RSS Texans Team Notes

[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.

---

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

 

[Houston Texans]

Houston Texans can’t underestimate familiar foe Jacoby Brissett

Every Houston Texans fan is well aware of perennial backup QB Jacoby Brissett. His 5–1 record against Houston, earned while playing for the Patriots, Dolphins, and Colts, has long made him a nemesis of the Texans. The Texans must overcome their kryptonite as the playoffs are in arms reach for the first time all season.

Brissett’s most notable win over the Texans came in 2016 as a rookie for the Patriots while subbing in for a suspended Tom Brady. He crushed the Texans 27-0 on national television.

This season, Brissett has a strong 3:1 touchdown to interception ratio, but has thrown four picks in the last four contests. The Texans will look to continue that trend and create opportunities for their offense.

CHECK THIS OUT

Jacoby Brissett has 8 consecutive top-12 fantasy finishes BUT the Texans have not allowed a QB weekly finish better than 14th @MikeClayNFL | @FieldYates | @DanielDopp pic.twitter.com/f80YZ0c5Px

— Fantasy Focus Live (@fantasyfocus) December 10, 2025

Outside of last week’s blowout loss to the Los Angeles Rams, the Cardinals have played teams close and fallen short in the fourth quarter. They took the Jaguars to overtime, lost to the Buccaneers by a field goal, and hung 22 points on both the 49ers and Seahawks recently.

Though they’re consistently competitive, their offense has failed to hold up against quality pass rush. According to PFF, the Cardinals right tackles have the third-worst pass blocking grade, regardless of who has been starting. Additionally, Brissett has been sacked a whopping 29 times in 10 starts… almost three per start. To top it off, when under pressure against a four-man rush, Brissett has the second worst passing grade of any starting QB in the league. Considering Houston has the second-lowest blitz rate in the league, the Texans matchup exceedingly well for this contest.

Will Anderson Jr. is second in the NFL in pressures with 76 only behind Myles Garret and 27.2% pass rush win rate. He will be blitzing against Kelvin Beachum. If Anderson get can loose and disrupt Brissett by himself against a weak offensive line, this game could be wrapped up quickly.

In terms of weapons at Brissett’s disposal, Marvin Harrison Jr. is the Cardinals’ high-profile second-year receiver, but he has missed time with an emergency appendix surgery before Week 11 injury. Tight end Trey McBride is the most talented and prolific player on the team and won’t back down against the physical linebackers in Houston. Brissett’s primary receiving threat is Michael Wilson, who has been quite impressive with 61 catches for 712 yards and over nine big plays (20+ yards).

The Texans have discounted Brissett on multiple occasions… five to be exact. This matchup presents another identical scenario for the 10-year QB to upset Houston and send their season into disarray with an upset loss to the 3-10 Arizona Cardinals.

Source: https://www.battleredblog.com/houst...nt-underestimate-familiar-foe-jacoby-brissett

 

[Houston Texans]

Poll: Are the Texans trending up this week?

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

Source: https://www.battleredblog.com/houst...114/poll-are-the-texans-trending-up-this-week

 

[Houston Texans]

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

The Texans are hitting their stride and it couldn’t come at a better time. Fortunately, the Arizona Cardinals are not on the same caliber as the Chiefs, Ravens, or Bills. Unfortunately that also stinks of a trap game.

Will you be able to watch the game on Sunday? Well, let’s check jolly old 506 Sports and find out where you’ll be able to watch the game?

View Link

FOX EARLY GAMES

Red: Las Vegas Raiders at Philadelphia Eagles (Announcers: Joe Davis, Greg Olsen; Referee: Clay Martin)
Blue: Cleveland Browns and Chicago Bears (Announcers: Kevin Kugler, Daryl Johnston; Referee: Ron Torbert)
Green: Washington Commanders at New York Giants (Announcers: Kenny Albert, Jonathan Vilma; Referee: Bill Vinovich)
Yellow: Arizona Cardinals at Houston Texans (Announcers: Chris Myers, Mark Schlereth; Referee: Clete Blakeman)

Clete Blakeman is pretty flag happy so I guess we should gird ourselves for a penalty-heavy day.

