the best season of his young career. He had a 71.3 rating according to Pro Football Focus that made him the second highest rated defensive tackle on the Texans roster amongst qualifying defensive tackles. Only Sheldon Rankins had a higher rating. Denico Autry and Tommy Togiai will likely be called upon to pick up the slack on the inside.

Togiai is a more gifted internal defender, so he will probably be called to play more often on first and second down with Autry being called on in obvious passing situations. The Chiefs may not present as much of a challenge in terms of the running game, but most of their remaining opponents rely more heavily on the run game than the passing game. It will be interesting to see if they next man up will keep the Texans defense humming at league leading levels.

As for Settle, he has been playing on a year to year basis since his rookie contract expired several seasons ago. 2026 will be his 9th year in the NFL. It would seem like he would be an offseason priority to come back and while he will miss the rest of the regular season and the playoffs, it would seem prudent to expect him to participate in normal offseason activities. How are you taking the news of Settle’s injury?

Source: https://www.battleredblog.com/houst...efensive-tackle-tim-settle-out-for-the-season

 

[Houston Texans]

Five Good Texans questions with Arrowhead Pride

The Texans and the Chiefs is becoming an annual affair. That is usually how things go when you sit at the top of your division. You eventually play most of the divisional leaders along the way. Maurice Elston is our new contact with Arrowhead Pride and it was nice catching up with him. We started with the elephant in the room and that would be the Chiefs lackluster record for the first time since Patrick Mahomes took over at quarterback.

Battle Red Blog: The Chiefs currently sit at 6-6 which is easily their worst record through 12 games in about a decade. What do you think is the main reason for the drop off?​

Maurice Elston: Fatigue is the clearest explanation. Since Patrick Mahomes became the starter, the Chiefs have played 18 more games than any other team—essentially an extra full season added onto the same core of players and coaches. Sustaining a championship workload for seven straight years is unprecedented, and at times the organization has patched around the edges to maintain the formula rather than refresh it.

This roster doesn’t require a rebuild. With Mahomes, Andy Reid, Steve Spagnuolo, Chris Jones, Trent McDuffie and others in place, the foundation remains strong. But after drafting at the back of the order for seven consecutive years, opportunities to add top-end talent have been limited. The team looks like it needs rest, new ideas, and schematic updates more than structural change.

Last year, Kansas City consistently found ways to win one-score games. This season those moments have flipped, and penalties have piled up. That lack of discipline often stems from exhaustion. The cumulative workload is starting to show.

BRB: The Chiefs offense still looks dangerous with Travis Kelce and a group of dynamic playmakers on the outside. Who do you think is the key to unlocking the Texans defense on Sunday night?​

ME: Given the injuries at tackle, Kansas City will need to lean on quick passes early. Mahomes likely won’t have the time to consistently hit deep shots, so the offense should focus on getting the ball out fast to its playmakers—Rashee Rice, Xavier Worthy, and the backs—and letting them operate in space.

Neutralizing Houston’s defensive front through timing routes and catch-and-run opportunities is the cleanest way to settle Mahomes into the game. If the Chiefs can establish that rhythm, it should open more vertical options as the night progresses.

BRB: Steve Spagnuola is one of the best defensive coordinators in the business. Who will the the Chiefs defense key in on to stop on Sunday night?​

ME: The priority will be disrupting C.J. Stroud’s comfort level. Kansas City will need to mix disguises, rotate coverages, and alter its pressure looks to keep him from settling into rhythm. That’s where Steve Spagnuolo’s scheme typically excels.

Trent McDuffie should be positioned for a rebound after a difficult matchup against CeeDee Lamb. His pairing with Nico Collins is more favorable, and if the Chiefs can limit Houston’s top receiving option while forcing Stroud off his first read, the defense should deliver a stronger performance than it did against Dallas.

BRB: The Denver Broncos appear to be running away with the AFC West, but the Chargers are still lurking. How do you see the division shaking out? Which team in the division do Chiefs fans enjoy beating the most?​

ME: Denver has taken control of the division, and both the Chargers and Chiefs face difficult closing schedules. Justin Herbert’s non-throwing-hand injury adds another variable for Los Angeles. It’s realistic to see the Chargers slipping late and Kansas City moving into the second-place spot, though that depends on the Chiefs stringing together wins—something still very much up in the air.

As for which rival Chiefs fans enjoy beating most, the answer remains the Raiders. The fan base doesn’t lack disdain for the Broncos or Chargers, but the history and animosity with the Raiders runs deeper. Even in down years for Las Vegas, that matchup carries a different edge.

BRB: Fanduel currently has the Chiefs as 3.5 point favorites for Sunday night. How do you see the game playing out? Are there any prop bets you feel comfortable recommending?​

ME: This feels like a game either team can win. If Kansas City recaptures the offensive rhythm it showed during its early-season three-game streak, it should be able to control stretches of the matchup. The concern is playing without both starting tackles—one more than likely ruled out and the other still uncertain—which complicates protection and limits vertical opportunities.

At home, with postseason stakes rising, the Chiefs should be able to edge out a close contest. A score around 24–21 seems reasonable for either side.

The prop that stands out most is the total at 41.5. A game landing in the mid-40s feels more likely than a low-scoring outcome. It’s difficult to expect the Chiefs to stay under 20 points, and Houston has enough firepower to push the pace. A projected 24–21 type game puts the over in play.

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We want to thank Maurice for taking the time to come in and answer our questions. A game with Kansas City almost feels like an annual affair these days and it usually happens in Arrowhead Stadium. The Texans will definitely have their work cut out for them this week. We want to wish Maurice and the Chiefs the best of luck for the remainder of the season. As per usual, we hope the luck begins on Monday morning.

Source: https://www.battleredblog.com/houst...ve-good-texans-questions-with-arrowhead-pride

 

[Houston Texans]

Which Texans remaining matchup is the biggest must win

Houston has sole possession of the 8th spot in the AFC South… just one game out of the playoffs. Even with the four-game winning streak, they’re on the outside looking in and need to win at least three, if not four games to keep their season going. With that, I asked the other Battle Red Blog writers their thoughts on which game holds the most weight remaining this season.

According to ESPN, the Houston Texans have a 59% chance to make the playoffs. With five games to go, which matchup do you believe is the biggest “must win” to end the season?

Remaining schedule:

• @ Kansas City Chiefs (SNF)
• vs Arizona Cardinals
• vs Las Vegas Raiders
• @ Los Angeles Chargers
• vs. Indianapolis Colts

Kenneth L:​

The Colts game to end the season has the most impact. While our fate could potentially be sealed by Week 18, this matchup holds the greatest implications of the remaining contests. With a win, Houston could outright win the division and secure home field advantage to start the playoffs.

This game has greater significance than the other four due to the Colts being the last AFC South opponent. Houston holds a 4-1 record in the division, which will be imperative in their playoff tie-breaker scenarios. A win against the Colts gives us the head-to-head advantage and best record against AFC South opponents in the division.

I will say the Chargers game has the second-highest implications. The Chargers hold the first Wild Card spot and are one game ahead of Houston. They face a DAUNTING schedule to end the season: Eagles, Chiefs, Cowboys, Texans and Broncos – all teams with winning records. A win against the Chargers unseats a current Wild Card opponent with a brutal schedule down the stretch.

L4Blitzer:​

Perhaps a bit of cheating, but Houston MUST bank those home wins. In particular, they have to get the Raiders and Cardinals, both eliminated from playoff consideration this weekend. Bonus if they can get the Chiefs, but given this is at Arrowhead and the Chiefs are in desperation mode, a loss seems likely. The Chargers could be a coin flip.

