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Source: https://battleredblog.com/rss/index.xml

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<title type="text">Battle Red Blog</title>
<subtitle type="text">Your best source for quality Houston Texans news, rumors, analysis, stats and scores from the fan perspective.</subtitle>
<updated>2025-09-17T19:36:27+00:00</updated>
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<entry>
<author>
<name>Clayton Anderson</name>
</author>
<title type="html"><![CDATA[Injured Texans WRs look to boost struggling passing game]]></title>
<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://www.battleredblog.com/houston-texans-roster/71220/injured-texans-wrs-look-to-boost-struggling-passing-game" />
<id>https://www.battleredblog.com/?p=71220</id>
<updated>2025-09-17T15:36:27-04:00</updated>
<published>2025-09-17T15:36:27-04:00</published>
<category scheme="https://www.battleredblog.com" term="General" /><category scheme="https://www.battleredblog.com" term="Houston Texans Depth Chart" /><category scheme="https://www.battleredblog.com" term="Houston Texans News" /><category scheme="https://www.battleredblog.com" term="Texans Analysis" />
<summary type="html"><![CDATA[The Houston Texans have unfortunately stumbled out of the gate of the 2025 season, beginning 0-2 after heartbreaking losses to both the Los Angeles Rams and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. This is their worst start since 2023, where they also started 0-2. In both contests, the defense held serve for the most part, only allowing […]]]></summary>
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The Houston Texans have unfortunately stumbled out of the gate of the 2025 season, beginning 0-2 after heartbreaking losses to both the <a href="https://www.battleredblog.com/houston-texans-recap-post-game-reaction/71000/texans-lose-slug-fest-fumble-away-game-against-rams-14-9" data-type="link" data-id="https://www.battleredblog.com/houston-texans-recap-post-game-reaction/71000/texans-lose-slug-fest-fumble-away-game-against-rams-14-9">Los Angeles Rams</a> and the<a href="https://www.battleredblog.com/texans-game-day-threads/71161/houston-texans-fall-to-0-2-against-tampa-bay-on-mnf" data-type="link" data-id="https://www.battleredblog.com/texans-game-day-threads/71161/houston-texans-fall-to-0-2-against-tampa-bay-on-mnf"> Tampa Bay Buccaneers</a>. This is their worst start since 2023, where they also started 0-2.
In both contests, the defense held serve for the most part, only allowing 14 to L.A. and 20 to Tampa.(It was 14 for the majority of the game before Baker engineered the game winning drive in the fourth for the final score.)
However, the Texans offense didn’t do their part to help secure the victories, scoring a measly 9 points in game one and a disjointed 19 in the second. Their 28 points through two weeks ranks <a href="https://www.espn.com/nfl/stats/team/_/table/passing/sort/totalPoints/dir/desc" data-type="link" data-id="https://www.espn.com/nfl/stats/team/_/table/passing/sort/totalPoints/dir/desc">dead last</a> in the NFL behind other 0-2 teams in the Panthers and Titans.
That’s not the kind of output that Head Coach DeMeco Ryans had in mind for new coming offensive coordinator Nick Caley in year three of quarterback C.J. Stroud.
Speaking of C.J., his performances have been uneven at best to start the season. His 395 total passing yards so far have him ranked 30th, only in front of the Cardinals’ Kyler Murray (383) and oddly Tampa’s Baker Mayfield (382).
His lone touchdown pass Monday night has him <a href="https://www.nfl.com/stats/player-stats/category/passing/2025/REG/all/passingtouchdowns/DESC?aftercursor=AAAAGQAAABNAAAAAAAAAADFleUp6WldGeVkyaEJablJsY2lJNld6SXNJak15TURBMFpEUXhMVFE0TkRBdE1Ua3pPUzFsTkdNeExXSmlPRGt4T1RGaU5HVTNNU0lzTWpBeU5WMTk=" data-type="link" data-id="https://www.nfl.com/stats/player-stats/category/passing/2025/REG/all/passingtouchdowns/DESC?aftercursor=AAAAGQAAABNAAAAAAAAAADFleUp6WldGeVkyaEJablJsY2lJNld6SXNJak15TURBMFpEUXhMVFE0TkRBdE1Ua3pPUzFsTkdNeExXSmlPRGt4T1RGaU5HVTNNU0lzTWpBeU5WMTk=">tied with</a> Tyrod Taylor and Cam Ward for second fewest among qualified signal callers (Jalen Hurts has 0. Thank you ‘tush push’).
To be fair, the offense has not had the services of three key pieces to start their campaign. That being because of injuries to starting running back Joe Mixon (foot) and newly acquired wide receivers Christian Kirk and Braxton Berrios (hamstrings). That’s a 1,000 yard rusher and a 700-1,000 yard receiver (Kirk) that’s been missing from the offensive side of the ball.
However, a news break happened yesterday that could be key to turning the season around in quick fashion. And that being, according to multiple sources, the Houston Texans expect to receive wide receivers <a href="https://www.click2houston.com/sports/2025/09/16/texans-expect-christian-kirk-braxton-berrios-back-for-jaguars-game/" data-type="link" data-id="https://www.click2houston.com/sports/2025/09/16/texans-expect-christian-kirk-braxton-berrios-back-for-jaguars-game/">Christian Kirk and Braxton Berrios back</a> for their week three road game against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
It may not be a hot take to say that week three might be a virtual “must win” for the Texans, as they cannot risk falling to 0-3 if they’re truly aiming to step into “AFC Elite” status. Especially, when their division counterpart in the Indianapolis Colts have started 2-0 on the strength of unexpected quality performances by their new QB Daniel Jones (588 yards (second in NFL), 2 TD’s, and 111.1 passer rating (seventh in NFL)).
With the return of their WR2 in Kirk and quality depth piece in Berrios, C.J. and Caley may finally be able to turn the corner and establish a consistent rhythm in the passing game.
The <a href="https://www.nfl.com/news/jaguars-trading-wr-christian-kirk-to-texans-for-2026-seventh-round-pick" data-type="link" data-id="https://www.nfl.com/news/jaguars-trading-wr-christian-kirk-to-texans-for-2026-seventh-round-pick">Texans traded a ‘26 seventh rounder</a> to the Jaguars for Kirk. He was envisioned to be a veteran slot option who could also stretch the field on any defense. <a href="https://www.si.com/nfl/texans/news/houston-texans-sign-intriguing-sleeper-braxon-berrios" data-type="link" data-id="https://www.si.com/nfl/texans/news/houston-texans-sign-intriguing-sleeper-braxon-berrios">In signing Berrios during free agency</a>, they are provided with quick receiver who also can double up as a kick returner if called upon. Braxton also grabbed a 14-yard receiving touchdown against the Vikings in the preseason from Davis Mills.
With their reintegration, hopefully they can help a sputtering pass unit that is currently ranked eighth worst in receiving yards (395) and fourth worst in touchdowns (1).
I fully expect the Texans to come out aggressive and attempt to reestablish an offensive identity in week three. Let’s just hope that converts to a much needed W in Jacksonville, and serves as a reminder to the league that the Texans are not a team to take lightly when considering the power hierarchy in the AFC. 