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

Join the conversation!​

Sign up for a user account and get:

• Fewer ads
• Create community posts
• Comment on articles, community posts
• Rec comments, community posts
• New, improved notifications system!

Who: Arizona Cardinals at Houston Texans

Where: NRG Stadium, Houston, TX

When: Sunday, December 14, 12:00 pm CST

Why: Because why not six in a row since we’re here.

TV: FOX (Chris Myers, Mark Schlereth)

Radio: KILT Sports Radio 610 AM

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

Go Texans!

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

 

[Houston Texans]

Houston Texans vs. Arizona Cardinals discussion thread

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

Welcome back my friends to the show that never ends. This week, the Texans have a far less daunting challenge ahead of them than they did last week. It’s the Arizona Cardinals who have had a terrible season, coming in without Kyler Murray, Marvin Harrison, Jr., and several of their starters.

That’s the good news. The bad news is they’ve got Jacoby Brisket nee Brisset under center instead; Brisset, if you don’t remember, has historically been Houston Texan kryptonite, and Clete Blakeman is the referee, so this screams “trap game” to me. But the Texans didn’t have the defense in their previous matchups with Brisset than they do this year.

Let’s get right to it.

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

Join the conversation!​

Sign up for a user account and get:

• Fewer ads
• Create community posts
• Comment on articles, community posts
• Rec comments, community posts
• New, improved notifications system!

Who: Arizona Cardinals (3-10) at Houston Texans (8-5)

What: NFL Week 15

Where: NRG Stadium – Houston, TX

When: Sunday, December 14, noon p.m. CST

Why: Because this might be the last semi-relaxing game we get to see this season.

TV: Fox

Radio: Westwood One

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

Enjoy the game, y’all.

Go, Texans!

Source: https://www.battleredblog.com/general/73177/cardinals-at-texans-discussion-thread

 

[Houston Texans]

Value of Things: By the Numbers

Mental health is a thing for football fans. Yes, we aren’t actually participating in the game, but for many fans, their week rides at least in part on the outcome of that Sunday’s game. So, for three hours, the dedicated Texans fans is a bundle of nerves. Sure, it makes us feel more alive, but it takes a toll. Every once in awhile you need a palate cleanser that can help settle the soul. This Sunday was one of those days. The contest was literally never in doubt. The closest it ever got was ten points which was a definite departure from the gauntlet of close games they played during the six game winning streak.

Obviously, the numbers game is a complex one for those of us that play it. On the one hand, these kinds of performances help the bottom line. After all, they have combined for 84 points in just two games this season (Ravens and Cardinals). That has a way of affecting the aggregate. We will get to more of that in a minure. For now, let’s run down the numbers.

The Numbers​

• Total Yards: Texans 63/399, Cardinals 63/307
• Rushing Yards: Texans 33/143, Cardinals 21/72
• Passing Yards: Texans 30/256, Cardinals 42/231
• Punts: Texans 1, Cardinals 3
• Third Down: Texans 7/13, Cardinals 5/12
• Fourth Down: Texans 0/0, Cardinals 1/3
• Turnovers: Texans 0, Cardinals 2
• Sacks: Texans 2, Cardinals 1
• Penalties: Texans 5/40, Cardinals 2/34
• Time of Possession: Texans 32:18, Cardinals 27:42

This is yet another game where the Texans won the turnover battle. One of the underrated stories of the season offensively has been their ability to limit turnovers. Any full telling of the Nick Caley story will have to include improvement in total turnovers and sacks allowed. It is one of the many reasons why evaluating coaches 99 percent of the time is difficult. There will always be positives and negatives. It is similar on the defensive end. The Texans are one of the league leaders in penalties. Again, there are positives and negatives to their style of play. Evaluating coaches is all about playing a balancing act of both the positives and the negatives.