In theory, the home game against the Colts could be for the division, or at least a win-or-go-home scenario, but if Houston can’t get the must-and-should-wins against Arizona and Las Vegas, it won’t matter. At the bare minimum, Houston needs to go 3-2 to finish the season to be in playoff consideration. Worse than that, probably not happening.

Patrick H.:​

’ll be honest, I don’t think there’s a game they can afford to lose at this point. Losing one at this point might be enough to knock them out of the playoff hunt entirely. The Colts are still a concern and as overrated as they are, the Jags aren’t going away. If I had to choose a single game that wouldn’t be a disaster for the Texans to lose, it would be the Cardinals game for the simple reason that they’re the only non-conference opponent left on the slate. And they’re so bad this year that losing to them would feel like the end of the season anyway. The rest of the schedule is a Colts game and the non-Broncos AFC West. Save for the Raiders, all of these teams are either currently in the playoffs or in the hunt. None of these games are what you would call a “safe” game to lose.

Mike Bullock:​

I’m with Patrick on this one. They’re all win-or-go-home games right now. If they can’t beat the Chiefs this weekend, then they have no business in the playoffs. Of the remainders, the Colts game is likely the one that decides the division championship. If the Texans aren’t solid enough for a wild card, then getting in on the lack-of-strength in the AFC South is obviously the only way.

Right now, they hold the tie-breakers against the Jaguars and baby horses (Colts). Sweep both and Demeco gets AFC South Champ banner #3. If they had a quality OC, times wouldn’t seem so desperate right now, but the joy of Texans fandom is never having all the nice things.

FizzyJoe:​

I honestly think the must-win game might be this Chiefs game coming up this weekend. That kinda makes me shudder a bit because I think Kansas City has been a good team overall this year despite their average record. I don’t trust this Texans offense to keep up with Mahomes if (or when) he gets going.

While the AFC South title race is now very much up in the air, I still don’t like the Texans chances of catching up to both the Jags and Colts. So, I’m basing this decision on the matchups I think Houston needs to win to end up a wildcard team. To do that, they’ll probably need to be 11-6, and to make sure the Chiefs don’t finish their season with the same or better record and steal that wildcard spot from Houston, they need to beat them on Sunday. I’m assuming the first two wildcard spots will be taken by the Bills and the Jaguars/Chargers/Colts (one of these guys will finish with a better record than the Texans), so that last spot will ultimately be a race between the Texans and the Chiefs. Ugh, I hate the Chiefs…

Source: https://www.battleredblog.com/houst...ans-remaining-matchup-is-the-biggest-must-win

 

[Houston Texans]

Texans WR history and what it means for Nico Collins, Jayden Higgins

I know I’m stepping on some toes here. We have a weekly feature where we look at the performance of the Iowa State rookie receivers. It isn’t my intention to overstep here, but I thought I would take a moment to look at the history of the Texans. The franchise is in it’s 24th season and as such there are certain positions where we have had more success than others. The current crop of defensive ends have to contend with the shadow of the legacies of both J.J. Watt and Mario Williams. However, there is probably no position with a longer track record of success than wide receiver.

Both Andre Johnson and Deandre Hopkins cleared 1000 career catches total and while Hopkins is still active, he seems to be winding down and may not play anymore football beyond this season. Nothing is guaranteed as far as Canton is concerned, but it seems like he would be a solid candidate for the Hall of Fame. That would give the Texans two Hall of Fame wide receivers in their brief history.

Nico Collins might be that third franchise receiver in the brief history of the franchise. He currently sits at 57 catches and 795 yards on the season. If you count his rushing touchdown from Sunday, he has five total touchdowns so far on the season. He has missed a game, so, he is averaging a little more than five catches a game and 72 yards per game. If we follow that formula through the end of the season, that will be 82 catches and 1155 yards on the season. It might also be as many as seven total touchdowns.

In five seasons in the NFL, Collins will be at 300 catches and over 4300 yards receiving. That puts him behind the pace that Johnson and Hopkins set, but not everyone can be a Hall of Fame receiver. It is in this vein that we look at the performance of Jayden Higgins. Receiver is one of the positions where players often struggle to get acclimated to the NFL game. All three of the previous number one receivers got off to relatively slow starts in their careers.

So, what we can do is look at the rookie seasons for each of those receivers and compare it to the season that Higgins has put up. Is he destined to be a similar receiver or will he be a different kind of receiver? Let’s take a look at the numbers and see how he compares with the three big receivers from franchise history.

The Numbers​

Andre Johnson: 119 Targets, 66 catches, 55% catch rate, 976 yards, 8.2 yards per target, 4 TD
Deandre Hopkins: 91 targets, 52 catches, 57% catch rate, 802 yards, 8.8 yards per target, 2 TD
Nico Collins: 60 targets, 33 catches, 55% catch rate, 446 yards, 7.4 yards per target, 1 TD
Jayden Higgins: 50 targets, 32 catches, 54% catch rate, 359 yards, 7.2 yard per target, 4 TD

Past AVG: 90 targets, 50 catches, 56% catch rate, 741 yards, 8.2 yards per target, 2 TD

So, based on the average, Higgins would need to get 18 catches in the next five games to get to that average for catches on the season. He is catching a higher percentage of targets for fewer yards per target. So, he is a different kind of receiver than Johnson and Hopkins to this point, but it is also a different kind of offense than those two played in. The passing game is quicker and is predicated more on yards after the catch.

Obviously, the key is what happens in year two. Both Johnson and Hopkins eclipsed 1000 yards in year two. Collins eclipsed 1200 yards in year three. No one should ever give a definitive statement on draft grades through year one. We won’t know what Higgins ultimately is until after year three. We don’t know if he will be just a solid second wide receiver or whether he can turn into a Tee Higgins to a Nico Collins Ja’marr Chase.

Overall Thoughts​

Grading a draft is not an easy task. In economics we have a concept called “opportunity costs.” The general idea is that we have to look at everything that was possible with that selection. So, it’s not simply whether Higgins is a good football player or not. It is also what was available at other positions at that portion of the draft. For instance, if we determine that the Texans are deficient at center or guard then were there any solid guard or center prospects available at that portion of the draft?

We could also look at wide receivers themselves to see if he was the best receiver available at that point in the draft. I’m not doing that at this point because we want to wait until year two or three to do that. However, the way he has been performing lately, he looks like the best receiver available at that portion of the draft. He also looks like a useful player. The best you can hope for in any draft is to get a handful of useful players and it looks like the team has done that so far.

Source: https://www.battleredblog.com/houst...matchup-results-andre-johnson-deandre-hopkins

 

[Houston Texans]

Sunday Night Football; Texans at Chiefs discussion thread

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

Let’s be crystal clear here, the Houston Texans don’t have a margin for error for the rest of the season. They have five games which are all eminently winnable games. If there WERE a game the Texans could lose, tonight’s game against the Chiefs is not it. If the Texans want any chance of getting to the playoffs, not winning the division, just getting to the playoffs as a wild card, this game is a must win.

Can they do it? Well, the Chiefs have looked awful mortal this year so if it’s going to happen, this year is as good as any for it to happen; to say nothing of the Chiefs missing three offensive linemen going up against Will Anderson and Danielle Hunter.

Let’s get right to it.

