TEXANS VS. SAINTS
Examining Houston Texans best opportunities with Saints marching into NRG
Oct 13, 2023, 4:55 pm
CJ Stroud will have his hands full against the Saints defense. Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images.
Florio on Texans drafting Stroud: They didn't “take the cheese”
What: Texans vs Saints
When: 10/15, 12pm CST kickoff
Where: Houston, TX NRG STadium
TV/Radio: KRIV-TV, KILT-Radio
Betting Lines: Saints -1.5 (-110), O/U 42.5 (-110) *As of this writing
To be about five to six hours away (depending on how you drive I-10), these two teams don't meet often. Every four years is wild. Every preseason is very meh. Especially factoring in it's usually the last preseason game and no one of consequence plays much, if at all. Add in all the cross-over fans from so many natives of Louisiana living in Texas, and it's even more fun to think about these teams playing! There's always going to be some trash talk between the fans because of the factors listed above. Now, with both teams on an upswing, there's more wood added to the fire.
When the Saints have the ball: Derek Carr was brought in to be the new franchise quarterback. While he's thought of as an upgrade, the offense has struggled this season. In five games, they've scored more than 30 points once. It was last week against the dreadful Patriots. Outside of that, they've only scored 20 or more once. It was 20 on the nose against the winless Panthers. Getting Alvin Kamara back and in game shape should help. This will be his third game back from suspension. With Maliek Collins and Shaq Griffin back, the Texans defense will get a boost. They'll need it, since this Saints team may have gotten their mojo back last week. This matchup puts the Saints' 25th place total yards offense against the Texans' 18th ranked total yards defense.
When the Texans have the ball: C.J. Stroud could be without his favorite target this week. Tank Dell is questionable to play with a concussion. This would be a huge blow to a team that's very reliant on the pass game. Having Laremy Tunsil and Tytus Howard back will be welcomed against the 4th ranked defense in terms of total yards given up. This offense is ranked 11th in total yards. Stroud has been sacked 11 times this season. The Saints have 11 sacks on the season. 7.5 of those 11 come from their defensive line. Carl Granderson will be matched up against Tunsil most of the game. He leads the Saints with 3.5 sacks and earned an extension recently. However, it's Cam Jordan, their perennial All Pro that worries me going against George Fant all game. Fant was able to hold T.J. Watt at bay, so there's hope. Saints' rookie defensive tackle Bryan Bresee has shown he can pressure the pocket from the inside, where the Texans OL has taken the most hits with injuries.
Friday’s Injury Report for #NOvsHOU ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/44guQeSKpF
— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) October 13, 2023
Outcome: In a game where I'm sure most will take the under, I'm expecting more scoring. But not by much. The Saints have more talent at running back and will want to run the ball. The Texans will have a hard time moving the ball because they don't run well and the Saints defend the run well. They've only given up a 100-yard rusher a handful of times over the last couple of seasons. If the Texans can keep the Saints off balanced by running the ball, they'll have a shot. Also, Carr is prone to bad mistakes. Add to it that their OL has given up 17 sacks this season, one could see him taking a beating and it leading to a Texans win. However, I think the better defense and better run game will win out ultimately. Saints 24, Texans 20
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C.J. Stroud faced criticism in Houston's last few games as the Texans hit a rough patch after losing just two of their first eight games.
But the second-year quarterback remained confident and his strong performance last Sunday helped the Texans (8-5) to a 23-20 win over the Jaguars to enter their bye with a two-game lead atop the AFC South.
“When he is leading and playing the way he is playing, our entire team feeds off of him,” coach DeMeco Ryans said. “I am excited for his second year. I think he is showing a ton of growth, he is in a really great spot for us physically, mentally. I really love where he is and I am excited to see how he comes back after the break.”
Stroud threw for 242 yards and a touchdown against Jacksonville to leave him ranked fourth in the NFL with 3,117 yards passing this season. That game came after he threw two interceptions in a 32-27 loss to Tennessee a week before for the team’s third loss in four games.
Those two interceptions brought his season total to nine, which are four more than he threw in 15 games a rookie. But the Texans aren’t worried about that statistic and believe he has grown in his second year.
“He’s made a lot of progress,” general manager Nick Caserio said. “There are some plays, like all of our players, that we probably wish he could have back, but happy he’s our quarterback, happy with what he brings to the table. ... Wouldn’t want anyone else leading this team.”
The Texans are in position to win their division for a second straight season despite dealing with several significant injuries on offense. Running back Joe Mixon missed three games early with an ankle injury and leading receiver Nico Collins was sidelined for five games with a hamstring injury.
They also lost four-time Pro Bowler Stefon Diggs for the season when tore an ACL in Week 8.
Mixon leads the team with 887 yards rushing and 11 touchdowns and has added four touchdown receptions. His work in his first season in Houston after a trade from Cincinnati has helped the team deal with those significant injuries to the receiving corps.
Mixon ranks third in the NFL by averaging 88.7 yards rushing a game and has had at least 100 yards rushing in seven games.
Stroud has continually raved about Mixon’s contributions on and off the field.
“He’s a servant, a helper,” Stroud said. “That’s ultimately what I want to be as well. Who can I serve and how can I help? That’s ultimately what the game of football is.”
While Mixon has been the team’s most important new acquisition on offense, Danielle Hunter has been Houston’s new defensive star. The defensive end spent his first eight seasons in Minnesota before joining the Texans this year.
He has helped Houston lead the NFL with 84 tackles for loss after piling up 15 this season, which is tied for third most in the league. He also leads the Texans with 10½ sacks to help them rank second with 42.
Hunter been a great addition to a team that already had defensive end Will Anderson Jr., last year’s AP Defensive Rookie of the Year. Anderson ranks second to Hunter on the team with 13 tackles for loss and 9½ sacks.
Ryans said this week’s break is much needed for a team that opened the preseason on Aug. 1 in the Hall of Fame game.
“It’s here and we’re going to take advantage of it,” he said. “We’ve been going at it for a long time.”
The Texans need to recharge this week with a brutal stretch of three games in 10 days when they return from their bye. Houston hosts Miami on Dec. 15 before a trip to Kansas City on Dec. 21 and a visit from the Ravens on Christmas Day.
“It’s Christmas and all that, but we can’t worry about that. All we can do is focus on Miami,” Caserio said. “And then when we get through the Miami game, then we kind of turn the page to the next. ... We’re either going to earn it or we’re not. Not to oversimplify it, but that’s the truth.”
The Texans will play those game without starting linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair after he received a three-game suspension for his violent hit to the head of Jacksonville’s Trevor Lawrence, which led to a concussion.
Al-Shaair will be eligible to return for Houston’s regular-season finale against Tennessee.