The Great​

This game was won by the offense. Let me repeat that again. This game was won by the offense. I cannot overstate how much of a shock it is to say that. I included the punts above because it seems unfathomable for a Nick Caley coached outfit to punt only one time in a football. This team moved the ball at will and did so on the ground and in the air. This one was not Stroud’s best game this season, but it was in the top three. He completed a high percentage of balls and did so within the flow of the offense.

In particular, Jawhar Jordan was elevated just before the game from the practice squad and went on to have 15 carries and 107 yards. Jordan was a draft pick two years ago, but has failed to make the team for two consecutive years despite strong camps and strong preseason performances. Instead, the team chose to keep Dameon Pierce until recently. Maybe just maybe that was a mistake. Of course, far be it for me to suggest it even though I suggested in camp in 2024 and in 2025.

Jordan spelled Woody Marks who aggravated an ankle injury that is not expected to be serious. Ultimately, DeMeco Ryans said Marks could have gone back in, but he didn’t need to. The team plays the Las Vegas Raiders next, so maybe they could play a similar game and rest some of their more important players until the daunting two game stretch to finish the season.

The Good​

When the story of the 2025 season is told it will be the defense that gets most of the publicity. I am positive there will be very little footage from this particular game. The Cardinals did not run it well, but they ran it better than most teams against the Texans. Jacoby Brisset wasn’t brilliant, but he was better than most quarterbacks against the Texans. 20 points is usually not enough to win, but it is better than most teams against the Texans. I think you get the idea.

In the grand scheme of things, they didn’t need to be at their best. I’m sure some of that was strategy to avoid the big play once they got up 17-0. Some of that might be human nature after playing so many close and hard fought games against good teams. Some of it is probably what the Cardinals are able to do well. It was a good defensive performance for a team where good is deemed below expectations.

Kamari Lassiter probably cemented his spot in the Pro Bowl with yet another interception. It was his fourth on the season after getting three during his rookie season. Most grading systems have him playing better football this year than last year. We often what if when looking at players moving from year one to year two. It is refreshing to see one of those what ifs panning out.

The Bad​

This one takes a little imagination. In a game where nothing was in doubt, it is hard to pinpoint something specific. This was a game where they scored on eight different possessions. One of the touchdowns came from outside the red zone, so they were 3 for 7 in the red zone. I’m reasonably certain you will not get seven trips to the red zone in the playoffs. I am also certain you probably won’t score too often outside the red zone.

We will look at this in greater detail later in the week, but the problem with these games is that they skew the aggregate. It’s the lime wedge following a tequila shot of a four week stretch (the Jacksonville game was different) where the defense dominated and the offense did just enough to win. The narrative on Nick Caley seemingly changes from week to week, but it really shouldn’t. Overall, this is an average offense. Situationally, they struggle in the red zone and have all season.

In fact, the Jacksonville game and Baltimore game are the only two games where they haven’t struggled in the red zone. Coming into the game, the team was 30th in red zone touchdown percentage. The three for seven output doesn’t help. Ultimately, the decision to keep or not keep Caley will be predicated on how important this single stat is. They are average in just about everything else. So, how important is this one category? Again, we will look at this later on the week, because the legacy/evaluation of Nick Caley’s offense will need to be nuanced and comprehensive.

Source: https://www.battleredblog.com/houston-texans-analysis/73202/value-of-things-by-the-numbers

 

[Houston Texans]

Injury news: Texans lose Mario Edwards Jr.

Per Houston Texans’ head coach Demeco Ryans, stud defensive tackle Mario Edwards Jr. suffered a pectoral injury in yesterday’s victory against the Arizona Cardinals.

Depth at DT thinned with season ending pec injury for Mario Edwards Jr., whose presence will he missed. Potential fill-ins include Naquan Jones, in addition to practice squad players like Junior Tafuna, Marlon Davidson, Haggai Ndubuisi @KPRC2 https://t.co/5I1eukBpJe pic.twitter.com/07wLgQXWzY

— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) December 15, 2025

This will be a solid test for the culture of Ryans’ defense. The “next man up”, whether that’s Naquan Jones, Junior Tafuna, Marlon Davidson or someone else, will need to hit the field with the same sold out for the swarm intensity that’s made this the NFL’s #1 defense this year.