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

Who: Houston Texans (7-5) at Kansas City Chiefs (6-6)

What: Sunday Night Football

Where: Arrowhead Stadium – Kansas City, MO

When: Sunday, December 7, 7:20 p.m. CST

Why: Because it’s a Houston Texans game with playoff implications. You better be watching.

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/73048/sunday-night-football-texans-at-chiefs-discussion-thread

 

[Houston Texans]

Texans playoff picture: What Week 14 vs. Chiefs means for AFC standings

The Texans don’t kick off against the Chiefs until Sunday night, but with the early window of NFL games in the rearview, let’s take a quick look at what the Texans’ playoff picture looks like heading into Sunday Night Football.

The Jags went into their Week 14 matchup against the Colts holding the No. 3 seed in the AFC, and they retain it with Sunday’s 36-19 win. The Titans also won, beating the Browns 31-29, but the Titans are eliminated from playoff contention and no amount of wins can change that.

AFC South standings​

1. Jacksonville Jaguars 9-4
2. Houston Texans 8-5
3. Indianapolis Colts 8-5
4. Tennessee Titans 2-11

Overall AFC playoff picture​

The Patriots and Broncos hold steady at the No. 1 and 2 seeds. Jacksonville remains a full game back from the Broncos before Denver kicks off against the Raiders in the late afternoon window and the Patriots already having played on Thursday night. The Steelers pulled off a win against the Ravens, bumping Baltimore out of the standings , and the Bills came back to beat the Bengals and moved up to No. 5.

But the ups and downs of the AFC playoff picture weren’t done, and Sunday Night Football led to another small shakeup. The Texans beat the Chiefs, and moved up to No. 7, bumping the Colts back to No. 8. We could see another shift after the Chargers face off against the Eagles on Monday night.

Updated AFC Standings​

1. Denver Broncos: 11-2
2. New England Patriots: 11-2
3. Jacksonville Jaguars: 9-4
4. Pittsburgh Steelers: 7-6
5. Buffalo Bills: 9-4
6. Los Angeles Chargers: 8-4
7. Houston Texans 8-5
8. Indianapolis Colts: 8-5
9. Kansas City Chiefs: 6-6
10. Baltimore Ravens: 6-7

Source: https://www.battleredblog.com/houst...14-afc-standings-wildcard-seeding-tiebreakers

 

[Houston Texans]

4 Big Takeaways from Texans Win Vs. the Chiefs

The Texans have clawed back from their 0-3 start, mounted a glorious return to the AFC playoff race that included a 5-game win streak, and have done the impossible: defeating the defending AFC Champion Kansas City Chiefs on their own turf with the season on the line for both teams. 2018 was a year for the books for Houston, but this year is quickly becoming one of the most improbable, unthinkable turnarounds in football history!

With a franchise-defining game like that, there’s a whole lot of takeaways to be thought of and talked about all across the Texans’ fanbase, but here are five things I took from last night’s historic win at G-Ge…GEHA Field (yeehaw!), at Arrowhead Stadium:

1. This Texans’ defense is historically good, and lucky.​

Stop me if you’ve heard this before, but the Houston Texans just annihilated a supposedly championship-caliber offense. Okay, maybe that’s a theme for Houston this season, but how about this: the Texans just held THE Patrick Mahomes to a completion percentage under 50%, only 160 yards, zero touchdowns, and THREE interceptions! What in the world happened last night?!?! While Houston’s defensive line definitely had an impact by rushing Mahomes and getting him off script, we all know that Mahomes is more than capable of winning games while scrambling around, which he did plenty of. The true culprit of Kansas City’s woes was Houston’s pass defense, which blanketed the Chiefs’ favorite receivers all night, perfectly complementing the d-line’s pressure. Derek Stingley Jr. and Jalen Pitre made Rashee Rice and Travis Kelce non-factors in the match, while Kamari Lassiter – still recovering from a foot injury – made two improbable plays on long bombs from Mahomes. The first was a brilliant pass-deflection in the end zone that prevented a Tyquan Thornton touchdown, which may be a beautiful enough play on its own to send Lassiter to the pro bowl. Then, on the very next Chiefs possession, he made another big play, intercepting Patrick Mahomes at the start of the fourth quarter after he launched the ball downfield towards Marquise Brown. Kamari Lassiter, once doubted by me and many others coming out of college due to his pedestrian 40-yard dash time, has completely proven my fears of his lack of speed to be unfounded.

Besides Houston’s DBs putting on a clinic to end all clinics last night, they also just got straight up lucky at times. Arrowhead Pride’s Rocky Magaña summarized it well in his post, 5 things we learned from Chiefs era-ending loss to Texans:

The Chiefs need a true X-receiver who can beat man coverage and win on the outside, or you know, just catch the passes that hit them in the hands. – Magaña

The entire Chiefs offense had a season-altering conniption last night when attempting to reel in passes from Patrick Mahomes. Rashee Rice had some big drops (one of fourth down), Kareem Hunt had a big drop (one on third down), and the always-reliable Travis Swi-KELCE had a disastrous, bobbled reception that ended up sending the ball behind his head and directly into the waiting arms of Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair. Calling all of these plays “drops,” however, wouldn’t be giving the defenders enough credit. Al-Shaair, Jalen Pitre, and Myles Bryant, laid down the lumber upon Chiefs’ receivers with the most intense ferocity I’ve seen in a football game on this side of 2000 Ravens team. We just have to highlight this hit on Rashee Rice by Jalen Pitre that forced an incompletion. This moment, as improbable as it may seem, was the end of the Chiefs dynasty.

Jalen Pitre lays a big hit

HOUvsKC on NBC
Stream on @NFLPlus + Peacock pic.twitter.com/hhjgsu9SUU

— NFL (@NFL) December 8, 2025

2. No Tim Settle, no problem!​

The defensive line has been the saving grace for the Houston Texans all season. Whenever they were down and out and had exhausted themselves of options on offense, they could trust on that big line manned by Will Anderson, Danielle Hunter, Tim Settle, and Sheldon Rankins was going to make life hell for the opponent. Unfortunately, Tim Settle suffered a foot injury in last week’s victory over the Indianapolis Colts that required surgery, ending his season as one of the unsung heroes of the defense. Settle was not a beast of the interior, but he was a frequent nuisance to opposing QBs looking for somewhere to step up in the pocket, and had his fair share of tackles against running backs.

With Settle now out for the year, the d-line would need to find a band-aid quickly to prevent the Chiefs from running all over them. The next men up: a heaping spoonful of Tommy Togiai, with a mixing of Denico Autry, Dylan Horton, and Mario Edwards. These four defensive linemen saw a lot of action on the line of scrimmage and in the backfield as they clogged up rushing lanes and tried to contain Patrick Mahomes, and, for the most part, they excelled. Now, they may have had to fortune of going up against a Chiefs offensive line missing three of its five starters, but all of these linemen had their shining moments in squishing RBs Kareem Hunt and Isaiah Pacheco. Both Chiefs’ tailbacks finished the game with a combined 60 yards rushing on 21 attempts and one touchdown, the only one Houston would give up all night.

