They did it, they finally did it! The Houston Texans have finally won a regular season NFL game in the 2025 season! WOOOOOO!
And not only did they win, but did so in fashionable grace! Big passes here, big runs there, and an interception from Derek Stingley to boot, this big 29-0 victory over the Tennessee Titans had a little bit of everything. It was the first time Houston scored over 25 points in a regular season game since week 12 of the 2024 season, and it’s the first time the Texans shut out
an opponent since…yes, the Andre Johnson vs. Courtland Finnegan game:
A game like this is exactly what Houston needed to stunt their precipitous drop down the power rankings. The Texans’ ugliest arm to their team – the offense – found it’s footing in the second half of this game and put the hammer down on Tennessee, primarily thanks to the efforts of rookie running back Woody Marks.
Marks was the star of the show on Sunday, garnering 119 total yards and two of Houston’s three touchdowns. His blistering speed and strength were hinted at in weeks two and three, but he wouldn’t fully reveal the depths of which his talent is rooted until week four. Marks sped past some would-be defenders, plowed through others, and hit a juke move so nasty that Texans fans far and wide immediately demanded he take the starting role.
He looked so good, in fact, that he has me believing that his skillset might be exactly what the Texans need to get their offense back on track…but do the pundits think that? Are they as bullish as me on Woody Marks? Well, let’s take a look at where the Houston Texans are ranked entering Week 5 of the 2025 NFL Season:
NFL.COM:
21. Houston Texans (1-3) (Last Week: 23)
A win is a win, and the Texans played some pretty fantastic defense against the Titans on Sunday, but it sure did take them a bit to wake up offensively. Rookie RB Woody Markshelped give the attack a spark, and some of his better runs came when turning potential losses into short gains. His TD catch was nifty, too, and it’s clear they had a plan to get him touches in key spots. The fourth-quarter execution didn’t cure all of Houston’s offensive sins to this point, but it represented some daylight. The Texans still need to create more scoring chances going forward, but at least they did that later in the game — one they had to have to save the season.
ESPN:
22. Houston Texans (1-3)
Week 4 result: Beat the Titans 26-0
Week 4 ranking: 21
Biggest issue on offense: Third-down efficiency
The Texans have converted 29.2% of third-down opportunities, which ranks 30th. One of the biggest reasons for the low rate is the 24 third-and-7 or longer situations that C.J. Stroud has faced, which is eighth most per NFL Next Gen Stats. Third-and-longs are hard to consistently overcome, as Stroud has only five first downs in those scenarios. That’s part of why Houston is averaging 16 points per game. Even against the Titans, the Texans went 6-of-15 on third down.
SPORTS ILLUSTRATED:
23. Houston Texans (1–3)
Last week’s ranking: No. 24
Last week’s result: beat Titans, 26–0
This week: at Ravens
The NFL immediately ejecting Jalen Carter for spitting on someone’s uniform but being generally O.K. with Azeez Al-Shaair punching a rookie quarterback in the face amid an otherwise sleepy Texans-Titans game shows the ultimate power of the Prime Time stage. That said, I would guess Tuesday won’t be the best day for Houston’s defensive captain.
BLEACHER REPORT:
24. Houston Texans (1-3)
Last Week: 24
Week 5 Result: Won vs. Tennessee 26-0
The Texans finally found a rhythm, particularly in the fourth quarter Sunday with three touchdowns. The biggest difference in Houston’s performance late in the contest was built around the ability to stretch the field for the first time this season. Quarterback C.J. Stroud was able to test the Titans’ defense vertically.
If Stroud is given the time and he can connect on some chunk plays, the entire team will look different in the coming weeks after a disastrous start to the campaign. Then again, Houston handled business against a bad team.
The Texans’ ability to carry Sunday’s momentum into upcoming games will say far more about which direction the franchise is heading.
CBS SPORTS:
21. Texans (1-3) (Last Week: 26)
The offense showed some life against the Titans, but it’s the defense that continues to be the strong part of this team. Getting the first victory could get this team going now.
USA TODAY:
21. Houston Texans (21): They’ve allowed 16 fewer points than any other team, their losses coming to squads with an aggregate 9-3 record. Don’t bury Houston yet.
YAHOO! SPORTS:
22 (24): Houston Texans (1-3)
The Texans caught a miserable Titans team at the right time. They can feel good about themselves after an easy win. The best thing to happen Sunday was the emergence of rookie Woody Marks, who had 119 total yards and two touchdowns. He adds some much needed juice to Houston’s offense.
THE ATHLETIC:
24. Houston Texans (1-3)
Last week: 27
Sunday: Beat Titans 26-0
Rookie spotlight: Woody Marks
The fourth-round running back had a breakout game Sunday, carrying the ball 17 times for 69 yards and a touchdown and catching four passes for 50 yards and another touchdown. He’ll take over the starting job until Joe Mixon comes back. Second-round wide receiver Jayden Higgins also scored his first NFL touchdown. Second-round offensive tackle Aireontae Ersery has started every game but has struggled.
Up next: at Ravens, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET
PRO FOOTBALL TALK:
21. Texans (No. 20; 1-3): Yes, they admitted their mistake with Cam Robinson. It still cost them $12 million.
Average Ranking: 22.11 (Last Week: 23.33)
It appears that most of the power rankings cognoscenti are sticking to their guns on their placement of the Texans in the 20s, but some of those that really sank the Texans seem to be going back on those hard feelings. Woody Marks did his job to keep the Texans’ reputation intact, but there is still plenty of work to do before Houston can consider itself a big-and-scary playoff team, again. The Titans are, and I take a lot of joy in saying this, one of the very worst teams in football, so the Texans’ domination of them should be taken with a grain of salt. Woody Marks had a good game against Tennessee, but next week, he’ll get the chance to prove that he’s the real deal: at Baltimore.
How do you think Woody Marks will do? Is he really the key to this offense reestablishing itself, or is Marks just another cog in the machine controlled by the great CJ Stroud? Is this new offense keeping you interested, or have you given up on the Texans this year? Let us know down in the comments below!
GO TEXANS!!!
