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Eye of the Cyclones: Higgins and Noel Week 7 Preview (Seattle Edition)

Eye of the Cyclones: Higgins and Noel Week 7 Preview (Seattle Edition)

Welcome to week 7 of the Cyclone tracker! (*Note: This week’s report has been modified to reflect the bye week and singular focus on the Seattle Seahawks.*)

This is where we follow our resident weather themed duo in rookie receivers Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel, both out of Iowa State (hence, the “Cyclone” twins).

As always, there will be analysis, projections, commentary, and relevant updates that happen in real time.

Week 7 Cyclones Predictor:

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Name: Jayden Higgins

Position: WR

Projected week 5 storm path: 2.7 targets, 1.8 receptions, 21.9 yards, 0.1 TD’s, 7.2 fantasy pts

Actual week 5 path:...

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Quick Hits: Houston Texans vs Seattle Seahawks

Quick Hits: Houston Texans vs Seattle Seahawks

The high of obliterating the hapless Baltimore Ravens 44-10 can only last so long. But hopefully that spark carries on for the next several months.

Houston has rarely done well in nationally televised games, going 16-28 according to ChampsorChumps.us.

A lot of those loses are due to short weeks, where the team didn’t have enough time to prepare. Or coaching ineptitude by way of BO’B, David Culley. etc.

Now they have 1 of the 2 best coaches in Texans history, Demeco Ryans, and they’ve had 2 full weeks to prepare.

Meanwhile, their opponent on Monday Night Football, the Seattle Seahawks,...

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Houston Texans: Top 5 Trade Deadline Targets

Houston Texans: Top 5 Trade Deadline Targets

If you were to take a quick gander at Houston’s upcoming slate of games, you’ll quickly realize that they’re currently at the base of a terrifying mountain of opponents. Seahawks, 49ers, and Broncos, oh my! If the Texans have their eye on a surging towards a winning record, then they will have to steel themselves for the turbulence that lies ahead.

Though, that isn’t to say their star quarterback, CJ Stroud, hasn’t earned the luxury of confidence after his recent performance. He and new offensive coordinator Nick Caley have plenty to be proud of after their dismantling of the Tennessee...

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Houston Texans NFL Power Rankings Week 7: Are the Texans Going Up?

Houston Texans NFL Power Rankings Week 7: Are the Texans Going Up?

Welcome to the post-bye week power rankings! Since the mild boost up the rankings last week following their win over the Ravens, the Texans had the opportunity to put it in neutral for their bye week. Under normal circumstances, most teams don’t move much at all on the power rankings during the bye week, but the Texans are anything but normal. They are wild, unpredictable, wavy, and of course, a little spunky. Some teams can “win” the bye week, just as others can “lose” it, and it has always been my attestation that the Texans always win their bye week,...

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Nico Collins slump statistical analysis

Nico Collins slump statistical analysis

If it feels like the Texans’ star wideout is having a down year—it’s because he is. Using Next Gen Stats and PFF grades, we’ll break down what’s behind his fifth-year slump. And no, it’s not the result of his new contract.

Through five games, Collins has accumulated 22 receptions for 312 yards and three touchdowns. While he’s never completed a full 17-game season, he’s still on track for 75 receptions and over 1,000 yards. Still impressive, but they pale in comparison to his last two seasons where he amassed 1,297 and 1,006 yards in 15 and 12 games respectively.

Let’s...

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The Day After the Day After: The Houston Texans and the Bye Week

The Day After the Day After: The Houston Texans and the Bye Week

The Day After the Day After…when the raw, immediate emotions from the aftermath of a game diminish into the realm of clarity and the proverbial (or literal) hangover no longer haunts the mind. With that, some thoughts about the Week 6 Bye:

Is the early bye a good thing, or a bad one? Both the Texans and Vikings got an early bye this season. After this, the Texans get no breaks until either their season ends or they can snag a first round bye. It won’t be easy for Houston, as they have brutal looking back-half of the season. As...

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Texans vs. Seahawks Opening Odds

Texans vs. Seahawks Opening Odds

We return to football this week after the Houston Texans enjoyed an early bye week. The Seattle Seahawks are coming off of a brilliant win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. Needless to say, both teams are coming in hot, so that will impact a game that is likely to end after everyone’s bed time. As per usual, we are looking at three key bets in the early odds feature. We look at the spread, over/under, and money line. Since this is the first one of these I have done this year and since this might be the first one of these...

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Monday Night Football Double Feature Open Thread

Monday Night Football Double Feature Open Thread

Tonight for your viewing pleasure the mouse network has provided televised coverage of not one but TWO Monday Night Football games. How nice, right?! So let’s get right to the games and…and…oh.

Well, it’s still football.

THE UNDERCARD

Here’s what you need to know to watch/listen to/stream tonight’s game:

Who: Buffalo Bills (4-1) at Atlanta Falcons (2-2)

What: Monday Night Football

Where: Mercedes Benz Stadium, Atlanta, GA

When: Monday, October 13, 6:15 p.m. CDT

Why: Because football is cruel and impersonal.

TV: ESPN, ESPN Deportes

Radio: Westwood One

Streaming: ESPN*, Fubo*, Hulu + Live TV*, NFL+*, SlingTV*, YouTubeTV* (*subscription required)...

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Value of Things: By the numbers (Bye week edition)

Value of Things: By the numbers (Bye week edition)

The main things all good teams do during bye weeks is self-scout. As analysts we can do the same thing. A wise analyst once said that you are what your record says you are, but that kind of sage advice breaks down under scrutiny. The standings say the Houston Texans are 2-3 but do the numbers reflect that of a 2-3 football team? Over a 17 game schedule, these things normally average out. Over five games there can be some variance. Are the Texans overachieving or underachieving?

We will look at the normal numbers as much as we can. Some...

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Sunday Night Football Open Thread – Detroit Lions at Kansas City Chiefs

Sunday Night Football Open Thread – Detroit Lions at Kansas City Chiefs

One of the understated best parts of having your team on a bye week is that you can fully dedicate yourself to your hobbies. Whether that’s writing your novel, glass blowing, or making voodoo dolls of people you don’t like, it’s good to have a moment to step away from the Texans and take a breath.

As for me, I will be engaging in my standard bye week pastime: hatewatching.

We’ve already seen the Cowboys lose to the Panthers, and I can only hope the Raiders can take care of business against the BESFs, and to cap off the night,...

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NFL Late Games Open Thread

NFL Late Games Open Thread

What, you’re still here? The early games are over. Go ho—wait, I’m being told that there are afternoon games to play and watch. So without any further ado let’s get to the big maps again!

CBS EARLY GAMES

Red: San Francisco 49ers at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Announcers: Jim Nantz, Tony Romo; Referee: Brad Rogers)
Blue: Cincinnati Bengals at Green Bay Packers (Announcers: Kevin Harlan, Trent Green; Referee: Brad Allen)

FOX SINGLE GAMES

Red: EARLY GAME
Blue: EARLY GAME
Yellow: EARLY GAME
Orange: EARLY GAME
Green: Tennessee Titans at Las Vegas Raiders (Announcers: Kenny Albert, Jonathan Vilma; Referee: Carl Cheffers)

I...

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