Battle Red Blog
Where do the Texans land after their season-sweep of the Colts?
At the midway point of the 2024 NFL season, the Houston Texans stand atop the AFC South with a mighty 6-2 record. Dominant through the air they are not, but their vastly improved run game and resilient defense has proved the difference and many close contests thus far. C.J. Stroud has continued to look the part of a franchise quarterback in year two (at least for the most part), Will Anderson Jr. appears to be making a legitimate leap to stardom in his sophomore effort, and longtime kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn became the team’s unlikely secret weapon for the first month of the regular season. We embraced first-year running back Joe Mixon, rallied behind the fantastic performances of linebacker Henry To’oTo’o, and we shared shock and grief at the recent news of Stefon Diggs’ torn ACL. And it just started to feel like this team was really picking up steam! Without Diggs for the rest of the season and Nico Collins still on IR, it might start getting scary out there for Stroud, and it’s only gonna get worse when he flies into NYC to play the Jets on Halloween! SpoOoOoOky!!!
But, out of every Houston Texans team since their inception in 2002, I see this one as the team that can overcome any obstacle. In their last game against Indianapolis, Houston can credit their second-ever season sweep of the Colts to their resiliency in the fourth quarter. A fumble at the opponent’s 15-yard line with just three minutes left could have, and has in the past, spelled disaster for the Texans (see: Rosencopter, The), or at least an overtime period. But, instead, it became the Colts’ fourth three-and-out of the day, a remarkable feat by Houston’s defense, which has accomplished this in three of their last four games. The offense may still be a little suspect, but make no mistake: this defense can win games.
Surely, SURELY, that sweep of the Colts has to put Houston in the good graces of the power ranking pundits, right? RIIGHT? Well, here’s where the Houston Texans are ranked at the midpoint of the 2024 NFL Season:
8. Houston Texans (6-2) (Last Week: 8)
The Texans might have to go a week without Nico Collins and Stefon Diggs, with a Thursday game looming in Week 9. Collins will remain on injured reserve for at least one more game, and Diggs left Sunday’s win over the Colts with a knee injury. (EDITOR’S UPDATE: Texans coach DeMeco Ryans announced on Tuesday that Stefon Diggs will miss the rest of the season with a torn ACL.) Tank Dell stepped up with one of his better outings of the season, and he now might be thrust into a WR1 role against the Jets. Diggs left the game late in the third quarter, and C.J. Stroud took a painful sack two plays later, knocking the Texans out of field-goal range. But Stroud rallied...
