The Houston Texans went to overtime with a chance to survive another uneven outing, only to come away with a 27-21 loss to the New York Giants.
That result only deepens the same question hanging over this team seven games into the season: what exactly are the Texans?
Are they a passing team that gives up fourteen penalties a game, like they did today, with 10 accepted? Are they a smashmouth group anchored by a defense that can stop anybody, except in overtime when it got absolutely steamrolled by Cam Skattebo and the Giants?
Are they good? Are they bad?
After this one, those last two questions almost feel beside the point.
The Texans once again looked like a team playing down to the level of its opponent. They finished with 237 yards of total offense, and their only touchdowns came on a pass to Marvin Harrison Jr. - his first with the Texans - and an Xavier Hutchinson rushing score.
Meanwhile, the defense had no answers for J.J. McCarthy and Cam Skattebo.
That’s the part that sticks. Houston allowed a Giants offense that was hardly overwhelming to put up 27 points and pile up 420 yards of total offense.
Kamari Lassiter is part of that story, too. Something is clearly wrong there, and his play has suffered because of it. The bigger issue is that the defense is now vulnerable to explosive plays, and that has become a problem fast.
So the week ends, and maybe more than that. The Texans head into their off week with far more questions than a team with Super Bowl expectations should be carrying this late in the season.
In Other News...
Texans Trade Deadline Pressure Is Rising But Caserio Isn't Budging
The Texans latest loss only sharpened the scrutiny on the front office, with Houston dropping to 2-5 after a 27-21 overtime defeat to the Giants in Week 7. For a team that entered the season with higher hopes, the setback added more urgency around a roster that has yet to find steady footing, especially as inconsistency continues to show up on both sides of the ball.
Nick Caserio did little to feed the trade-deadline speculation in his press conference, saying the Texans do not expect to make major personnel changes. The message was clear: Houston believes the fix has to come from cleaner, more consistent play, even as the defense sits in the bottom half of the league in most major categories aside from rushing yards allowed. [Read more 🡒]
Texans Suddenly Have A WR Concern Heading Into The Bye
The Texans receiving depth took a hit in Week 7 when Jaylin Noel left the game against the Giants with a turf toe injury, a setback that came at an awkward time with the bye week arriving next. DeMeco Ryans confirmed the injury afterward and said Noel is still being evaluated, leaving Houston to wait and see how much time the rookie wideout might miss.
Noel was reportedly in a walking boot after the game, which is never a great sign for a player whose role had been growing as the season moved along. With the Texans heading into a break, the extra days should help clarify the outlook, but the issue is now one the offense has to monitor closely as it prepares for the second half of the schedule. [Read more 🡒]
Texans Loss Got Worse With A Jaylin Noel Injury Concern
The Texans 27-21 loss to the Giants already left them with plenty to sort through from Week 7, and now there is added concern around one of their young receivers. Jaylin Noel came out of the game with a turf toe injury, and head coach DeMeco Ryans said he is still being evaluated as Houston heads into its bye week.
Houston will use the break to get a clearer picture of Noels recovery and whether he can be back when the schedule resumes. For a team trying to steady itself after a frustrating defeat, the next few days now matter for more than just regrouping from the loss, because the Texans also have to wait on a player whose availability could affect their receiver rotation moving forward. [Read more 🡒]