Bringin' the pressure #ProBowlVote + Tommy Togiai

: snfonnbc pic.twitter.com/lOUNhT7HVN

— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) December 8, 2025

3.The CJ Stroud to Nico Collins connection is alive and well​

Earlier in the season, much was made about the connection (or lack thereof) between WR Nico Collins and QB CJ Stroud. Going into backup QB Davis Mills’ first start in Week 10 against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Collins had only totaled 80+ receiving yards once before. After Week 10, Nico Collins saw his role in the offense explode, tallying 90+ receiving yards in four of the last five games, which have coincidentally all been wins. It was nice to see Stroud pick up where Mills left off when he returned to the starting lineup in week 13 against the Indianapolis Colts by continuing to repeatedly target Collins, but it was even sweeter to watch them rip the hearts out of Chiefs fans nationwide last night. After a three and out the start the game, Stroud uncorked a 46-yard bomb into the hands of Collins, ultimately resulting in a Texans field goal.

This connection

: @snfonnbc pic.twitter.com/cePg5EqZHG

— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) December 8, 2025

In the following Texans possession, Stroud would scramble away from pressure and fire a cross-body pass to Collins, who would one-up his big play from mere minutes ago and evade tacklers down the sideline for a massive catch-and-run reception of 53 yards!

R u serious???#ProBowlVote + Nico Collins

: snfonnbc pic.twitter.com/tZCdXPVsDp

— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) December 8, 2025

Thanks primarily to CJ Stroud and Nico Collins, the Texans would have a 10-0 lead on the defending conference champions in the first half. Now, the game was a whole lot more than just two big receptions, but these were back-breaking plays for the Chiefs’ defense, both resulted in points going on the board. Houston’s offense was still a sort of enigma for the majority of this matchup, so two big plays like this are like striking gold. Speaking of which…

4. The offense as a whole still has plenty of work to do​

In the entire second half, the Houston Texans had 62 total yards of offense. In the third quarter, on four total possessions, they ran 12 plays for -2 yards and four punts. I don’t know about you, but after we witnessed Davis Mills nearly lose a game where his defense sacked MVP QB Josh Allen EIGHT TIMES because of how bad the offense was in the second half, I was desperate for CJ Stroud to come back. Wins like the one they had against the Buffalo Bills just couldn’t be sustainable, they need a quarterback like Stroud, who has the accuracy, athleticism, and awareness when the play is broken to find completions and keep drives moving. Well, after yesterday’s game, I’m not so sure about anything anymore!

The #Texans offense currently (and for most of the season): pic.twitter.com/T1RP6doDHg

— Battle Red Blog (@battleredblog) December 8, 2025

Okay so, despite my ravings, this was a very different mess from Mills’ collapse against the Bills’ defense. The offensive line largely did a good job at keeping Mills clean, while they completely floundered at keeping Chiefs DT Chris Jones from wreaking havoc on Stroud’s body and mind. Chris Jones took RG Ed Ingram to the cleaners in the third quarter, smashing through him and getting right in the face of CJ Stroud time and time again. This was the impetus to Houston’s turtling up in the second half, but it is still not an excuse of not gaining a single first down the entire third quarter. They still, miraculously, scored 10 points in a second half, thanks almost entirely to Houston’s defense forcing turnovers deep in K.C. territory, but they could have scored a third time off of a turnover on downs if the Texans offense hadn’t managed to goof this up with a false start penalty, as well. False start was the flavor of the day for the zebras in this game, and the Texans, as usual, were the worst offenders. DeMeco Ryans even had to use a timeout to avoid a delay-of-game penalty after the Texans’ offense had an entire commercial break to figure out what play they wanted! These kinds of communication errors are acceptable in like, week two, but in week fourteen against the Kansas City Chiefs? For a playoff spot? Completely unacceptable to me, and a sign the whole offense needs to do some basic work in practice sooner rather than later, before it kills them.

---

Besides an ugly second half on offense, though, this was one of the best Houston Texans football games I’ve ever watched. The defense indescribably dominant, unlike anything I ever remember seeing in 2023 or 2024. They are capable of bringing any offense, no matter how great, down to the level of their own offense, which is a feat that I believe should earn DeMeco Ryans so Coach of the Year Award consideration.

What do you think, though? Is this the best regular season win you’ve seen from the Texans in the Ryans/Stroud era, or are you still frustrated by this offense? Let us know your thoughts on the game down in the comments below!

GO TEXANS!!!!!

Source: https://www.battleredblog.com/general/73066/4-big-takeaways-from-texans-win-vs-the-chiefs

 

[Houston Texans]

Texans vs. Chiefs winners, losers, statistics analysis from Houston’s big win

The Day After the Day After…when the raw, immediate emotions from the aftermath of a game diminish into the realm of clarity and the proverbial (or literal) hangover no longer haunts the mind. With that, a review of Week 14:

Houston Bested a Defensive Master: If you love you some defense, this was your game. The Texans brought in their #1 ranked unit into Arrowhead Stadium, the laboratory of defensive mastermind Steve Spagnuolo. “Spags” especially showcased his prowess in a dominant 3rd quarter, when his squad held Houston to -2 yards on four drives. This all came after Stroud torched KC with many a deep connection to Nico Collins in the 1st half. Kansas City’s best overall defender, DT Chris Jones, wreaked havoc on a lower-tier offensive line. However, Houston’s D proved one better. They held QB Patrick Mahomes to the worst game of his career (14 of 33 for 160 yards, 3 INTs). Yes, the Chiefs rushed for 126 yards, but take out Mahomes 59 yards in scrambles, and the Chiefs only mustered 67 yards on 22 carries. As a defense, you will take that all day. When the game was on the line, it was the Houston defense that made the big stops, stopping KC on two 4th down conversion attempts and netting two INTs in the 4th Quarter. The Most Interesting Defense in the World elevated its game in arguably a season-best performance.

Not a great CJ Stroud, but an effective one: The two halves of Stroud showed up again. In the 1st half, Stroud built off of his performance in the second half of the Indy game, going 12 of 19 for 171 yards and a TD. While sacked twice, Stroud also moved around to avoid KC defenders, finding Nico Collins for huge gains against the Chiefs’ defense. However, the second half proved a far different affair. Stroud only managed 32 passing yards, starting the half 0 for 8 (he finished the second half 3 of 12). He was sacked once but was under constant pressure. Yet, for all of the struggles, Stroud did not succumb to the big mistake. He threw the ball away vs trying for the big play, which can lead to major lost yardage/turnovers. On the 2nd half sack, RT Trent Brown got beaten too quickly for Stroud to do anything. At least he led the offense to points when they had the short fields in the 4th.

The 4th Quarter of a must-win game, and it was the Chiefs that folded: In a must-win game, in front of the loudest crowd in the NFL, you figure the Chiefs would find a way to win, like they have so often these past 7 years. That did not happen. Mahomes threw two INTs. TE Travis Kelce was bad (more later). Rice had a key drop. Then you have Andy Reid. One maybe could see the logic in going for it on 4th down when it was 4th and 1 with Mahomes, Kelce, et al. However, the game was tied, and the KC defense had held Houston’s offense in check. Also, the ball was deep in KC territory (KC 31). The Chiefs failed, mainly due to Anderson and Stingley stepping up. Houston took advantage of the short field, scored the go-ahead TD, and never relinquished strategic control of the game. If Kansas City fails to make the playoffs for the 1st time since 2014, look to this 4th Quarter.

The Upright Returns: For the second game in a row, and thrid in the last four, a kicker in a Houston contest hit the upright. This time, Harrison Butker provided the sound effects. His 2nd quarter 43-yard attempt stayed too far to the right to get inside the upright. Thus, another loud, impressive echoing “doink”…one that resonated even inside the ear-blaster that is Arrowhead Stadium. Was this doink more impressive that Wright’s doink in Nashville or Badgely’s doinkage in Indy? Maybe not, but a good “doink” always adds some levity to the game.

