The Texans are off to their worst start since 2022 (0-3-1), beginning this season 0-3. The team has had a chance to win all three games they’ve lost. The three losses are by a combined 13 points.
In Week 4, they turn their attention to the other AFC South bottom dweller, the Tennessee Titans (0-3).
The Texans have won three of the last four matchups against the Titans, since C.J. Stroud became the starter, though the Titans own the head-to-head series 24-22. Now it will be C.J. versus 2025 No. 1 overall pick Cam Ward as the rivalry renews.
If the Texans want an opportunity to repeat 2018 and make the playoffs after starting 0-3, they have to take the Titans seriously.
Offense Has to Wake Up
The season-long discussion has been about how awful the Texans’ offense has been through three weeks.
They rank dead last in points per game at 12.7, scoring just 38 points in three games. Stroud has to work on getting the ball out quicker and making better decisions after completing only 64% of his passes with two touchdowns and three interceptions on the year. He is the leader of the team and the offense; he has to make it happen against the Titans’ defense, which ranks 30th in the NFL, allowing 31.3 points a game.
As much as CJ has to do better, the offensive line has to help him. They gave up 20 pressures against Jacksonville, and rookie Aireontae Ersery was bullied by Josh Hines-Allen. If the line continues to play the way it has been, Sunday will be another disappointment.
They have to help open up running lanes for Nick Chubb and Woody Marks to take pressure off of Stroud, as the team only averages 95 rushing yards per game.
Defense Must Take Advantage
The Titans are averaging fewer total yards offensively than the Texans, at 222.3 yards per game (133.7 passing yards, 88.7 rushing). The defense needs to take advantage of their matchups and make Cam Ward uncomfortable. So far this season, he has two touchdowns, one interception, on an awful 54.5% completion percentage. Ward has been sacked 15 times so far this season; the defense should be able to get to him as well.
The secondary has to be locked in. There have been busted coverages and missed tackles, especially in key moments, all season long. Jimmie Ward is coming back from the Commissioner’s Exempt List and will be making his season debut on the heels of the team releasing C.J. Gardner-Johnson. With that drama, and Derek Stingley Jr. still dealing with an oblique injury, the focus needs to be above and beyond what it’s been so far.
Get the Offensive Rookies More Involved
The Texans drafted Jayden Higgins, Jaylin Noel, and Woody Marks in the second, third, and fourth rounds, respectively. Investing that many resources into quality offensive players builds a lot of hype, yet they have hardly been involved in the game plan so far.
Houston drafted Woody Marks as a shifty runner who had great pass-catching abilities out of the backfield. So far, he has more receiving yards (46 yards on two receptions) than rushing yards (44 yards on 12 attempts). He needs more opportunities to show his dynamic skillset. DeMeco Ryans should consider starting him ahead of Nick Chubb and let Chubb be the short-yardage back he was brought in to be before the Joe Mixon injury.
Higgins and Noel have been no-shows in the offensive game plan — they have six receptions and 76 yards between the two of them. Their seemingly purposeful absence is a head-scratching decision, as the offense has, yet again, leaned heavily on Nico Collins.
Tank Dell is still out for the foreseeable future, and Christian Kirk just made his debut against the Jaguars. The Iowa State duo needs to be more involved if Stroud is to break out of the funk he has started the 2025 season in.
Leave a comment