]]>
</content>
</entry>
<entry>
<author>
<name>fizzyjoe</name>
</author>
<title type="html"><![CDATA[NFL Power Rankings Week 3: Where do the Texans land?]]></title>
<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://www.battleredblog.com/houston-texans-power-rankings/71196/nfl-power-rankings-week-3-where-do-the-texans-land" />
<id>https://www.battleredblog.com/?p=71196</id>
<updated>2025-09-17T02:42:28-04:00</updated>
<published>2025-09-17T11:00:00-04:00</published>
<category scheme="https://www.battleredblog.com" term="Houston Texans Power Rankings" />
<summary type="html"><![CDATA[The first two weeks of the 2025 NFL Season have not been kind to Houston Texans, who have fallen into the dreaded 0-2 trap after losing in the final seconds to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. A start like this is a far cry from the lofty prognostications many of Houston’s faithful made (including myself) on […]]]></summary>
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The first two weeks of the 2025 NFL Season have not been kind to Houston Texans, who have fallen into the dreaded 0-2 trap after losing in the final seconds to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. A start like this is a far cry from the lofty prognostications many of Houston’s faithful made (including myself) on the eve of the regular season, putting significant doubt into our championship aspirations. Personally, the positive development of new starting offensive guards Laken Tomlinson, Ed Ingram and rookie left tackle Aireontae Ersery during training camp and throughout the preseason stoked a sort of optimism within me that was very bullish on the offense as a whole. Maybe it was naivety (it was), but the good news surrounding the new linemen in August had convinced me that the big dilemma of 2024 had been fixed.
Oh, how wrong I was.
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-dnt="true">average CJ Stroud dropback <a href="https://t.co/drxg762ijT">pic.twitter.com/drxg762ijT</a>— Grant Goldberg (@GrantGoldberg) <a href="https://twitter.com/GrantGoldberg/status/1967758177082237018?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 16, 2025</a></blockquote>
</div></figure>
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-dnt="true">Every C.J. Stroud dropback vs the Buccaneers yesterday: There’s just too many easy misses in here especially with a pretty good start. There are still bigger issues on offense than 7 but there’s no excuses for some of the things in here. <a href="https://t.co/4e9LPiGhge">pic.twitter.com/4e9LPiGhge</a>— Jacob (@TexansJacob) <a href="https://twitter.com/TexansJacob/status/1967980861749666191?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 16, 2025</a></blockquote>
</div></figure>
Quarterback CJ Stroud was still pressured, struggled mightily both in and outside of the pocket, and ultimately was not able to connect with any of his favorite receivers with consistency. The offensive line seemed to improve as a whole with the return of RG Ed Ingram from injury, but critical failures in the second half forced the Texans to repeatedly punt and resulted in a failed attempt to score on fourth-and-goal at the Tampa Bay one-yard line. Oddly enough, though, the onus of defeat also resides on Houston’s defense due to a complete inability to contain the Bucs’ tailback Bucky Irving and quarterback Baker Mayfield. These two players were too hot to handle for linebackers Azeez Al-Shamir and Henry To’oTo’o, which could be a foreboding sign when looking onward to the rest of the Texans’ regular season schedule.
So, what could all of this mean for the Texans’ position in the power rankings? Well, buckle up, because this ride down the list is going to be bumpy. Here’s where the Houston Texans are ranked entering Week 3 of the 2025 NFL Season:
<h3 class="wp-block-heading has-text-align-none">NFL.COM:</h3>
<blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">
17. Houston Texans (0-2) (Last Week: 14)
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">
The Texans entered Monday night’s game against the Buccaneers with questions about their offensive identity, and they <a href="https://www.nfl.com/news/c-j-stroud-texans-offense-continues-to-sputter-everybody-s-going-to-talk-crazy-and-say-we-suck">didn’t do much to answer them</a>. Houston is 0-2, yet it had chances to win both games against quality teams. The offense landed some explosive plays early, as the Texans came out with some fire on both sides of the ball. But then the attack just fell flat, with <a href="https://www.nfl.com/players/c-j-stroud/">C.J. Stroud</a> routinely running for his life. The pass protection was leaky up and down the offensive line, which clearly is still trying to find some cohesion. Houston got back into the game via special teams with <a href="https://www.nfl.com/videos/texans-blocked-punt-gives-houston-a-fresh-set-of-downs-inside-bucs-territory">a blocked punt</a> and <a href="https://www.nfl.com/videos/can-t-miss-play-53-yard-punt-return-noel-s-speed-burst-burns-bucs-in-crunch-time">a long punt return</a>, setting up <a href="https://www.nfl.com/videos/chubb-s-go-ahead-td-run-gives-texans-a-19-14-lead-with-2-10-left-in-regulation">Nick Chubb’s late go-ahead score</a>. But there was too much time left, and a beat-up defense that had been on the field most of the game couldn’t get one final stop. Frustrating, not demoralizing, but the Texans are suddenly two games back in the division.
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">
– <a href="https://www.nfl.com/news/nfl-power-rankings-week-3-2025-nfl-season">Eric Edholm</a>
</blockquote>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading has-text-align-none">ESPN:</h3>
<blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">
16. <a href="https://www.espn.com/nfl/team/_/name/hou/houston-texans">Houston Texans</a> (0-2)
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">
Week 2 result: Lost to the Buccaneers <a href="https://www.espn.com/nfl/boxscore/_/gameId/401772715">20-19</a> Week 2 ranking: 16
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">
Biggest QB takeaway: <a href="https://www.espn.com/nfl/player/_/id/4432577/cj-stroud">C.J. Stroud</a> has had growing pains in new OC Nick Caley’s offense
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">
After Week 1, Stroud said his goal through the first few weeks has been to play with more urgency in the new system, which includes getting them set up quicker out of the huddle. In Week 1, the offense had five pre-snap penalties and that contributed to Stroud’s inability to throw a touchdown or lead the offense to the end zone. They got into the end zone (twice) in Week 2, but the offense failed to put up over 270 yards and Stroud admitted “we need more confidence as an offense.” Expect growing pains through the first half of the season.
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">
– <a href="https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/46273770/nfl-week-3-power-rankings-poll-32-teams-2025-quarterback-takeaways">DJ Bien-AIme</a>
</blockquote>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading has-text-align-none">SPORTS ILLUSTRATED:</h3>
<blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">
18. Houston Texans (0–2)
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">
Last week’s ranking: No. 19 Last week’s result: lost to Buccaneers, 20–19 This week: at Jaguars
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">
The Texans are digging an incredible hole to climb out of, made more difficult by the optics of these first two losses. C.J. Stroud has remained unspectacular and, despite heightened control over the offense, has not grabbed either of these games by the throat. Had it not been for Nick Chubb, the Buccaneers may not have even needed a last-second comeback. 
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">
– <a href="https://www.si.com/nfl/nfl-power-rankings-lions-prove-belong-super-bowl-contender-shortlist">Conor Orr</a>
</blockquote>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading has-text-align-none">BLEACHER REPORT:</h3>
<blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">
18. Houston Texans (0-2)
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">
Last Week: 16
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">
Week 2 Result: Lost vs. Tampa Bay 20-19 
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">
After being the surprise team of 2023, the Houston Texans took a step backward in 2024. Rebounding in 2025 is proving to be incredibly difficult.
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">
The Texans had a prime opportunity to steal a win thanks to some huge special teams plays on Monday night, but some of the same issues we saw in Week 1 cost them again.
