Happy Thanksgiving!
Even happier the Houston Texans are off today in order to build on the 10-day lead up to their first encounter with the 2025 Indianapolis Colts.
Right now, the thousand foot view sure seems like the Colts are the best of the best and Houston is overachieving.
But when you dig deeper, the numbers tell the real story.
The baby horses have narrowly defeated the Denver Broncos, Arizona Cardinals and Atlanta Falcons. They’ve lost to the LA Rams, Pittsburgh Steelers and Kansas City Chiefs. Their only decisive victories have been against the bottom-feeding BESFs, Las Vegas Raiders and Miami Dolphins.
The Spark Notes version: They lose to good teams, struggle against solid teams and beat bad ones.
And, 1 of the 2 the other top flight defenses they faced, defeated them.
With C.J. Stroud returning for action, the Texans defense trying to regain the #1 scoring defense spot from the Rams and the AFC South Championship still very much up for grabs, expect Demeco’s Dawgs to hit the field hungry and ready to feast.
Houston Texans Week 13 Stats
- TEXANS rank 2nd in NFL in points allowed per game (16.5).
- QB DAVIS MILLS passed for 153 yards & 2 TDs last week. Aims for 4th in row with TD pass. Has 250+ pass yards in 2 of his past 3.
- QB C.J. STROUD aims for his 4th in row on road with 200+ pass yards & TD pass. Has 225+ pass yards & TD in each of his 4 career starts vs. Ind., incl. 2+ TD passes in 3 starts.
- RB WOODY MARKS led team with 74 rush yards in Week 12. Aims for 4th in row with 50+ scrimmage yards. Ranks 6th among rookies with 422 rush yards in 2025.
- WR CHRISTIAN KIRK had 30th career TD catch last week. Had 4 rec. for 88 yards in his last game vs. Ind. (10/6/24 w/ Jax.).
- WR JAYDEN HIGGINS (rookie) had TD catch in Week 12. Ranks tied-5th in rec. TD (4) among rookies this season.
- DE WILL ANDERSON JR. led team with season-high 2.5 sacks & had PD last week. Ranks 4th in NFL with 10.5 sacks this season. Has sack in 6 consecutive games, longest active streak.
- DE DANIELLE HUNTER had 2 sacks last week & ranks 3rd in the NFL with 11 in sacks this season (11). Has 4 games with 2+ sacks in 2025, tied-most in NFL (Brian Burns & Myles Garrett). Aims for his 3rd in row 1.5+ sacks.
- DE TIM SETTLE had 1st sack of season & 2 TFL last week.
- DE DEREK BARNETT had sack in Week 12.
- LB HENRY TO’OTO’O had 7 tackles & sack in Week 12. Had 7 tackles, TFL & PD in his last game vs. Ind. (9/8/24).
- LB AZEEZ AL-SHAAIR had 7 tackles & PD last week.
- S CALEN BULLOCK had career-high 2 INTs & FF in Week 12, only player to...
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