The Decisive Play

13:35, 4th Quarter. 3rd and 17 at the HOU 9. CJ Stroud to Jayden Higgins completion for 17 yards

Most would look to the 4th down stop against KC later in the 4th, which set Houston up with a short field and lead to the Ogunbowale TD. Yet, does Houston even get into that position if they don’t convert this 3rd and long? Prior to this play, Houston’s offense sucked in the 2nd half. CJ Stroud had no completions and the play before, KC DL George Karlaftis sacked Stroud for -11 yards. Few expected Houston to do anything at this point. Yet, on this play, when Houston at least needed to get some yards to improve punting, Stroud dropped back in shotgun and found a somewhat open Jayden Higgins in the left center part of the field right at the line to gain. Higgins held on, netting Houston’s first 2nd half completion and chain movement. This moved the ball out of the shadow of the Houston goal line to the 26. While Houston failed to convert on the next set of downs, they did move the ball up to their 34-yard line, allowing Townsend to flip field position, putting Kansas City back near their 20-yard line. If Houston doesn’t convert, Kansas City likely gets the ball near midfield. Also, the completion seemed to aid Stroud, who completed 3 of his next 4 passes. In a defensive slugfest, that one completion did just enough to trigger the Houston win.

FUN WITH NUMBERS:

3-0: Houston’s record against the other AFC 2024 Division Winners: The idea of Houston facing KC, BAL and BUF, with the first two on the road, did not inspire a lot of confidence. Yet, Houston swept that line up. Last season, they went 1-2. Maybe they weren’t as strong, but few would think Houston could take all three against that lineup.

19.8: Patrick Mahomes’ Game QBR: Did you really need numbers to tell you that Mahomes had a bad game against Houston? Now, if you take the ESPN numbers as gospel, you have Mahomes’ worst ever game, which is saying something.

GAME BALLS:

RB Woody Marks: 26 carries for 68 yards, 2 receptions for 8 yards and 1 TD. Solid numbers, but this game ball is for his 4th quarter. There, Marks rushed 13 times for 43 yards. He carried the ball on Houston’s final 6 offensive plays, gaining 16 yards that netted one first down, bled 3:02 off the clock and set up Houston’s game-sealing FG. All while playing hurt during the game. Perhaps the rookie’s toughest performance to date.

CB Kamari Lassiter:. 6 total tackles (5 solo), 2 passes defended, 1 INT. One of his PDs came on a deep pass that should have netted KC a long TD. That proved critical, as KC settled for 3 on that drive vs. 7. Also, Lassiter provided strong coverage on different receivers, to include TE Kelce, at key moments. Truth be told, you could put the entire Texans’ secondary here.

SHOULD BE FORCED TO CLEAN-UP ALL OF THE RANCID KC BBQ SAUCE SPILLED AT ARROWHEAD WHILE LISTENING TO A MIX OF THE ARROWHEAD CHOP AND ANDY REID’S “CHICKEN NUGGIES” COMMERICAL ON FULL REPEAT:

Houston’s Oline Performance in the 3rd Quarter: Stroud did not complete a pass and was under massive pressure on every single play. Houston lost 2 yards on 12 snaps. Chris Jones had his way with whichever HOU lineman he went against and must wonder how he didn’t have 2 sacks and 4 TFLs in that quarter alone. That 3rd quarter protection was so bad, it didn’t matter what the play-call was, as they couldn’t block anything.

TE Travis Kelce: Only 1 reception for 8 yards on 5 targets. Kelce had perhaps the worst 4th quarter of his career. He dropped one open pass and then had that bobble-turned-INT. This after torching Houston for 7 receptions/117 yards/1 TD in the Divisional Round. Houston got the memo to actually account for Kelce in the game plan.

With this win, Houston moves to 8-5, one game back of Jacksonville for the AFC South and sitting as the 7th seed for the AFC playoffs. They return to NRG to host the Arizona Cardinals for a noon CST kickoff this coming Sunday, which you can watch on FOX.

Source: https://www.battleredblog.com/houst...on-texans-20-10-win-vs-the-kansas-city-chiefs

 

[Houston Texans]

Value of Things: By the Numbers

It all started when the Texans were 0-3. They had lost three close games and the offense seemingly couldn’t do anything right. Ten games later and the Texans are sitting at 8-5. They have the best scoring defense in the NFL and the offense still hasn’t been great, but they have been good enough to win. They went from near dead to being more likely than not to make the playoffs. There is still work to do, but the oddsmaker might even make them the odds on favorite to win the AFC South for the third season in a row.

Like most Texans victories this season, there were extreme highs (mostly on the defensive end) and some pretty stark lows. We look at the numbers because eventually the aggregate tells us something about the Texans and football in general. As per usual, we will look at the great, the good, and the bad as we do in all Texans victories.

The Numbers​

• Total Yards: Texans 65/268, Chiefs 64/274
• Rushing Yards: Texans 31/82, Chiefs 29/126
• Passing Yards: Texans 34/186, Chiefs 35/148
• Third Down: Texans 8/18, Chiefs 4/14
• Fouth Down: Texans 0/0. Chiefs 1/3
• Sacks. Texans 2, Chiefs 3
• Turnovers: Texans 0, Chiefs 3
• Penalties: Texans 8/59, Chiefs 5/20
• Time of Possession: Texans 31:58, Chiefs 28:02

It is hard to boil down a game to one stat, but the turnover stat was the key to this game. Turning it over on fourth down in your own territory is almost like a turnover. If you count the two in the fourth quarter then it is almost as if the Texans got five turnovers. In that light, getting only 20 points almost seems like a miracle. Yet, if you watched the game and this offense then you understand. We will get to more on that later.

The Great​

Patrick Mahomes was 14 for 33 with only 160 yards passing. He had zero touchdown passes and three interceptions. No, it was not always about him playing badly. No, it was not always about the Texans playing brilliantly. His receivers had some key drops along the way. The combination of these factors led to Mahomes having the worst game of his career. I would call it luck, but it isn’t luck. Josh Allen had his worst game against the Texans defense (likely the 2024 game). Trevor Lawrence likely has never played worse than he did against the Texans. Jared Goff definitely wants to forget his game against the Texans.

When multiple talented quarterbacks all look bad against your defense it isn’t luck. It’s something else. It is a defense that combines constant pressure with tight coverage and closing quickness to make throwing windows tighter than they appear. The Chiefs actually ran the ball well, but the Texans did just enough to force Mahomes to beat them. That kind of strategy is usually death for a defense. For the Texans it was the perfect recipe of success. I cannot say enough about this defense.

The Good​

On an offense that has struggled at many points this season, the key is finding building blocks for the offensive staff and front office to build on. I don’t think anyone will mistake Woody Marks for Walter Payton or Marshall Faulk, but he has been a revelation this year in the running game and passing game. He got another key first down late in the game to help ice the game. He also scored another touchdown in the first half through the air. 26 carries and 68 yards on the ground along with two catches and eight yards isn’t going to blow anyone’s skirt up. Yet, when Nick Chubb went down he was the back for the bulk of the game.

Nico Collins had a brilliant first half with four catches and 121 yards. He is on his way to another 1000 yard receiving season to become the third receiver in Texans history to have three consecutive seasons with 1000 or more yards. The first two are either Hall of Famers or likely Hall of Famers. Add in Jayden Higgins and his ability to make a key catch or two and this offense has some solid components. They just can’t seem to put it all together for four quarters.

