The Texans finally got a jolt in Week 5, and now they’re trying to turn one convincing win into a real run when they meet the Jaguars in London.
Houston’s 26-3 dismantling of Tennessee checked a lot of boxes. C.J.
Stroud looked comfortable again, throwing with the kind of confidence he’s shown all season while also using his legs and extending plays when the pocket broke down. On the other side, the defense showed up from the opening snap and never let Cam Ward settle into a rhythm.
For a unit that was supposed to be one of the league’s best, that mattered.
It also mattered because DeMeco Ryans was back in charge of calling the defense, and the group finally looked like the version many expected before the season started. That hasn’t been the story for most of the year, with Houston’s inability to finish games helping fuel a disappointing 1-4 start. But if the Texans can stack performances like the one they put together against the Titans, they still have a path to getting this thing moving in the right direction.
The challenge now is that Jacksonville is a different kind of test. The Jaguars have been playing competitive football, and the added wrinkle of an overseas game only makes the margin for error thinner.
Houston will need more than a repeat of one strong quarter or one big defensive stand. It’ll take a full game on both sides.
According to FanDuel Sportsbook, Jacksonville enters Sunday as a 2.5-point favorite, with the over/under set at 42.5 points. The Texans are +118 on the moneyline, while the Jaguars are -138.
That lines up with the records, at least on paper. Jacksonville is 4-1, while Houston is trying to climb out of an 0-4 hole that suddenly looks a little less daunting after last weekend. Still, the market is signaling that this should be tight, and the Texans have reasons to believe they can keep it that way.
A lot of it comes back to the ground game. Houston needs to find a more consistent rushing attack and keep Stroud out of tough spots. The Texans have enough talent offensively to make plays against Jacksonville, but they can’t afford to let drives stall because of uneven execution.
This is also an AFC South game, which makes it even more important for Houston to take advantage of the chance in front of it. Another loss would deepen the divide in the division, while a win would give the Texans a much-needed boost after four straight defeats to open the season.
The path is pretty clear for Houston: keep the offense moving, keep Stroud comfortable, and let the defense play the way it did against Tennessee. If that happens, the Texans can absolutely make this a game - and maybe leave London with back-to-back wins.
In Other News...
Marvin Harrison Jr. Trade Just Reignited A Cardinals Value Debate
The wide receiver market had been on Kansas Citys radar, but the Chiefs never got to the point of seriously chasing Marvin Harrison Jr. before Arizona dealt him to Houston. Even with Tyquan Thornton and Rashee Rice dealing with injuries, Kansas City did not go all-in to match the Texans offer, and the price quickly became the center of the conversation around how teams valued a player with Harrisons profile.
Houston stepped in with a package of second- and sixth-round picks, and the Cardinals sent Harrison plus a 2027 seventh-round selection to the Texans in return. For the Texans, it is the kind of swing that can reshape a receiver room in a hurry, while for Arizona it leaves open the bigger question of whether the return matched the market for a player of Harrisons stature. [Read more 🡒]
Texans May Have Found The Explosive Back C.J. Stroud Needs
Houston has spent enough time searching for more burst in the backfield to know what that kind of addition can mean for C.J. Stroud and the offense. Louisvilles Isaac Brown is starting to look like the sort of runner who can change a game in a hurry, after a Week 6 outing in 2026 that put his speed and open-field quickness on full display. He ripped off 235 yards and two touchdowns, including a 97-yard scoring run, and for a Texans team that still lacks a truly dynamic rushing threat, that skill set stands out.
Browns appeal is obvious because of the way he can stress a defense before the play even develops. Hes viewed as a fast, elusive prospect for the 2027 NFL Draft, with agility as his calling card, even if questions remain about his strength and how well hell handle contact between the tackles. For Houston, pairing a player like that with a power back such as David Montgomery would at least give the offense a different kind of balance, and maybe a little more help for Stroud when the field starts to shrink. [Read more 🡒]
Texans Defense Could Get A Needed Boost Sooner Than Expected
The Texans defense may be getting a familiar piece back into the mix sooner than it first looked. Linebacker Henry To'oTo'o, sidelined on injured reserve since Week 1 with a shoulder injury, is set to have his 21-day practice window opened, giving Houston a chance to work him back toward game action while also re-evaluating how quickly he is ready to take on a larger role.
General manager Nick Caserio confirmed the update in a recent interview, and it gives the defense some much-needed flexibility in the weeks ahead. A return could come as early as Week 6, though the Texans also have the option to be patient and wait until after the bye week if they want to make sure To'oTo'o is fully recovered before putting him back on the field. [Read more 🡒]