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">
Houston’s offensive line continues to struggle at the most inopportune times, and its backfield could use an upgrade. Penalties were also a massive problem for the second straight week.
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">
The good news is that the defending AFC South champions will begin divisional play in Week 3. The bad news is that Houston is now a full two games behind the Indianapolis Colts.
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">
– <a href="https://bleacherreport.com/articles/25249311-br-experts-week-3-nfl-power-rankings">Kris Knox</a>
</blockquote>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading has-text-align-none">CBS SPORTS:</h3>
<blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">
 23. Houston Texans (0-2)
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">
Where is the offense? They don’t score enough, which is a major concern after two games. The offensive line is still a problem.
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">
– <a href="https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/nfl-week-3-power-rankings-chiefs-will-be-fine-despite-falling-out-of-top-10-watch-out-for-the-nfc-west/">Pete Prisco</a>
</blockquote>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading has-text-align-none">USA TODAY:</h3>
<blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">
20. <a href="https://sportsdata.usatoday.com/football/nfl/teams/houston-texans/325" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Houston Texans</a> (17): 
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">
With the next two matchups against AFC South foes, it’s go time for an underachieving offense that has yet to produce 270 yards or 20 points in either of its first two games.
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">
– <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/columnist/nate-davis/2025/09/16/nfl-power-rankings-week-3-joe-burrow-bengals-chiefs/86175331007/">Nate Davis</a>
</blockquote>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading has-text-align-none">YAHOO! SPORTS:</h3>
<blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">
17 (17): <a href="https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/teams/houston/">Houston Texans</a> (0-2)
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">
The Texans have a lot of issues. Their offensive line isn’t good. The running game was unproductive in Week 2. Houston’s receivers other than Nico Collins aren’t great. C.J. Stroud is regressing, maybe as a result of all the strife around him. Houston lost to two good teams, but there are warning signs.
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">
– <a href="https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/article/nfl-power-rankings-entering-week-3-the-packers-look-like-the-best-team-in-football-050153039.html">Frank Schwab</a>
</blockquote>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading has-text-align-none">THE ATHLETIC:</h3>
<blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">
24. Houston Texans (0-2)
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">
Last week: 17
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">
Monday: Lost to Buccaneers 20-19
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">
Overreaction: C.J. Stroud’s slump is concerning
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">
The Texans have failed their young quarterback with a bad offensive-line plan, but Stroud is not blameless. In his first 20 games as a pro, he threw 30 touchdown passes against eight interceptions, had a 100.2 passer rating and averaged 0.10 of EPA per dropback. In the 14 games since, he has 14 touchdown passes versus 10 interceptions, has an 81.4 passer rating and is averaging minus-0.09 of EPA per dropback. That divide dates to Week 5 of 2024, which was also his last 300-yard passing game.
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">
Up next: at Jaguars, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">
– <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6631549/2025/09/16/nfl-power-rankings-week-3-packers-vikings-commanders/">Chad Graff and Josh Kendall</a>
</blockquote>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading has-text-align-none">PRO FOOTBALL TALK:</h3>
<blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">
15. Texans (No. 13; 0-2): Can’t be an elite team until you can beat elite teams.
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">
– <a href="https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/pfts-week-3-2025-nfl-power-rankings" data-type="link" data-id="https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/pfts-week-3-2025-nfl-power-rankings">Mike Florio</a>
</blockquote>
Average Rankings: 18.67 (Last Week: 16.45)
<img src="https://platform.battleredblog.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2025/09/gettyimages-2235656708.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0.01567398119122,0,99.968652037618,100" alt="" title="" data-has-syndication-rights="1" data-caption="HOUSTON, TEXAS - SEPTEMBER 15: C.J. Stroud #7 of the Houston Texans throws a pass against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the fourth quarter in the game at NRG Stadium on September 15, 2025 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images)" data-portal-copyright="" />
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Now, here’s some true variety! Some power rankers have the Texans as high at 15 and as low as 24, which is a sign to me that the sell-off is currently underway. Some writer will continue to cling onto the hope that Houston will return to 2023 form, but others have officially given up on the offense to rise above anything beyond late-career Roethlisberger level. While the defense has settled into the elite tier, this other side of the ball has been through a variety show’s worth of supporting cast members, and yet, the result is still underwhelming. The defense is kicking off the new season practically squatting on opposing quarterbacks, while the offense was literally inviting boos and jeers from the home crowd in the Texans’ opening night. This is the skit that just won’t end, and both the power ranking pundits and the fans have had enough of it.
Maybe next week’s contest against the Jacksonville Jaguars will be the bout of relief we’re all so desperate for. The Texans, especially with Stroud, have been able to score on the glitter kitties with ease. But, considering Houston is currently ranked as the worst scoring offense in the NFL while the Jaguars are seventh best, the Texans will have their work cut out for them just trying to keep pace. What do you think, though? Will the Texans finally get on the board by beating a division rival, or are they doomed to sink even further down the rankings? Let us know down in the comments below!
GO TEXANS!!!

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</content>
</entry>
<entry>
<author>
<name>l4blitzer</name>
</author>
<title type="html"><![CDATA[The Day After the Day After: Aftermath of the Houston Texans’ loss to the Tampa Bay Bucs]]></title>
<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://www.battleredblog.com/analysis/71183/the-day-after-the-day-after-aftermath-of-the-houston-texans-loss-to-the-tampa-bay-bucs" />
<id>https://www.battleredblog.com/?p=71183</id>
<updated>2025-09-16T21:01:57-04:00</updated>
<published>2025-09-17T09:30:00-04:00</published>
<category scheme="https://www.battleredblog.com" term="Texans Analysis" />
<summary type="html"><![CDATA[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, a review of Week 2: The script for the “Most Interesting Defense in the World” flips: In the 2+ years […]]]></summary>
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<img alt="" data-caption="" data-portal-copyright="" data-has-syndication-rights="1" src="https://platform.battleredblog.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2025/09/gettyimages-2235645175.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0,0,100,100" />
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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, a review of Week 2:
<img src="https://platform.battleredblog.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2025/09/gettyimages-2235656960.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0,4.2907719541291,100,91.418456091742" alt="" title="" data-has-syndication-rights="1" data-caption="HOUSTON, TEXAS - SEPTEMBER 15: Baker Mayfield #6 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers scrambles against the Houston Texans during the fourth quarter in the game at NRG Stadium on September 15, 2025 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)" data-portal-copyright="" />
The script for the “Most Interesting Defense in the World” flips: In the 2+ years under the most interesting defensive coordinator in the world Matt Burke, the Texans’ defense found itself needing to hold off the opponent in the final seconds. In 2023, the defense held off the Saints, Cardinals, Broncos, Colts when those teams needed touchdowns to tie or win. Last season, it held off final charges from the Colts and Dolphins to secure such victories. Historically, Houston would surrender enough yards for the FG (see ATL and CAR in 2023, GB and DET in 2024). However, the 2025 defense failed to keep the Bucs out of the endzone. Was the defense likely tired from being on the field for almost 37 minutes prior to that final drive? Sure. One could argue after so many successful holds to prevent a team from score a game winning/tying TD, the team was due for some regression. Still, if Houston wants to get where it wants to go, the defense has to lead the way, and it must close out games like this.