The Bad​

I’ll give a hat tip to the Area 45 hosts on 610. Their working theory is that DeMeco Ryans won’t let any offensive coordinator to truly run the offense around who is actually good. This team moves the ball when they pass the football. They stagnate when they run the football. No offense can pass it even 75 percent of the time and there are some situations where you have to grind it out on the ground, but this team simply doesn’t have the horses to do that.

I love what I’m watching overall, but the rational part of my brain knows it is unsustainable. The whole concept of eeking out 20 points and holding on for dear life will not get through three or four playoff games. It will barely get through one. The Texans play the Cardinals and Raiders the next two weeks. I am fully confident that they will continue this formula as long as the defense continues to play like it has. That will continue until they get into the playoffs. Eventually you will play teams that you can’t guarantee holding under 20 points.

For most of these things, it will take another draft and free agency period to address. They will need to decide once and for all if they are going to be a smash mouth football team or whether they will be a more dynamic offense. They will need to commit to that and build their team accordingly. Either Nick Caley needs to be allowed to run the offense he wants or they need to bring in someone that can run an effective offense. However, those are questions for January. For now, they need to maximize what they have the best they can.

Source: https://www.battleredblog.com/houston-texans-analysis/73056/value-of-things-by-the-numbers

 

[Houston Texans]

Houston Texans NFL Power Rankings: Week 15

Down goes the Chiefs! Down goes the dynasty! The Houston Texans marched into Kansas City’s home stadium, lined up against Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce, and kicked them straight out of the playoff race! Okay, maybe it’s an exaggeration to say the Chiefs are actually out of the race when they’re only 6-7 (get it), but their chances of making the postseason have now fallen all the way down to 10%. Meanwhile, Houston’s playoff chances have surged all the way up to 87%, something that…I just simply can’t believe. As the north pole has gradually tilted away from the sun, the Texans have grown more ferocious, like a cornered animal that senses winter approaching. Each week over the last month has seen another opponent throw their offense into the teeth of the Texans defensive line like a sacrificial lamb, with even the greatest quarterbacks incapable of escaping the grinder. Led by DE Danielle Hunter, DE Will Anderson, LB Azeez Al-Shaair, CB Derek Stingley, and S Jalen Pitre, the Texans defense has become such an unrelenting force that a small library’s worth of montage videos and edits have cropped up highlighting them in particular:

@nfl
#houstontexans put on a defensive clinic tonight #nfl @Houston Texans

♬ original sound – NFL

@ag9altacc
Texans defense is the best#viral #texans #football #nfl #edit creds to @mjtexans

♬ original sound – 𝒶𝑔𝟫️

They’re not as photogenic as the Patrick Mahomes cross-body pass, or as easy to gawk at as the Josh Allen touchdown run, but the Houston Texans defense is as fearsome and dominating as any player or group on offense out there. In the last three weeks, they faced three AFC teams in the thick of the playoff race and gave up a grand total of just 45 points. Surely, a run like this has to send Houston flying up the power rankings all across the internet, right? Well, if it ain’t happening now, it’s gotta happen soon enough! Here’s where the Houston Texans are ranked entering week 15 of the 2025 NFL season:

NFL.COM​

11. Houston Texans (8-5) (Last Week: 13)

C.J. Stroud completed three passes in the second half — three! — but the Texans produced just enough offense to finish what the defense started. DeMeco Ryans’ elite D has thrown some beauties this season, but Sunday night’s effort was probably its most important performance of the season, with Houston intercepting Patrick Mahomes three times (even if the last one was a gift off the hands of Travis Kelce). Andy Reid rolled the dice twice on fourth downs, and in some ways, that was a nod to just how good the Texans are defensively. Reid felt he had to play that riskily in order to get any spark offensively. Houston also managed an injury to Nick Chubb, with Dare Ogunbowale spelling Woody Marks to score his first rushing TDsince 2022 (on only his fourth carry of the season). The Texans keep finding ways to win games, and they could run their streak to seven straight, with the Cardinals and Raiders on tap in Houston.

– Eric Edholm

ESPN:​

12. Houston Texans (8-5)

Week 14 result: Beat the Chiefs 20-10
Week 14 ranking: 12

Most shocking statistical ranking: Safety Jalen Pitre is second in passer rating allowed

Last season, Pitre allowed a passer rating of roughly 113 by giving up five touchdowns and an interception, according to NFL Next Gen Stats. But he’s allowing only a 43 rating this season, which is behind Tampa Bay’s Jamel Dean for best in the league. Pitre had a highlight interception against the Chiefs when he forced a tipped pass up in the air and found a way to secure the pick.

– DJ Bien-Aime

SPORTS ILLUSTRATED:​

11. Houston Texans (8–5)

Last week’s ranking: No. 16
Last week’s result: beat Chiefs, 20–10
This week: vs. Cardinals

The Texans, through almost a complete NFL season, have more interceptions than total touchdowns surrendered. The team has also allowed just 16 points per game. Sixteen. While I refuse to be a prisoner of the moment amid these Texans-to-the-Super Bowl takes, I think I can be convinced.

– Conor Orr

BLEACHER REPORT:​

8. Houston Texans (8-5)

Last Week: 12

Week 14 Result: Won vs. Kansas City 20-10

The Houston Texans’ early-season struggles may prevent them from winning the AFC South, but they’ve become the type of defensive powerhouse that can beat virtually anyone on the road in January.

Sunday night’s win in Arrowhead showed how Houston is capable of performing in a high-pressure game. The Texans seem to still be searching for offensive consistency, but they’ve gotten enough during their five-game winning streak to put themselves in playoff positioning.

Right now, Houston feels like the scariest wild-card team in the AFC.

– Kris Knox

CBS SPORTS:​

9. Texans (8-5) (Last Week: 11)

They have righted things in a big way, and with a soft schedule left, they should be a playoff team — and maybe win the division. That defense is nasty.

– Pete Prisco

USA TODAY:​

6. Houston Texans (6): They’re holding steady at No. 6 − and on the verge of a sixth straight win with Arizona headed to Houston on Sunday. And if QB C.J. Stroud and the offense can pick up the pace just a bit, this team poses a legit Lombardi threat.

– Nate Davis

YAHOO! SPORTS:​

7 (14): Houston Texans (8-5)

This is a big jump for the Texans, but they pass the eye test of a team that is peaking at the right time. Their defense continues to be fantastic, holding Patrick Mahomes to a 42.4% completion percentage and a 19.8 passer rating, the lowest marks in a game for his career. Houston’s offense is inconsistent, but there’s no complete team in the AFC. Houston’s defense is the most reliable unit in the conference.

– Frank Schwab

THE ATHLETIC:​

9. Houston Texans (8-5)

Last week: 11

Sunday: Beat Chiefs 20-10

Worst-case scenario: A playoff flameout

Houston has gone 8-2 since an 0-3 start. The Texans lead the league in scoring defense (15.7 ppg allowed) and are fourth in scoring margin (plus-88) in that stretch, and they feel playoff-bound after bullying the Chiefs on Sunday night. Those playoffs probably won’t include Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson or Joe Burrow. Houston has a shot this year. Hopefully, it doesn’t waste it.

