The Day After the Day After…when the raw, immediate emotions from the aftermath of a game diminish into the realm of clarity and the proverbial (or literal) hangover no longer haunts the mind. With that, a review of Week 9
Get right game (part deux): It might be harder to find a better opponent to face after a bye than the shockingly (pun somewhat intended) bad Chargers. While the Texans have underperformed based on preseason expectations, they are not like the Chargers. A fellow pre-season playoff
contender, the Chargers opened the season 0-7. Catching a mercurial Texans team might have afforded them a chance to steal a win and salvage some pride in the season. Instead, this game went about as well as the Texans could hope for and then some. Houston put up a franchise-tying 44 points on the road, Stroud threw for 5 TDs and the defense got 8 sacks and 2 turnovers. Even the running game logged over 100 combined yards. All was not perfect, and Houston isn’t immediately back on the road to the Super Bowl, but this game checked a lot of boxes for Houston’s rebound hopes. Houston’s first get-well game came at the Titans to get off the winless streak. A second road-beatdown was a well-needed salve to start the second half of the schedule.
Using the pass to set up the run: At times, it felt like the biggest problem for Stroud was not having enough footballs to throw around to all his receivers. 6 receivers had at least 2 receptions and over 20 yards receiving. Dell had his best game since he injured his leg at Kansas City in 2024, Boutte had a career day stretching the field and Collins merely added a catch-of-the-year option. Houston is never going to abandon the ground game but given that the offense moves more effectively through the air, the Texans might do well to favor the pass. Does it put pressure on the defense, especially if the team has multiple quick possessions? Yes. However, with the talent in the passing game and the noted shortfalls of the running game, Houston needs to play to their strengths. If nothing else, you borrow the Bill Walsh philosophy to use the pass to set up the run. Houston was more effective rushing the ball in the second half (69 yards vs. 35 1st half yards). With the Chargers needing to focus on limiting heavy aerial production, a decent ground game with Marks and company found a way to move the ball for effective gains.
Trades all done?: At the time of publication, the Texans hadn’t added any new players via trade. If rumors are correct, the Texans are looking at help at the RB and safety position. Most might dream of Taylor, Barkley or Henry in the backfield, but would Houston want to pay up with their limited 2027/28 Draft capital for a back that is going to already stress a team that is going to be well over the cap at the start of the offseason. Pitre’s return aided the defensive backfield, but Blankenship’s absence and struggles are still issues. Plus, safety depth could help a squad that needs special teams reinforcements. While Caserio fears no trade, it does not seem likely that Houston will make another big move trade-wise (unlike division rival Jacksonville, which made some major trades in the past 36 hours to aid the defense).
THE CRITICAL PLAY:
- 6:43, 2nd Quarter, HOU Ball @ HOU 37, 2nd and 5; QB CJ Stroud with a deep pass to WR Tank Dell for a 63-yard TD.
Aside from the whole first-TD-in-almost-two-calendar-years-plotline, this play was actually critical to the game’s momentum. The Chargers just cashed in on Stroud’s INT to cut the deficit to 10-9. Houston, after scoring 10 points on their first two drives, had a punt and an INT on the next two. They needed to get something going. After a short 5-yard pass to Harrison, Houston set up in a shotgun passing formation. Dell, lined up in the slot on the right side, ran and out-and-up pattern, just getting behind the Chargers DB. Stroud hit Dell in stride with a deep strike, allowing Dell to sprint straight to end zone. While Houston would be forced to punt on its next possession, this TD seemed to uplift the overall play of the team, as it was the start of a 28-0 run in the game.
FUN WITH NUMBERS:
12: Total number of TFLs for the Texans: This is what most expected from the Houston defense this year. This tied the Houston franchise for 3rd-most in a single game (@ TEN in 2023). The franchise record is 15, set against Seattle in 2009. The most in the Ryans’ regime: 14, against TEN in 2024.
2-1: Record in 2026 when Houston rushes for over 100 yards in a game. When we talk about Houston leaning into its effective passing game, this might be a counter to that. You can’t not run the ball (this isn’t the run-and-shoot), but finding that balance is critical. Play to your strengths, and if the passing game is doing its job, the running game will follow.
GAME BALLS:
WR Tank Dell: 4 receptions/105 yards/1 TD. Welcome back Mr. Dell. We’ve missed you. Now, about cleanly catching those punts…
QB CJ Stroud: An INT…really? Well, he did make up for it with a 21-of-35/384 yard/5 TD day. I suppose that is adequate enough for a game ball.
Texans DL: Logged 7 of the team’s 8 sacks and 9 of the teams 12 TFLs. Anderson, Clowney and Rankins are the first trio of Texans to ever record at least 2.0 sacks each in a single game.
CB Kamri Lassiter: 2 tackles (1 solo)/1 TFL/4 PDs: If anyone needed a bounce-back game, it was Lassiter. Was he perfect? No (arguably the miscommunication on the Chargers’ 4th and 1 was more about miscommunication vs. individual corner play) but on this day, he looked more like the top CB2 of 2025 than whatever that was to start the 2026 season. Would be nice if he kept up that level of play.
SHOULD BE FORCED TO PRESS ALL OF JIM HARBAUGH’S KHAKIS WHILE LISTENING TO HIS INANE PRESS CONFERENCES ON REPEAT:
Texans punting game: If there was a part of the game that didn’t look all that great, it was the punting game. Only needed for 3 attempts, but Kroeger’s two first half punts are best not dwelt upon. Tank Dell, for all his receiving goodness, muffed a punt in the 1st half that could have seriously altered the momentum of the game. At least the squad didn’t allow the Chargers to even attempt a return. However, that part of the game is going to have to pick it up in the weeks ahead.
Chargers OC Mike McDaniel: The Chargers did finally snap a 37 non-TD possession streak against the Texans, but that came in the 4th quarter of a game the Texans lead 38-9. The Chargers did add another TD, but aside from impacting the betting lines, the offense did not look good at all. Yes, LA was missing Ladd McConkey, but the team had struggled even with him on the field. Herbert still looks out of sorts and the McDaniel scheme with this offensive roster is the NFL version of square peg meets round hole. This first, and possibly only season in LA has been sheer [KITTEN] for McDaniel.
The Texans, 3-5, continue their road trip with a jaunt to Cleveland to face the 5-4 Browns (and a few familiar faces). Kickoff is slated for this coming Sunday at noon CST on Fox