<img src="https://platform.battleredblog.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2025/09/gettyimages-2235660919.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0,1.4583333333333,100,97.083333333333" alt="" title="" data-has-syndication-rights="1" data-caption="HOUSTON, TEXAS - SEPTEMBER 15: Baker Mayfield #6 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers scrambles for a first down against C.J. Gardner-Johnson #8 of the Houston Texans during the fourth quarter in the game at NRG Stadium on September 15, 2025 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images)" data-portal-copyright="" />
The Two 4th Downs that decided the game: In a game like this, it can come down to but a couple of plays. Here, two 4th down plays decided the fate of the contest. One was a fourth down conversion not made, the other one was. 
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>HOU: 4th and Goal from the Tampa Bay 1 (4th Qtr, 11:19). Houston comes out in shotgun. This is the 3rd consecutive play starting from the TB 1 yard line. A Nick Chubb run for no gain and a Stroud incompletion to Collins got Houston to his point. Given that Houston trailed early in the 4th by 4 and was at the TB 1, few could argue against the call to go for it here. Stroud takes the snap and rolls to his left, along with most of his eligible receivers. He targets Collins, but throws high and to the right of Collins, who is under good coverage.</li>
<li>TB: 4th and 10 from the TB 32 (4th Qtr, 1:24). While the Bucs still had its full complement of timeouts, this play likely meant ball game. Mayfield took the shotgun snap, desperate to find some open receiver to keep the drive alive. Houston’s front four got some good push all along the O-line. LB To’oTo’o then came on a delayed blitz along the right side of the Bucs’ line. However, he did not take the greatest angle and Mayfield was able to side-step his rush enough to only get a weak-arm outreach from the LB. From there, Mayfield saw the middle of the field wide open, as any Texans defender not rushing was in deeper coverage. He gets 15 yards before S Gardner-Johnson takes him down.</li>
</ul>
A big momentum swing on both 4th downs. The goal-line stand was somewhat mitigated by Houston with the follow-on punt block, but they only managed a FG. That left the score 13-14, which played a major factor later in the game, when Houston had to go for 2 when Chubb scored near the 2-min warning. A 5 point-lead still means a team needs a TD to win. However, if Houston gets that TD earlier in the 4th, the score is then 17-14. The strategic direction of the game completely changes then. Even if Houston doesn’t get the punt block and doesn’t get the FG, a lead is a lead. Also, if Houston still scores that final TD later in the 4th quarter, then the game is effectively over at 24-14. As for Tampa Bay, that scramble put the wind in their sails, and the Bucs marched down the field on a tired and slightly demoralized defense.
<img src="https://platform.battleredblog.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2025/09/gettyimages-2235661618.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0,0.0074604595643066,100,99.985079080871" alt="" title="" data-has-syndication-rights="1" data-caption="HOUSTON, TX - SEPTEMBER 15: Jaylin Noel #14 of the Houston Texans returns the ball against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during an NFL football game at NRG Stadium on September 15, 2025 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images)" data-portal-copyright="" />
Special Teams almost won it for Houston. On a night when the vaunted defense couldn’t check the punishing Tampa Bay ground attack and where the offense was still held back by low-caliber line play and inconsistency, special teams needed to come through. In the second half, they definitely did. In the 4th quarter, after a potentially game-altering goal-line stand (see previous section), Houston needed something to flip back its way. The Bucs moved the ball to near midfield, seemingly moving a struggling Texans offense out of any chance to score. Then Jakob Johnson blocks the punt. The ball ended up back at the TB 35, leading to a Houston FG. Then, later in the 4th, Jaylin Noel provided a 53-yard punt return that set up the Texans for the go-ahead TD. Overall, special teams played a better quality game here than in LA. Most of the coverage on the game laments the Bucs’ poor special teams (they struggled in Atlanta), but let us not completely discount the Texans’ role in making the Bucs special teams look bad.
<img src="https://platform.battleredblog.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2025/09/gettyimages-2235660271.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0,8.3155270655271,100,83.368945868946" alt="" title="" data-has-syndication-rights="1" data-caption="HOUSTON, TEXAS - SEPTEMBER 15: C.J. Stroud #7 of the Houston Texans walks off the field after being defeated by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the game at NRG Stadium on September 15, 2025 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images)" data-portal-copyright="" />
Going into the early bye with a losing record seems almost a certainty now. Having an extremely early bye is a strange season marker. However, based on the makeup of the schedule, the idea of going into that bye in Week 6 with a losing record didn’t seem all that far-fetched. With a trip to Baltimore slated for Week 5, Houston seemingly will enter the Week 6 bye, best case, at 2-3. Plenty of season to go, and the offense line can settle in, players like Mixon can come back from injury, and the back part of the schedule sets up nicely for Houston. Yet, it is also not hard to think that the games at Jacksonville and against Tennessee at NRG are must-wins. 2-3 is one thing. 1-4 or 0-5…well, then we are having a completely different discussion.
FUN WITH NUMBERS: 
3: Times that Houston started 0-2 and still managed to make the playoffs. Only 11.5% of teams since 1990 have done so. Houston’s done it three times. 2015, 2018 and 2023 started 0-2 and the Texans ended as AFC South Champions (9-7, 11-5, 10-7 respectively). Not ideal, but not impossible either. 
22.2%: Houston’s 3rd Down conversion percentage this season. Only two game, but teams do not find much success at that clip. This is dead-last in the league by a considerable margin. 
<img src="https://platform.battleredblog.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2025/09/gettyimages-2235650912.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0.0080153895479285,0,99.983969220904,100" alt="" title="" data-has-syndication-rights="1" data-caption="HOUSTON, TEXAS - SEPTEMBER 15: Danielle Hunter #55 of the Houston Texans sacks Baker Mayfield #6 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the second quarter in the game at NRG Stadium on September 15, 2025 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images)" data-portal-copyright="" />
GAME BALLS
WR/KR Jaylin Noel: His 53-yard punt return was his main highlight, part of his 67 total punt return yards on three returns (22.3 yards/return) and 78 yards on three kick returns (26.0yds/return). He was not targeted as a receiver in 15 snaps, but he stood out as a special teams weapon. 
DE Danielle Hunter: Hunter’s line for night: 5 tackles (3 solo), 2 TFLs/2 Sacks and a FF. He also went over 100 sacks for his career. Anderson also added a sack to his season total. 
<img src="https://platform.battleredblog.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2025/09/gettyimages-2235641706.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0,8.3333333333333,100,83.333333333333" alt="" title="" data-has-syndication-rights="1" data-caption="HOUSTON, TEXAS - SEPTEMBER 15: Offensive coordinator Nick Caley of the Houston Texans looks on prior to the game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at NRG Stadium on September 15, 2025 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images)" data-portal-copyright="" />
SHOULD BE FORCED TO LISTEN TO JOE BUCK NARRATE EVERY SINGLE EVENT FROM MONDAY NIGHT ON REPEAT WHILE CLEANING OUT TORO’S STABLE WITH ONLY A TOOTHBRUSH
Goal Line Play Calling/Execution: Houston got the ball to the TB 1-yard line early in the 4th quarter and executed one Chubb run up the middle and two mis-fired passes to Collins. Last week, Houston actually used the tush push on a 4th and 2 to convert inside Rams territory last week? Would that not be a consideration here to get only one yard? You don’t want Stroud taking too many shots, but you’ve shown it can be done, even if Vea is a far superior nose tackle to his Rams’ counterpart. And no play-action of any sort on either pass play? Good play-calling depends on execution (Stroud takes his blame here), but poor creativity from Caley here.