Edwards had participated in 14 games so far this season, contributing 13 tackles, 6 solo stops and 1.5 sacks. The 11 year vet also had 4 hits on opposing quarterbacks, not to mention his intangible assistance to the rest of the Texans dynamic front 7.

Rest up Mario, we’ll leave the light on!

Source: https://www.battleredblog.com/houston-texans-injuries/73206/injury-news-texans-lose-mario-edwards

 

[Houston Texans]

The Day After the Day After: Revisiting the Houston Texans’ 40-20 Conquest of the Arizona Cardinals

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 15:

Special Teams dominated this one for Houston: For Houston, all three parts of the game had their moments of strength. However, if there was a unit that truly dominated, it must be Frank Ross’ special teams. The tone got set early. Jaylin Noel’s 39-yard kickoff return jump-started Houston early. Following their quick strike Stroud-to-Collins TD two plays later, the subsequent Texans’ kickoff saw Houston’s Jamal Hill force a fumble that Ogunbowale easily gathered up, setting up a short field and Houston going up 10-0 before Arizona ran an offensive snap. On the next kickoff, Arizona muffed the kick, allowing Houston’s coverage unit to get down the field and stop the Cardinals at their 22. After a quick 3-and-out, Houston got a poor Arizona punt and the ball inside positive territory. This allowed Houston to go up 17-0, and from there, Houston maintained total strategic control. Houston’s kickoffs and coverage were stellar, not allowing Arizona to start the ball beyond their 30 for most of the game. Fairbairn only had one touchback, and that was late in the 4th quarter when the game was effectively over. The kick returns for Houston just as well. Noel later added a 69-yard kick return in the second half, which set up a Houston FG. Tommy Townsend didn’t punt until the 4th quarter, but even then, he placed his sole punt inside the Cardinals’ 5. Other than the blocked FG at the end of the 1st half, Houston’s special teams had arguably their best overall game of the season.

About those TEs: Historically for Houston’s defense, they don’t tend to cover TEs well. Enter Cardinals TE Trey McBride. If Arizona is tanking, someone forgot to tell him. McBride lit up Houston for 12 catches/134 yards/2 TDs. These weren’t garbage time stats either. McBride logged 5 receptions and a TD on Arizona’s first scoring drive in the 1st half. He shredded the Houston defensive backfield, regardless of who was on him. A LB or S, didn’t matter. McBride got his. Perhaps the most effective defender of McBride was DE Will Anderson Jr, who on a 4th quarter defensive play, shoved (legally) McBride hard to the ground to prevent him from running his route. It is possible that McBride is the best TE in the NFL, so Houston might be ok. However, for a team that prides itself on dominant defense, the way McBride abused them is a matter of concern. This will come into focus next week when Houston must contend with TE Brock Bowers, who is just as capable of wrecking a defense. Also recall that the Colts have Tyler Warren awaiting in that season finale.

The Fate of Others: While Houston would tell you that they are focused on what they can control and all the other standard cliches about “one game at a time,” we are entering the time of year when the results of others start to matter. Unfortunately for Houston, they did not gain in the standings in their quest to claim a 3rd straight AFC South title (Jacksonville routed the New Jersey Jets 48-20), not did they improve their positioning from the 7th seed (Buffalo and the LA Chargers both won). If there was any help, it came courtesy of Seattle, which held off Phillip Rivers and the Colts to give Houston a defacto 2-game lead for the 7th seed. Next week will be huge for Houston, for while they must deal with the slumping Raiders, the Jaguars must face the Denver Broncos and the Colts have to battle the playoff-positioned 49ers. Houston does get the Chargers in two weeks, which will definitely be for playoff positioning at a minimum. While Houston focuses on the field, fans can and should keep at least one eye on the scoreboards across the league as we enter the holiday season.

