As the Jacksonville Jaguars prepare to face the Houston Texans in Week 10, we sat down with Scott Barzilla of Battle Red Blog to learn more about the opposing side.
Question 1: C.J. Stroud’s status is up
in the air after he suffered a concussion last week. Assuming he doesn’t play against Jacksonville, what’s your confidence level in Davis Mills to keep the ship afloat?
I think he can play relatively turnover-free football but I have little confidence in his ability to move the ball. He has the same problems with accuracy he has always had. Jags fans will probably remember those fondly.
Question 2: The Texans are scoring far more points than when we last saw them in Week 3. Why is that?
The Texans are probably an average offense. They play well against bad defenses and struggle against good offenses. They have been getting the rookies more involved, so that has opened the offense more. They are playing better than week three certainly.
Question 3: Houston is now 3-5 after starting the season 0-3. Obviously, Stroud’s injury clouds the near future, but are Texans fans still optimistic about a potential playoff push?
The short answer is no. I think a victory this past week would have been a huge feather in their cap. They would need to go 7-2 the rest of the way to get to 10 wins. I could see them winning the next two, but even then their last seven games will be brutal.
Question 4: Who’s an under-the-radar player or two that Jaguars fans should watch for on Sunday?
If he is healthy, Woody Marks is the most dynamic player on offense and one reason they are better than in week three. Jaylin Noel is also more active on offense. On defense, Denico Autry has blocked two field goal attempts in the last three weeks.
Question 5: Do you expect the Texans to cover as 1.5-point favorites, and do you like any bets/props for the game?
I’m answering this question early in the week. If Stroud plays the Texans win. If he doesn’t play the Jaguars win. In terms of prop bets, I’d bet the house on the under. The Texans have hit the under in six out of eight games including week three.
Thanks to Scott for taking the time to answer our questions!
Let us know your thoughts on the matchup in the comments below!