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

– Chad Graff and Josh Kendall

PRO FOOTBALL TALK:​

9. Texans (No. 12; 8-5): Defense wins championships — and takes out champions.

– Mike Florio

Average Ranking: 9.11 (Last Week: 11.89)

---

Oh, what a sight to see! For the first time in the 2025 season, the Houston Texans are averaging a power rankings position inside the top ten, a gratifying validation of their ascent up the ranks. While the offense has not made any game pretty, the Texans’ defense has practically forced pundits across the nation to take Houston seriously, whether they want to or not. There’s even some Super Bowl buzz beginning to percolate, a possibility Texans fans have only rarely had the fortune of earnestly engaging with. Although, at this juncture of the season, who else is there that could represent the AFC in the Super Bowl? The Denver Broncos and New England Patriots are the only other conference teams I can think of that may have the mettle to take on the grinder, but with Houston’s recent resume-building games against QBs Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen, I doubt Bo Nix or Drake Maye could handle this defense in its current form. The time will come where one or both of them will have to be sacrificed to the gods of Battle Red, and that time can’t come soon enough!

What do you think, though? Are the Texans a surging superpower primed to make a run for the ages, or are they still missing something to get them over the edge? Will this offense be able to get on their feet before the season’s over, or are they cursed to remain mediocre for the rest of the year? Let us know down in the comments below!

GO TEXANS!!!!

Source: https://www.battleredblog.com/general/73120/houston-texans-nfl-power-rankings-week-15

 

[Houston Texans]

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

Welcome to week 14 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. Chiefs​

Jayden Higgins​

Position: WR

Projected Week 14 storm path: 5.0 targets, 4.0 receptions, 55.5 yards, 1 TD, 10.5 fantasy points

Actual Week 14 path: 5 targets, 3 receptions, 34 yards (11.3 avg.), 0 TDs, 6.4 fantasy pts

Total stats through Week 14: 55 targets, 35 receptions, 393 yards (11.2 avg.), 4 TDs, 98.3 fantasy pts

Analysis: While Jayden Higgins’ stat line isn’t eye-popping on paper (no scores, <50+ yards receiving), anyone who watched the game saw him have one of the greatest “situational football” quarters of the Texans’ season.

In the fourth quarter, Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud had at least two moments across multiple drives where he desperately needed a receiver to step up and extend crucial offensive possessions under pressure. Higgins answered the call.

His first moment came on 3rd and 17 at the 13:35 mark in the period, and Stroud was again facing a crowded pocket. He stepped through the mass of bodies, spotted Higgins downfield at the sticks and fired a pass that found the former Cyclone.

Higgins made the reception, spun around and then had the wherewithal to reach for the first down marker. Though the possession didn’t lead to points, it allowed Houston to escape the shadow of their goal line and allowed punter Tommy Townsend to pin the Chiefs deep on the other side of the field.

Jayden Higgins with a huge 3rd down conversion! pic.twitter.com/AInUO4XTHt

— 𝙄𝙤𝙬𝙖 𝙎𝙩𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙉𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 (@IowaStateNation) December 8, 2025

His second moment came a possession later, after Chiefs head coach Andy Reid decided to give Houston the ball back at their 31-yard line after a failed 4th and 1 pass attempt by Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes.

With about 9:02 left in the quarter, Stroud snapped the ball on a 3rd and 3 with the intention to pass. Chiefs pass rusher Chris Jones broke inside the offensive line and pressured Stroud out of the pocket.

Then, while fading to his right, Stroud rifled a pass to a waiting Higgins at the first down marker to continue the drive and secure the victory with a late touchdown run by running back Dare Ogunbowale.

Higgins was Mr. Clutch last night, continuing to prove his value as Houston’s first selection in this year’s draft.

Week 15 statistical projections: 5.0 targets, 3.0 receptions, 25.5 yards, 0.1 TD, 5.5 fantasy points

———————————————————-

Jaylin Noel​

Position: WR/PR & KR

Projected week 14 storm path: 2 targets, 1.0 receptions, 9.5 yards, 0.1 TD, 3.5 fantasy points

Actual week 14 path: 2 targets, 2 receptions, 12 yards, 0 TD’s, 21 return yards (21.0 yd avg.), 3.3 fantasy pts

Total stats through week 14: 30 targets, 22 receptions, 225 yards (10.2 yd avg.), 680 return yards, 1 TD, 36.4 fantasy pts

Analysis: First order of business, congratulations to Jaylin Noel for setting a franchise rookie record for most punt return yards in a season at 293. Even though his inclusion in the receiving game has not panned out as many have hoped, it’s clear that he’s a playmaker and contributor to the team.

Speaking of inclusion, he actually managed to receive his most targets in a game (two) since week 11’s matchup vs. the Tennessee Titans. He caught both passes, gaining 12 yards while helping to sustain drives throughout the game.

With his 21-yard punt return, WR @NoelJaylin13 (293) set the franchise record for most punt return yards by a rookie. pic.twitter.com/3EZvqt1wo6

— Houston Texans PR (@TexansPR) December 8, 2025

Again, winning is most important for the team at this point, but any and every chance for Noel to grow in their offensive system will only help the team in the short and long term.

Week 15 Projections: 2 targets, 1.0 receptions, 9.5 yards, 0.1 TD, 2.5 fantasy points

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

Source: https://www.battleredblog.com/gener...atistics-jayden-higgins-jaylin-noel-vs-chiefs

 

[Houston Texans]

Houston Texans Path to the Playoffs Heading into Week 15

The Houston Texans have won five straight games and for the first time this season own a playoff spot. They made huge strides in their chances since last week’s article. While they’re still one game back from the division lead, Houston has a clear path to maintain a wild card spot through the remainder of the season.

Realistically, Houston can only afford to lose one more game and manage to keep their season alive. That goes for most of the teams in the hunt too. This past week saw the Chiefs and Colts hopes crash drastically while a resurgent Miami Dolphins team entered the chat.

Houston can take a deep breath but cannot rest on their laurels with four contests to go and more ground to make up. To track their progress toward the playoffs, I will be providing a weekly update on the greater playoff picture and their chase of a third AFC South title in a row.

Current Playoff Picture​

Playoff Spot	AFC Team	Record	Week 15 Opponent	Playoff Probability %
FIRST ROUND BYE AFC West winner	DENVER BRONCOS	11-2	vs Green Bay	99%
AFC East winner	NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS	11-2	vs Buffalo	99%
AFC South winner	JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS	9-4	vs New York Jets	98%
AFC North winner	PITTSBURGH STEELERS	7-6	vs Miami	70%
Wild Card Spot	LA CHARGERS	9-4	at Kansas City	78%
Wild Card Spot	BUFFALO BILLS	9-4	at New England	98%
Wild Card Spot	HOUSTON TEXANS	8-5	vs. Arizona	94%
In the Hunt	INDIANAPOLIS COLTS	8-5	at Seattle	20%
In the Hunt	BALTIMORE RAVENS	6-7	at Cincinatti	27%
In the Hunt	KANSAS CITY CHIEFS	6-7	vs Los Angeles Chargers	12%
In the Hunt	MIAMI DOLPHINS	6-7	at Pittsburgh	1%

Current AFC South Picture​

Make Playoffs	Win Division	FIrst Round Bye
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (9-4)	98%	87%	7%
HOUSTON TEXANS (8-5)	94%	37%	1%
INDANAPOLIS COLTS (8-5)	20%	2%	1%
TENNESEE TITANS (2-11)	Eliminated

According to The Athletic, Texans playoff chances jumped by 35% after the win against the Chiefs, up from 59%. Additionally, their likelihood to win the AFC South improved by 14%. They desperately need the Jags to lose an in-conference game such as the Jets or more probable the Denver Broncos in two weeks.

