Battle Red Blog
The Houston Texans are fresh off a dominant victory over the well-coached San Francisco 49ers and are looking to keep that momentum rolling as they return home to face the Denver Broncos.
Quarterback C.J. Stroud took what the 49ers’ defense gave him and operated the offense at an extremely high level — something that hasn’t consistently happened in 2025. That inconsistency hasn’t been entirely on Stroud, as the regression around him has made things difficult.
Houston’s defense continues to set the tone each week. Their dominance is no surprise at this point, and they remain one of the toughest matchups for any team in the league.
-TE Dalton Schultz (Knee/ Shoulder)
-WR Braxton Berrios (Chest)
-RB Woody Marks (Calf)
-DE Dylan Horton (Knee)
-DE Denico Autry (Knee)
-CB Alijah Huzzie (Knee)
-FB Jakob Johnson (Hamstring)
-S Jalen Pitre (Foot)
-WR Nico Collins (Concussion)
-WR Christian Kirk (Hamstring)
The Texans’ offense was sharp last week despite missing their top two receivers — Nico Collins and Christian Kirk. It turned into the rookie show, led by Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel, both of whom stepped up in a big way. Even with Collins and Kirk expected to return, the young playmakers have earned more opportunities moving forward.
If Houston can find a way to beat the Broncos — one of the hottest teams in the league right now — it could go a long way toward turning their season around.
