The Houston Texans are starting to change the conversation. A 0-4 hole looked like it might bury their season, but back-to-back wins have pushed them back into the league’s good graces, and the latest wave of Week 7 consensus power rankings reflects that shift as Houston heads into its matchup with the New York Giants.
The biggest reason for the turnaround is C.J. Stroud, who keeps showing up in these rankings as the engine behind the Texans’ climb. Around the league, evaluators are no longer treating Houston like a team simply trying to survive; they’re talking about it like a group with real upward momentum.
Sports Illustrated’s Conor Orr kept Houston at No. 14, but his focus was less on the ranking and more on what the Texans should do next. He urged the team to think big at the trade deadline and pointed directly to one offensive addition.
"Forget about the defense. The narrative heading into the trade deadline should be: How much more help can Houston provide C.J.
Stroud, who is playing at a top-10 level over the course of the last month and seeing the field better than he has in two years. My take?
Call Philadelphia and see what Saquon Barkley has left in the tank."
Nick Shook was more generous with the Texans this week, moving them up and making it clear that Stroud’s recent stretch is changing how people view Houston. He praised both the quarterback and the way the defense has looked more familiar under DeMeco Ryans’ play-calling.
"Don’t look now, but the Texans are clawing their way back into relevance! Houston’s defense isn’t the shutdown unit it was in years past, but the talent-laden group has inched itself closer to familiarity since DeMeco Ryans took the play-calling reins.
Most importantly, C.J. Stroud is playing some of the best football of his career.
His performance in London was simply exquisite (save for his late interception in the end zone), and if the Texans can sustain their turnaround, he’ll force his way into the MVP conversation."
ESPN also nudged Houston upward, slotting the team at No. 16.
D.J. Bien-Aime zeroed in on the issue that still keeps this offense from feeling complete: the run game.
"The Texans' passing attack is humming, as quarterback C.J. Stroud ranks second leaguewide in passing yards (1,712), but an effective run game would take this offense to the top tier.
They're averaging 84.8 rushing yards per game (25th) and have 32 rushing first downs on the season (tied for 22nd). Running back David Montgomery, who was acquired via trade in March, is averaging a career-low 2.7 yards per carry and missed Week 6 because of a groin injury."
Josh Kendall and Chad Graff took a longer view of Stroud’s start, noting that Houston’s sluggish opening wasn’t on its quarterback and pointing ahead to the contract discussions that are coming.
"Houston’s slow start was not the fault of its quarterback. Stroud, who is in the fourth year of his rookie deal and is headed toward interesting contract negotiations with the Texans, is 16th in the league in fantasy scoring (112.2) and on pace for the best passer rating (100.9) and EPA per dropback (0.15) numbers of his career. The Texans have won two in a row after Sunday’s victory in London."
Pete Prisco also placed Houston in his top 15, but he didn’t ignore the issues that remain on defense after Jacksonville put up 31 points.
"That was a big-time victory in London over the Jaguars. C.J. Stroud is really playing at a high level, but the defense has to pick it up."
Ralph Vacchiano was the most bullish of the group, saying the Texans’ 0-4 start no longer looks like a death sentence. He pointed to the recent wins, Stroud’s play, and the possibility of a postseason return if the defense gets sorted out.
"They’re baaaaaack! Everyone thought the Texans were dead at 0-4.
… OK, I thought they were dead, but I wasn’t the only one. But they got right two weeks ago against the awful Titans and stayed right with a terrific 34-31 win in London against the Jaguars.
C.J. Stroud finally looks like the franchise QB he was supposed to be.
He has plenty of weapons, with the addition of WR Marvin Harrison Jr. But what happened to DeMeco Ryans’ defense?
It’s not nearly as dominant as it once was. If the Texans can fix it, they’re a good bet to become the second-ever team to start 0-4 and make the playoffs."
In Other News...
Texans Secondary Suddenly Faces A Week 7 Problem
The Texans came out of their Week 6 loss to the Jaguars with a new concern in the back end of their defense, and it lands at a tough moment with the Giants coming to town. Safety Reed Blankenship entered concussion protocol after leaving the game, adding another layer of uncertainty to a secondary that already has to stay sharp in a hurry.
Azeez Al-Shaair did return from his groin injury and is expected to be fine for Week 7, but the bigger question now is how Houston patches together the safety spot if Blankenship cannot go. Veteran M.J. Stewart is in line as a possible replacement, which would put a familiar face in a bigger role at a time when the Texans can least afford another breakdown on the back end. [Read more 🡒]
Texans Face A Real Test As Stroud Tries To Keep Rolling
The Texans come home for Week 7 carrying some momentum after back-to-back road wins, and C.J. Stroud has been a big reason for that push. He has been one of the leagues most productive passers this season, ranking second in passing yards, and Houston suddenly has the look of a team that can win in a variety of ways if its offense keeps humming.
New York is about to provide a very different kind of test. The Giants have been stout against the pass, sitting fifth in the NFL in limiting passing yards, which makes this a useful measuring stick for Stroud and a Houston passing game that has been rolling but not yet fully settled against elite resistance. The betting market reflects that skepticism, with the Giants drawing the spread and the total pointing toward a higher-scoring game. [Read more 🡒]
C.J. Stroud Is Making The Texans Pay For Waiting
C.J. Strouds steady climb has kept the Texans in a familiar spot: wanting more time with their franchise quarterback, while also knowing every big game only makes the price go up. He turned in another strong performance against the Jaguars in London, finishing with 306 yards and three touchdowns while guiding the kind of late drive Houston wants to build around.
Houston still has not locked in a long-term extension, and Strouds decision to pass on an offer ahead of the 2026 season has only sharpened the stakes. The more he keeps playing at this level, the more leverage he gains, and the Texans will have to weigh his consistency and postseason rsum against the cost of keeping him in place for years to come. [Read more 🡒]