Run Defense: Tampa Bay’s two main backs combined for over 136 yards rushing. Throw in Mayfield’s 33 yards and the Texans’ run D had a game to forget. Big reason why the Bucs won time of possession and the Texans’ D struggled on the last drive. Last week, Houston only surrendered 71 total yards on the ground. 
Houston has a short-turn to prep for its visit to Jacksonville and the 1-1 Jaguars. This will be a game where both teams will want to put aside last-second losses. Also, there might…MIGHT, be some other sub-plots of note from the last time these two dueled. Kickoff is this Sunday at noon CDT on CBS/Paramount+. See y’all there. 
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</content>
</entry>
<entry>
<author>
<name>Scott Barzilla</name>
</author>
<title type="html"><![CDATA[Value of Things: Doable Tweaks]]></title>
<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://www.battleredblog.com/the-value-of-things/71191/value-of-things-doable-tweaks" />
<id>https://www.battleredblog.com/?p=71191</id>
<updated>2025-09-16T21:56:19-04:00</updated>
<published>2025-09-17T09:00:00-04:00</published>
<category scheme="https://www.battleredblog.com" term="The Value of Things" />
<summary type="html"><![CDATA[The NFL season is a cruel mistress. My other love is baseball. There are 162 of those suckers, so no one in their right mind jumps to any conclusions after just two games. In a 17 game schedule, you are talking about nearly 15 percent of the total season. In baseball terms, that equals about […]]]></summary>
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The NFL season is a cruel mistress. My other love is baseball. There are 162 of those suckers, so no one in their right mind jumps to any conclusions after just two games. In a 17 game schedule, you are talking about nearly 15 percent of the total season. In baseball terms, that equals about 25 games. Suddenly, slumps take on new significance. Things that might seem like blips on the radar become trends. When you see them in both games then you have to take notice.
Unlike baseball, the NFL is a capped sport. Teams find it much harder to do course corrections midstream. Trades are also much less frequent. So, unfortunately you have to deal with what you have in house. This is particularly true as it pertains to the offensive line. We talked about the decisions that Nick Caserio made during the offseason. We can belabor the point yet again, but it is what it is at this point. You have a couple of second round backups and you could roll the dice on them. You also have Cam Robinson. That is pretty much the extent of what you have unless you want to roll the dice on Trent Brown being healthy.
The tight end room is pretty thin as well. You really only have two healthy ones. I would expect them to sign someone else to the practice squad at this point, but the odds of them playing meaningful plays is probably slim. Fortunately, it looks like Christian Kirk is finally ready to make his Texans debut against his old team. That leaves just one position group since the Texans aren’t making a change at quarterback.
Before we go too far into the ins and outs of that position and others, let’s take a look at the overall numbers through two games. We will look at a number of different numbers and you tell me what jumps out at you. I usually like to look at numbers like these before making any grand pronouncements.
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Points: 28 (32nd)</li>
<li>Total Yards: 531 (28th)</li>
<li>Rushing Yards: 198 (20th)</li>
<li>Passing Yards: 333 (28th)</li>
<li>First Downs: 30 (29th)</li>
<li>Yards per play: 5.2 (18th)</li>
<li>Passing Rating: 85.0 (23rd)</li>
<li>Sack Percentage: 10.5 (29th)</li>
</ul>
At some point, there will be a referendum on the quarterback position. There has to be. You don’t pay a guy 60+ million per season without really looking at his performance. However, those kinds of decisions aren’t made after two games. We can surmise that the receiving situation will get better with Kirk back in the fold as well. So, that still leaves one group.
Both Caserio and DeMeco Ryans are well within their rights to play Joe Mixon’s health close to the vest. Reporters and commentators also have the right to keep asking what is going on. However, they must know what the likely outcome of that is. A world with Mixon, Nick Chubb, and Woody Marks as your tailbacks is a pretty darn good one. A world with just Chubb and Marks is not quite good enough.
Two things happened on Monday that cemented this state of affairs. First, the Texans decided to make Dameon Pierce a healthy scratch. It makes perfect sense. He only had a handful of carries in week one and did nothing. He also struggled mightily on kickoff returns. Once Frank Bush announced he would not be returning kicks, suddenly his spot on the 47 seemed dubious. In point of fact, his spot on the 53 man roster is probably in jeopardy. If it isn’t then it should be.
That leaves Dare Ogunbowale. Ogunbowale is definitely not worthless. If he isn’t the best special teams player on the team, he is easily on the short list. We saw how important special teams was on Monday night. So, I have absolutely zero issue with him being on the 53 man roster or the 47 man active list. I have a serious issue with him being on the field for any offensive play. He fumbled in one of his few attempts during week one and then turned around and got Stroud mauled on a blitz pickup. If you aren’t an effective runner, receiver, or blocker then what are you doing out there?
The answer is that there is no one else. For whatever reason, the club doesn’t feel comfortable putting British Brooks out there, so if it isn’t Marks and it isn’t Chubb than it has to be Ogunbowale. This is where they need to be honest with at least themselves. If Joe Mixon is only out for two more games then making a move makes a lot less sense. Just limp your way through. If he is missing more time (as is rumored) then this situation cannot continue as is.
The first half of the solution is the easy part. It is time to say goodbye to Dameon Pierce. I realize how harsh that sounds, but it is a decision we have been dancing around for over a year. We at BRB have been calling for that since training camp 2024. I understand that he had a great rookie season and has made a few plays here and there. The further and further we get away from that rookie season the less and less sense it makes to keep him.
The second part of that decision is the harder part. The list of free agent running backs leaves a little to be desired. There is seldom a time when it doesn’t at this part of the year. You could roll the dice on a Gus Edwards, Zack Moss, or Cam Akers or you can promote Jawhar Jordan. Jordan has looked good in training camp two years in a row and can’t seem to break into the final running back rotation. Realistically, he is not better than Chubb or Marks. He doesn’t need to be. He just needs to be better than Pierce and Ogunbowale. People have already listed Alvin Kamara, Jerome Ford, and Breece Hall as early season trade targets. Those three would likely be on the Chubb level, but at what cost? At any rate, there are options and if the Texans want to get this thing turned around, this is a tweak worth doing.