The Decisive Play

11:13, 1st Quarter. ARZ Ball, 3 and 12 at the AZ 20-yard line: Brissett to DeMercado for -5 yards

Given how Houston took control of this game early, the decisive play figured to come in the 1st quarter. Was tempted to put the fumble recovery on the second kickoff, but this play set up Houston to take that commanding 17-0 lead. While quickly down 10-0, teams can shake off some sudden slow starts. Arizona does have a passing attack that can (and in some cases did) puncture Houston’s defensive scheme and Jacoby Brissett has made a career of tormenting Houston. However, Arizona’s first effective offensive drive did not get off to a great start. They quick fell into a 3rd and 12 after a -2 yard loss and an incompletion. Yet, as we’ve seen, 3rd and 10+ yards is not the easiest down for Houston to get off the field. Brissett lined up in shotgun and then found RB Emari DeMercado for a dump off pass. However, DeMercado barely had time to corral the pass before LB Henry To’oTo’o flew in and tackled the RB for a huge 5-yard loss. Arizona had to punt, a weak 34-yard effort at that. By the time Arizona got the ball back, Houston was up three scores and the Cardinals never got the deficit back under 10 the rest of the game. For a team that lives and dies by super-stressful 4th quarters, that tackle to secure a quick 3-and-out and drive up an insurmountable deficit seemed a breath of fresh air to Houston fans.

FUN WITH NUMBERS:

8-0: Houston’s record when they score 20 or more points in a game this season: Pretty straightforward here. Get to 20 points, and Houston should win the game. Houston’s defense still holds the mark for fewest points allowed/game at 16.3, so if Houston gets more than 20, they should be fine shape, no matter who they play.

GAME BALLS:

RB Jawhar Jordan: 15 carries for 101 yards; 2 receptions for 17 yards. Not bad for a practice squad call up. In particular, he took the bulk of carries when Marks left the game due to a foot injury. His 50-yard scamper in the 3rd quarter put Houston in prime position to score their 1st TD of the second half. With Chubb and Marks’ status likely up the air until game time next week, Jordan should expect to shoulder more offensive plays. Also, he provided Houston its first 100-yard rusher of the season.

PK Ka’imi Fairbairn:4-of-5 on FGs, 4-of-4 on XPs, 9 kickoffs/only 1 TB. Pretty good day at the office really. The block is a downer, but no harm, no foul there.

WR/KR/PR Jaylin Noel: 2 kick returns/108 yards, 1 punt return/13 yards. Massive day for him (and the entirety of the special teams),

Special Teams Coordinator Frank Ross: May as well.

QB CJ Stroud: Amazing what he can do when he isn’t running for his life. 22 of 29 for 260 yards, 3 TDs, no INTs and only 2 sacks. Ok, the scrambling wasn’t superior this time (6 rushes for 10 yards), but no one is perfect. Also, he demonstrated good command and did not take the dumb lost-yardage play, making some awesome throws on the run into tight windows.

SHOULD BE FORCED TO LISTEN TO A TEARFUL CHRIS COLLINGSWORTH LAMENT THAT HE WON’T HAVE PATRICK MAHOMES IN THE PLAYOFFS TO SALAVATE OVER ON REPEAT:

Every Texans’ Defender Not Named Will Anderson Jr. That Attempted to Cover Trey McBride: Already discussed his stat line. He was effectively the Cardinals’ offense while the game was somewhat competitive. With the aforementioned Brock Bowers coming to town, Matt Burke will need to figure out how to mitigate the TEs from slashing his defense stat.

Houston, having clinched its 3rd straight winning season at 9-5, sets its sights on another home game, this time to duel with the Las Vegas Raiders. Kickoff is slated for 3:25 p.m. CST next Sunday, with coverage on CBS/Paramount+.

Source: https://www.battleredblog.com/houst...exans-40-20-conquest-of-the-arizona-cardinals