Arizona vs. Texans Playoff Implications​

Of the last four games, this game has the least implications. Sure, if they lose, their chances to make the playoffs plummet and the door opens for another team in the hunt to pass them up. However, this is the last NFC team, one of the worst defenses in the NFL, and a team eliminated from the playoffs.

Houston winning would increase their chances to make the playoffs from 94% to 96% according to the Athletic. However, a loss would decrease their changes to 84%.

Week 13 Matchups to Watch​

Buffalo Bills vs New England Patriots (Sunday, 1:00 EST)

Two AFC playoff teams competing for the East divisional title. Texans should root for the Patriots to deal the Bills their fifth loss of the season and stymie Josh Allen and his surging offense. Houston owns the tie-breaker with the Bills and could jump them in the seeding for the Wild Card with a Buffalo loss.

Los Angeles Chargers vs Kansas City Chiefs (Sunday, 1;00 EST)

Texans fans would love if the Chiefs win. Knocking down the Chargers to 9-5 would be critical in this Wild Card race. Kansas City would be ELIMINATED with a loss. Not that Houston wants to keep the Chiefs in the playoff hunt, but rather a Chargers loss would give Houston another edge up on a current playoff team and opponent in two and a half weeks.

Miami Dolphins vs Pittsburgh Steelers (Monday, 8:15 EST)

While this game is fairly in the Texans periphery, it’s another matchup of AFC playoff contenders that could impact who Houston plays in the postseason. The Dolphins are winners of four straight and face AFC North leading Steelers. If you want the Ravens and Lamar Jackson OUT of the playoffs, the Steelers are your choice. If you root for the weakest playoffs possible, the Dolphins making the playoffs would be ideal.

Remaining Schedule:​

vs. Cardinals (3-10)

vs. Raiders (2-12)

at Chargers (9-4)

vs Colts (8-5)

Source: https://www.battleredblog.com/houst...ans-path-to-the-playoffs-heading-into-week-15

 

[Houston Texans]

Houston Texans vs. Arizona Cardinals: Injury Report

The Texans are the hottest team in football, winning eight of their last ten, and somehow it still feels like there’s another level they haven’t reached yet.

Houston marched into Kansas City and took down Patrick Mahomes in a game both teams desperately needed — a win that signals just how far this franchise has come. The offense came out blazing, cooled off for stretches, and then delivered when it mattered most, with Dare Ogunbowale punching in the go-ahead score late.

But once again, the story of this team is the defense. Houston’s unit has been nothing short of dominant, easily the best group in the NFL, and it’s clear they aren’t satisfied with simply being elite. That edge stems from head coach DeMeco Ryans, who has this team locked in, disciplined, and hungry every single week.

Next up: a home matchup against the Arizona Cardinals. And while Houston will be favored, this cannot become a trap game. The Texans have climbed their way into contention — now they need to prove they can handle success just as well as adversity.

Here is a look at Thursday’s injury report:

Did Not Participate​

-CB Kamari Lassiter (Foot)

-RB Woody Marks (Ankle)

-RB Nick Chubb (Ribs)

Limited Participation​

-RB Woody Marks (Knee)

-DE Denico Autry (Knee)

-LB E.J. Speed (Knee)

Full Participation​

-LB Azeez Al-Shaair (Ankle)

-LB Jamal Hill (Hamstring)

-RT Trent Brown (Hand)

-WR Justin Watson (Calf)

-TE Harrison Bryant (Neck / /Shoulder)

-DT Sheldon Rankins (Elbow / Shoulder)

This Texans team is peaking at the right time, and trending in the right direction as they make their push towards the playoffs.

Source: https://www.battleredblog.com/houst...ton-texans-vs-arizona-cardinals-injury-report

 

[Houston Texans]

Five good Texans Questions with Revenge of the Birds

This Sunday has all the makings of a trap game. The Texans have won five games in a row and most of them over other teams looking to go to the playoffs. These next two games might give you a chance to breathe, but the Texans are still in must win mode. Seth Cox has been doing yeoman work at Revenge of the Birds. The Cardinals are in the same position the Texans were before DeMeco Ryans came to town. Beyond the head coach, quarterback is most important position on the field. That is where our conversation began.

Battle Red Blog: Kyler Murray is obviously out for the season, but his future is very much in doubt. Has he played his last snap for the Cardinals? If so, what direction do you see them going at quarterback?

Seth Cox: Yeah, Murray is done with the Arizona Cardinals, barring an ownership change, in which case I would still assume he is done.

Where do they go? Well there is a reason they are trying to make it seem like Jacoby Brissett is lighting the league on fire.

Sure, those counting stats are really beautiful, but they can’t score the last three weeks, and they don’t do much on offense to win games. And now the defense looks like absolute garbage, so things are going well.

BRB: Jonathan Gannon was one of the hot coordinators when he was hired and seemed to get off to a good start. Does he survive this season?

SC: The thought a couple of weeks ago was yes he would. However, the fact that in their last three division games they have been outscored 130-61 (that is 43-20 per game) and look like not just the worst team in the division, but among the worst teams in the NFL, it seems like he has to get a couple of more wins to be retained.

I think if the defense wasn’t so bad in the division then things would be a little different, but the fact that now the defense looks like they are further away than they were in year one, it makes retaining Gannon a harder proposition.

BRB: How has the offense looked with Jacoby Brisset at the helm in comparison with Murray?

SC: Umm, it really depends on what you subscribe to in terms of what matters?

Jacoby is obviously throwing for more yards per game, and has 15 touchdowns to only 5 interceptions in his eight games.

Yet, in all of the efficiency stuff, Jacoby is not looked at as well as Kyler.

Jacoby has done a nice job of putting up big passing numbers, but the unfortunate thing is that it hasn’t really resulted in anything in the win column, which is… not ideal if they really are going to run him back as the starter in 2026.

BRB: The NFC West is one of the toughest divisions in sports. Which team do you think ends up on top? Which divisional opponent do Cardinals fans love to beat the most?

SC: The Rams, they are just different, especially different than what you guys saw in week one, which obviously even though your phenomenal defense did a good job, they still somehow won. Yet, now their offense looks insane, and their defense is getting to the point where you don’t know how good they can get. Not saying they’ll get to where the Texans elite defense is, but it won’t be too far off.

I think right now it is the Niners, but the reality is they would love to be any of them consistently at this point, because it is embarrassing to be this bad in year three of the rebuild.

BRB: Fanduel has the Texans as 9.5 point favorites. How do you see the game going? Are there any prop bets you feel comfortable recommending?

I am shocked… Shocked that the over/under is trending towards the over 42.5, but the Cardinals team total is less than 16.5 (at least that is where the money is trending).

So, people don’t think the Cardinals have a chance (they don’t) and they think that 9.5 is a little low. I think the Texans win 28-10, and it wouldn’t shock me if the Texans hit the shutout if they stay aggressive through all four quarters.

If they get up by five plus touchdowns, and call off the dogs in the third quarter, the Cardinals with Jacoby are definitely getting 14 or 17 points baby! Ain’t no one slowing them down when the other team goes to the prevent!

Good luck, and good health to the Texans in this one. Please don’t be too mean to those poor Cardinals.

---

We remember being in Seth’s shoes not too long ago. Going through a seventeen game schedule is brutal when your team isn’t doing well. However, the Cardinals have some good players and they are certainly more than capable of coming up and shocking the Texans. We want to thank Seth for his time and for answering our questions and we want to wish him and the Cardinals 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...od-texans-questions-with-revenge-of-the-birds