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</content>
</entry>
<entry>
<author>
<name>Patrick</name>
</author>
<title type="html"><![CDATA[Houston Texans News: Injured WRs expected to play in Week 3]]></title>
<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://www.battleredblog.com/battle-red-newswire-houston-texans-news-notes-links/71213/houston-texans-news-injured-wrs-expected-to-play-in-week-3" />
<id>https://www.battleredblog.com/71213/houston-texans-news-template</id>
<updated>2025-09-17T11:20:58-04:00</updated>
<published>2025-09-17T01:00:00-04:00</published>
<category scheme="https://www.battleredblog.com" term="Battle Red Newswire" /><category scheme="https://www.battleredblog.com" term="Houston Texans News" />
<summary type="html"><![CDATA[Houston Texans News The Houston Texans’ Encouraging History in Seasons With 0-2 Starts (Houston Press) Texans QB C.J. Stroud Lands Favorable Week 3 Fantasy Projection (Sports Illustrated) NFL Panic Meter: The Texans are failing C.J. Stroud, not the other way around (Yahoo Sports) Texans expect to get Christian Kirk, Braxton Berrios back in Week 3 […]]]></summary>
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<img alt="" data-caption="" data-portal-copyright="" data-has-syndication-rights="1" src="https://platform.battleredblog.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2025/09/gettyimages-2235645682.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0,0,100,100" />
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<a href="https://www.battleredblog.com/">Houston Texans</a> News
<a href="https://www.houstonpress.com/news/houston-texans-0-2-starts-have-not-been-automatic-doom-21254611">The Houston Texans’ Encouraging History in Seasons With 0-2 Starts</a> (Houston Press)
<a href="https://www.si.com/nfl/texans/news/houston-texans-qb-cj-stroud-favorable-week-3-fantasy-projection">Texans QB C.J. Stroud Lands Favorable Week 3 Fantasy Projection</a> (Sports Illustrated)
<a href="https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/article/nfl-panic-meter-the-texans-are-failing-cj-stroud-not-the-other-way-around-135541971.html">NFL Panic Meter: The Texans are failing C.J. Stroud, not the other way around</a> (Yahoo Sports)
<a href="https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/texans-expect-to-get-christian-kirk-braxton-berrios-back-in-week-3">Texans expect to get Christian Kirk, Braxton Berrios back in Week 3</a> (Pro Football Talk)
<a href="https://www.nfl.com/news/c-j-stroud-texans-offense-continues-to-sputter-everybody-s-going-to-talk-crazy-and-say-we-suck">C.J. Stroud, Texans offense continues to sputter: ‘Everybody’s going to talk crazy and say we suck’</a> (NFL.com)
<a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl-news">NFL News</a>
<a class="" href="https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/46290986/preston-smith-return-commanders-source-says">Banged-up Commanders reunite with LB Smith</a> (ESPN.com)
<a class="" href="https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/46291713/packers-top-wr-jayden-reed-undergoes-clavicle-foot-surgeries">Top Packers WR Reed has clavicle, foot surgeries</a> (ESPN.com)
<a class="" href="https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/46292071/bills-rule-lb-matt-milano-dt-ed-oliver-vs-dolphins">Bills LB Milano, DT Oliver won’t play vs. Dolphins</a> (ESPN.com)
<a class="" href="https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/46285616/jordan-mailata-chatter-eagles-won-due-tush-push-rubbish">Eagles LT: Tush push chatter makes ‘blood boil’</a> (ESPN.com)
<a class="" href="https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/46282335/rams-sean-mcvay-tore-plantar-fascia-week-2-victory">McVay tore plantar fascia on sideline during win</a> (ESPN.com)
<a class="" href="https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/46282601/nfl-says-tom-brady-violate-rules-raiders-booth">NFL: Brady didn’t violate rules in Raiders booth</a> (ESPN.com)
<a class="" href="https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/46284999/sources-vikings-place-aaron-jones-injured-reserve">Source: Vikings RB Jones (hamstring) hits IR</a> (ESPN.com)
<a class="" href="https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/46282848/steelers-likely-change-returners-special-teams-gaffe">Steelers likely to adjust after kickoff return gaffe</a> (ESPN.com)
<a class="" href="https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/46097299/stefon-diggs-cardi-b-baby-pregnancy-new-england-patriots">Cardi B, Stefon Diggs are expecting a child</a> (ESPN.com)
Houston & Collegiate Sports
<a href="https://www.mlb.com/news/zach-cole-homers-to-help-astros-beat-rangers">Stepping in for injured Alvarez, rookie Cole comes up clutch — twice</a> (MLB.com)
<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6611487/2025/09/15/red-sox-astros-guardians-al-wild-card-race/">Red Sox, Astros and Guardians, oh my: Breaking down a complicated AL Wild Card race</a> (The Athletic)
<a href="https://www.statesman.com/sports/columns/article/texas-football-arch-manning-utep-longhorns-qb-21036248.php">Arch Manning has a confidence problem that needs fixing ASAP</a> (Austin American-Statesman)
<a href="https://www.statesman.com/sports/college/longhorns/football/article/cj-baxter-injury-update-texas-football-tre-wisner-21049011.php">CJ Baxter injury update: Will Texas Longhorns RB play this week?</a> (Austin American-Statesman)
<a href="https://www.goodbullhunting.com/texas-am-aggie-football/38124/sec-shorts-captures-emotion-of-am-nd-game-perfectly">SEC shorts captures emotion of A&M/ND game perfectly</a> (Good Bull Hunting)
<a href="https://www.si.com/college/tamu/football/texas-am-shockingly-snubbed-college-football-analyst-top-10-rankings">Texas A&M Shockingly Snubbed on College Football Analyst’s Top 10 Rankings</a> (Sports Illustrated)
<a href="https://www.houstonchronicle.com/sports/college/article/houston-football-bowl-projections-week-3-21051414.php">Halfway there: Bowl projections for UH football after 3-0 start to season</a> (Houston Chronicle)
<a href="https://www.si.com/college/houston/football/preseason-accolades-already-beginning-to-pour-in-for-houston-cougars-stars">Preseason Accolades Already Beginning to Pour In For Houston Cougars Stars</a> (Sports Illustrated)
<a href="https://www.si.com/college/houston/football/deion-sanders-left-dumbfounded-after-loss-houston-cougars">Deion Sanders Left ‘Dumbfounded’ After Loss to Houston Cougars</a> (Sports Illustrated)
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</content>
</entry>
<entry>
<author>
<name>Scott Barzilla</name>
</author>
<title type="html"><![CDATA[Value of Things: By the Numbers]]></title>
<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://www.battleredblog.com/the-value-of-things/71159/value-of-things-by-the-numbers" />
<id>https://www.battleredblog.com/?p=71159</id>
<updated>2025-09-15T22:44:30-04:00</updated>
<published>2025-09-16T09:00:00-04:00</published>
<category scheme="https://www.battleredblog.com" term="The Value of Things" />
<summary type="html"><![CDATA[The Houston Texans have begun the season 0-2 after coming into the season with lofty expectations. Unlike the first game, there will be some coaching decisions that come under the microscope in this one. In particular, the Texans had second and goal from the one and came away with zero points. Those lack of points […]]]></summary>
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The Houston Texans have begun the season 0-2 after coming into the season with lofty expectations. Unlike the first game, there will be some coaching decisions that come under the microscope in this one. In particular, the Texans had second and goal from the one and came away with zero points. Those lack of points ended up being the difference in the game. Obviously, if he had known then what he knows now he would have kicked the field goal. Hindsight is always 20/20.
