Hey guys, it’s Ari Alexander - back from vacation... back in time to watch the Texans pull away from the Cowboys Monday night and show some flashes of how good this team can be, along with some issues that need to be fixed if the Texans are going to have any shot to make a real run in the AFC Playoffs.
HOW GOOD ARE THE TEXANS?
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At times, really really good! Will Anderson, Jr., who is healthy and playing this week and Danielle Hunter form one of the best edge rush tandems in the league. They’re all over the top of leaderboards when it comes to defensive line stats, including pressures. The Texans edge is built perfectly for what they want to do, as defensive coordinator Matt Burke put it - disrupt the quarterback.
Both cornerbacks are healthy and playing and Derek Stingley, Jr. is playing at an All-Pro level.
The offense is more hit and miss. The hit has definitely been Joe Mixon, who is among the best running backs in the NFL. Mixon is 8th in the league in rushing yards and has 10 touchdowns, and that’s with missing a month.
C.J. Stroud said this week he’s going to keep firing away - “shooters shoot” despite throwing more interceptions (7) this year in 11 games than last year (5) in 15 games. Stroud says the coaches trust him and he’s going to continue to try to make plays.
When it’s all clicking, the offense can be dominant. When the pressure gets to the struggling interior line, the Texans have issues.
HOW BAD ARE THE TITANS?
Bad. Boring. Uninspiring. Will Levis has more interceptions than Stroud (8) in 4 less games. They traded away DeAndre Hopkins, and outside of Calvin Ridley and maybe Tony Pollard, don’t really have much for weapons (although Nick Westbrook-Ikhine has made some plays lately).
On defense, they have this weird discrepancy where they’re near the top of the league in yards allowed (and top of the league in pass yards allowed) and yet give up 26.3 points per game.
They’re missing starters on defense, and have faced quarterbacks who are in the realm of Stroud’s talent this season. Josh Allen cooked the Titans for 323 yards and 2 TDs and the Bills scored 34. Jared Goff only threw for 85 yards, but 3 TDs and the Lions won 52-14. Justin Herbert only threw for 164 yards, but again the Chargers won 27-17 and ran the ball 39 times.
The Titans have two wins this year - one over a Tyler Huntley-led Dolphins team, the other over New England. The Texans are favored by 7.5 points and should be. Tennessee is not good.
WHAT’S NEXT
Finally a noon Sunday kickoff! The Texans played back to back to back primetime games, and for fans that love the early tailgate, they will be delighted to be back to normal time. Sunday at Noon, NRG Stadium, the 7-4 Texans face the 2-8 Titans and hope to get to 4-0 in AFC South play.
