Hi guys, it’s Ari Alexander taking a look at this week in what’s going with the Texans. Last week, we talked about how the league’s love of two-high safeties is shutting down the deep pass, and the fact the Vikings run two-high at the league’s highest rate could be trouble for the Texans. Well...it was trouble for the Texans. Let’s get into it.
WHAT WENT WRONG
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Pretty much everything, honestly. C.J. Stroud, who threw just 5 interceptions in 2023, with only one multi-interception game, had the second multi-pick game of his career. The Texans were inconsistent moving the ball both in the air, and on the ground. The ground game specifically didn’t get going at all, as Houston was missing its top two rushers. This week, Joe Mixon looks like he’s trending toward playing after practicing Friday, and that should help the Texans open up some runs.
11 penalties is a lot. Like, a lot a lot. The team has vowed to clean up the false starts and illegal motions, and better communicate with the refs on what they’re looking for.
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WHO THEY PLAY
The 0-3 Jaguars had a much worse week than the Texans, somehow. Losing by 27 is rough, but imagine losing by 37? Now imagine your #1 pick franchise quarterback is only able to complete about 53 percent of his passes and can’t get the offense going at all. That’s Trevor Lawrence right now. Lawrence was among the most hyped/guaranteed hit #1 picks in the past couple decades - maybe the most hyped #1 pick QB since Andrew Luck. He had a great year in 2022, regressed last year and looks to be even worse this year. He’s also getting paid $275 million to be the Jaguars quarterback. Yes, the Jaguars lost Calvin Ridley and replaced him at receiver with Gabe Davis, but still have Christian Kirk (who they’re also paying a lot of money) and a good run game with Travis Etienne and Tank Bigsby. They added a receiver in the draft and Brian Thomas Jr. looks like a legit player. And yet, they’re really, really bad.
HOW THEY WIN
The Texans dominated on the ground in Week 1 and may be able to do so yet again in Week 4. The Jaguars rank 27th in total defense, but a solid 11th in run defense. They allowed a ton of yards through the air to running back De’Von Achane week 1 (76 yards receiving, just 24 yards rushing). With the Texans missing Tank Dell Sunday, using Joe Mixon in the pass game will become imperative. That, and getting quick throws out to Stefon Diggs, who was a target monster vs. the Vikings.
The biggest part of their offense, aside from the obvious good quarterback game, is Nico Collins. Collins leads in the NFL in receiving yards and has a juicy matchup against a bad Jags secondary. However, Collins popped up on the injury report Thursday with a hamstring injury, but said Friday he should be good to go. If Collins is truly feeling up to game speed, he should get 100+ yards and a touchdown against the woeful Jags secondary.
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WHAT’S NEXT
Sunday. Noon. NRG Stadium. Blue uniforms, finally! The Texans face another division rival.
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