There were more positives in this one as the Texans almost pulled it out in the end. The ending was reminiscent of 2023 when the Texans seem to come down to the last two minutes with the lead in nearly every game. They were able to hold off their opponents more often that season. They weren’t able to do it on this night. It is true that they played two likely playoff teams, but they still find themselves in last place of the AFC South.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The Numbers</h2>
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Total Yards: Texans 46/266. Bucs 72/360</li>
<li>Rushing Yards: Texans 19/84, Bucs 30/169</li>
<li>Passing Yards: Texans 27/182, Bucs 42/191</li>
<li>Third Down: Texans 2/9, Bucs 6/14</li>
<li>Sacks: Texans 4, Bucs 3</li>
<li>Penalties: Texans 6/45, Bucs 7/45</li>
<li>Turnovers: Texans 0, Bucs 0</li>
<li>Time of Possession: Texans 22:51, Bucs 37:09</li>
</ul>
This game might get me to bust out a cumulative stat I used during the dark days. Essentially, I tracked the net difference between rushing yards and rushing yards allowed. This one was one-sided for much of the game. C.J. Stroud had 27 yards on four carries. So, the running backs had 57 yards on 15 carries. I suppose it’s not terrible, but it does deserve a special comment. DeMeco Ryans has made great pains to talk about how he wants to play a physical brand of football. You can want in one hand and pee in the other and see which one fills up first.
The total sum of what you do is the truest measure of your devotion. The Texans defense made some physical plays and the Nick Chubb touchdown was impressive, but by and large they were outmuscled on both sides of the ball for much of the night. If you looked at the box score you would be led to believe the score was more lopsided. It wasn’t. We can look at why in the good, bad, and ugly.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The Good</h2>
Frank Bush should get a lifetime contract to coach special teams for the Houston Texans. They routinely have one of the best units in the NFL and they made several key plays throughout the game that made the game a lot closer than what it should have been. Jaylin Noel was a revelation returning the ball. He had two big kickoff returns in the first half that gave the offense solid field position and returned a fourth quarter punt deep into Bucs territory.
Add in the blocked punt in the fourth quarter and you can almost account for half of the Texans points through special teams alone. Ka’imi Fairbairn continues to be one of the more reliable kickers in the NFL as well. No one wins the Super Bowl just with good special teams but every once in awhile they can make the difference between victory and defeat. They almost pulled it out for the Texans on Monday night.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The Bad</h2>
Grading the Texans defense is difficult on this evening. They were very uneven. There were some big moments as they shut down the Bucs for much of the second, third, nnd fourth quarters. They allowed the touchdown that won the Bucs the game in the last two minutes. I’m sure Ryans will say that the offense did enough to win. I’m not sure I would go that far, but when you make the opposing team go 80+ yards to win, you should come out with the victory.
What I’m sure he won’t feel good about and what no Texans fan should feel good about is the fact that the Bucs were able to run the ball at will nearly the entire night. It put the Bucs in third and shorts and allowed them to convert nearly 50 percent of their third downs. They stayed on the field while the Texans were not able to stay on the field. In retrospect, expecting the defense to hold them down for nearly 40 minutes is probably asking a bit much. This looks like a top five defense and when you are a top five defense, more is expected of you.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The Ugly</h2>
Don’t let the robust 19 points of offense fool you. That sum might seem like an offensive bonanza if you were the take the DeLorean back to the 1940s and the single wing. Three of the points were directly from a blocked punt where the offense proceeded to gain zero yards in three plays. They did score a touchdown in the final drive, but they likely would have scored a field goal regardless. Maybe if they had floundered around on that drive they might have won the game through their own futility.
The coup de grace was the second and goal from the one yard line that somehow led to zero points. Two very questionable pass plays were called on third and fourth down because the coaching staff had absolutely zero faith that they could generate a push on a running play. After watching their Nick Chubb run go nowhere on second down I suppose they can’t be blamed for that opinion. I certainly appreciate the idea that you want to go for it because normally that is the analytical thing to do and that it shows confidence in your team. Your team doesn’t deserve confidence right now. Take the points.
C.J. Stroud wasn’t brilliant again as he finished 13 of 24 with a touchdown. So, he has one touchdown pass on the season and nearly 400 yards passing. That’s not going to blow anyone’s skirt up, but this scheme is not doing him any favors. Everything looks difficult. I suppose a Josh Allen, Patrick Mahomes, or Lamar Jackson could make something happen in this offense. Stroud is none of those guys. He might be more similar to Baker Mayfield. Mayfield seemed to have an easier time even with the constant pressure from the defensive line. Is that on Nick Caley? Maybe. Is some of it on Stroud? Maybe. If the offense has another down week next week the whispers will become shouts.
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</content>
</entry>
<entry>
<author>
<name>Mike Bullock</name>
</author>
<title type="html"><![CDATA[Fanduel Opening Odds: Texans @ Jaguars]]></title>
<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://www.battleredblog.com/houston-texans-odds/71173/fanduel-opening-odds-texans-jaguars" />
<id>https://www.battleredblog.com/?p=71173</id>
<updated>2025-09-16T14:13:04-04:00</updated>
<published>2025-09-16T09:00:00-04:00</published>
<category scheme="https://www.battleredblog.com" term="Houston Texans Odds" />
<summary type="html"><![CDATA[Still reeling from Monday night’s disappointing loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Houston Texans have to turn the page quickly. With a short week to prepare, and travel to Jacksonville to face the Jaguars upcoming, there’s no time to lick the wounds or lament the mistakes. The fine folks at Fanduel posted their opening […]]]></summary>
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Still reeling from Monday night’s disappointing loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Houston Texans have to turn the page quickly. With a short week to prepare, and travel to Jacksonville to face the Jaguars upcoming, there’s no time to lick the wounds or lament the mistakes. 
The fine folks at Fanduel posted their opening odds and it looks like anyone’s game, despite the Texans having the better team on paper. 
<img src="https://platform.battleredblog.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2025/09/Image-9-16-25-at-4.43%E2%80%AFAM.jpeg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0,0,100,100" alt="" title="" data-has-syndication-rights="1" data-caption="" data-portal-copyright="" />
+1.5 is a normal give for a visiting team, meaning they view this game as up for grabs. 
Their total points line has the Texans over/under at 21.5 and the Glitter Kitties at 22.5. Seeing as Houston has the NFL’s lowest scoring offense after two weeks, with only 28 points to show for 8 quarters of football, 21.5 is generous. 
Houston’s point differential is only -6, however, so at least we don’t have the worst defense in the league to pair with the worst offense. 
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-dnt="true">Nick Caley just flunked a completely passable test as offensive coordinator. Thus far, he is no good.— Sean Pendergast (@SeanTPendergast) <a href="https://twitter.com/SeanTPendergast/status/1967760836929392746?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 16, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Sometimes, installing a new offense is an uphill battle. Especially if the new OC is a first time coordinator. 
Sometimes, things fail to click with the players and the new playbook. 
Sometimes, Nick Caley makes Bobby Slowick look not-so-bad. 
Hopefully, those times aren’t next weekend. 
But if you’re not down to bet for the Texans to get it together and win next Sunday, Fanduel has you covered with a variety of Quick Bets. These are side wagers that don’t rely on the outcome of the game, allowing you to get in on the action without hanging on the final score. Things like First Touchdown, Field Goal, Safety, etc. offer different shots at winning your way. 
<img src="https://platform.battleredblog.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2025/09/Image-9-16-25-at-4.56%E2%80%AFAM.jpeg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0,0,100,100" alt="" title="" data-has-syndication-rights="1" data-caption="" data-portal-copyright="" />
However you slice it, this is the Texans first divisional matchup of 2025. If they have <a href="https://www.battleredblog.com/houston-texans-odds/70434/fanduel-gives-texans-60-odds-to-make-the-playoffs">any hope of Three-Peating</a> as AFC South Division Champions, then taking down the Glitter Kitties is step 1. 
<blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">
Bet on Houston Texans @ Jacksonville Jaguars Quick Bets odds at <a href="https://sportsbook.fanduel.com/football/nfl/houston-texans-@-jacksonville-jaguars-34712139?tab=quick-bets">FanDuel Sportsbook</a>. Houston Texans @ Jacksonville Jaguars is set to start on Sep 21 at 1:01pm ET, so lock in your Quick Bets bets before it starts or live bet with FanDuel Sportsbook.
</blockquote>

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</content>
</entry>
<entry>
<author>
<name>Kenneth Levy</name>
</author>
<title type="html"><![CDATA[Houston Texans Fall to 0-2 Against Tampa Bay on MNF]]></title>
<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://www.battleredblog.com/texans-game-day-threads/71161/houston-texans-fall-to-0-2-against-tampa-bay-on-mnf" />
<id>https://www.battleredblog.com/?p=71161</id>
<updated>2025-09-16T01:10:43-04:00</updated>
<published>2025-09-15T22:12:33-04:00</published>
<category scheme="https://www.battleredblog.com" term="Houston Texans Scores & Results" /><category scheme="https://www.battleredblog.com" term="Texans Game Day Threads" /><category scheme="https://www.battleredblog.com" term="Texans Recaps and Post-Game Threads" />
<summary type="html"><![CDATA[The Houston Texans defense could not hold Baker Mayfield and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers out of the end zone at the end of the game. Houston falls to 0-2 for the second time in the DeMeco Ryans era as they lose 20-19 at home on Monday Night Football. After one great drive to start the […]]]></summary>
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The Houston Texans defense could not hold Baker Mayfield and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers out of the end zone at the end of the game. Houston falls to 0-2 for the second time in the DeMeco Ryans era as they lose 20-19 at home on Monday Night Football.
After one great drive to start the game ended with a Nico Collins touchdown, the Texans offense failed to score another touchdown for the rest of the game. Houston’s offense has yet to get Nico Collins going. He only had three receptions for 52 yards and one touchdown. 
The defense put up a strong fight, but missed tackles and soft coverage led to the Buccaneers gaining 360 yards including 169 yards on the ground. The Buccaneers were able to move the ball against the Texans run defense even with both of its offensive tackles out of the game. They started former Texans fourth round pick Charlie Heck at tackle, who held up against the combination of Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter well. 
The game-defining moment came when Houston failed to convert on second and one from the goal line and eventually turned the possession over on downs. The Texans would take the lead late into the fourth, but missing out on a crucial touchdown devastated the Texans’ offense and took much of the wind out of their sails. 
The Texans woes that plagued them last year persist in 2025. QB C.J. Stroud was sacked three times and continually under duress. Laken Tomlinson was bullied by Vita Via all game in a major mismatch. The run game was nowhere to be found once again and was only supported by a wide open 25-yard touchdown to Nick Chubb. 
Houston is now tied for fourth in the AFC South with the Tennessee Titans. They face the Jacksonville Jaguars next week in Jacksonville. 
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</content>
</entry>
<entry>
<author>
<name>Patrick</name>
</author>
<title type="html"><![CDATA[Monday Night Football Open Thread – Los Angeles Chargers at Las Vegas Raiders]]></title>
<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://www.battleredblog.com/general/71150/monday-night-football-open-thread-los-angeles-chargers-at-las-vegas-raiders" />
<id>https://www.battleredblog.com/71150/nfl-week-2-open-thread-tampa-bay-buccaneers-at-houston-texans</id>
<updated>2025-09-15T19:21:15-04:00</updated>
<published>2025-09-15T21:30:00-04:00</published>
<category scheme="https://www.battleredblog.com" term="General" /><category scheme="https://www.battleredblog.com" term="Non-Texans Game Threads" />
<summary type="html"><![CDATA[To finish off week 2, we have a west coast bout for those of you out east who struggle with insomnia or a pathological need to watch football or you have money on the game; so really it’s fun for everybody! Here’s what you need to know to watch/listen to/stream tonight’s game: Who: Los Angeles […]]]></summary>
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<img alt="" data-caption="American Hero Case Keenum. | Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images" data-portal-copyright="Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images" data-has-syndication-rights="1" src="https://platform.battleredblog.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2025/09/gettyimages-2233260945.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0,0,100,100" />
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American Hero Case Keenum. | Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images </figcaption>
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To finish off week 2, we have a west coast bout for those of you out east who struggle with insomnia or a pathological need to watch football or you have money on the game; so really it’s fun for everybody!
Here’s what you need to know to watch/listen to/stream tonight’s game:
Who: Los Angeles Chargers (1-0) at Las Vegas Raiders (1-0)
What: Monday Night Football (part two)
Where: Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas, NV
When: Monday, September 15, 9:00 p.m. CDT
Why: Because the west coast deserves some love too.
TV: ABC, ESPN, ESPN Deportes
Radio: Westwood One
Streaming: ESPN*, Fubo*, Hulu + Live TV*, NFL+*, SlingTV*, YouTubeTV* (*subscription required)
Enjoy the game, y’all.
Go, Texans!
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</content>
</entry>
<entry>
<author>
<name>Patrick</name>
</author>
<title type="html"><![CDATA[NFL Week 2 Open Thread – Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Houston Texans]]></title>
<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://www.battleredblog.com/general/71147/nfl-week-2-open-thread-tampa-bay-buccaneers-at-houston-texans" />
<id>https://www.battleredblog.com/71147/sunday-night-football-open-thread-atlanta-falcons-at-minnesota-vikings</id>
<updated>2025-09-15T23:54:28-04:00</updated>
<published>2025-09-15T18:30:00-04:00</published>
<category scheme="https://www.battleredblog.com" term="General" /><category scheme="https://www.battleredblog.com" term="Houston Texans Game Information" /><category scheme="https://www.battleredblog.com" term="Texans Game Day Threads" />
<summary type="html"><![CDATA[Well, this is awkward. Usually when there’s a twin bill like this, they put the undercard first to build up hype for the main event. The NFL apparently doesn’t believe in this and is settling for the old east coast game and west coast game for their MNF double feature. Anyway, you’ve waited long enough […]]]></summary>
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<img alt="" data-caption="" data-portal-copyright="Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images" data-has-syndication-rights="1" src="https://platform.battleredblog.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2025/09/gettyimages-2234190831.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0,0,100,100" />
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Well, this is awkward. Usually when there’s a twin bill like this, they put the undercard first to build up hype for the main event. The NFL apparently doesn’t believe in this and is settling for the old east coast game and west coast game for their MNF double feature.
Anyway, you’ve waited long enough for Texans football that I don’t want to make this last too long, so here’s what you need to know to be able to watch/listen to/stream tonight’s home opener:
Who: Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-0) at Houston Texans (0-1)
What: Monday Night Football
Where: NRG Stadium, Houston, TX
When: Monday, September 15, 6:00 p.m. CDT
Why: Because it’s Houston Texans football under the bright lights of Monday Night.
TV: ABC, ESPN, ESPN Deportes
Radio: Westwood One
Streaming: ESPN*, Fubo*, Hulu + Live TV*, NFL+*, SlingTV*, YouTubeTV* (*subscription required)
Enjoy the game, y’all.
Go, Texans!
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