Here we go again…
Recently, in discussions over cigars, cognac and counting the billions we all make writing about the Houston Texans, the BRB masthead tossed around the idea of the team doing poorly vs
teams with a top notch pass rush.
Currently, the 3 teams considered to have the best pass rush in the NFL are:
- The Seattle Seahawks
- The Houston Texans
- The Denver Broncos
Facing teams with poor pass rushes, such as the Baltimore Ravens, San Francisco 49ers or BESFs, Texans QB C.J. Stroud is able to quickly toss darts to the fleet footed receiving corps, with a little help from TE Dalton Schultz and RB Woody Marks.
It also helps when OC Nick Caley puts 6 offensive linemen on the field against this ailing rush attacks.
Maybe his cheat code this weekend is 10 o-linemen?
Either way, as strange as it seems, the 2025 model of the Denver Broncos are simply a better team than the 49ers or Ravens, and maybe even than the Seahawks.
As the old saying goes, to be a good team you have to beat good teams.
So far, Nick Caley hasn’t done that.
Additionally, this week, the lights out Texans defense has to find a way to contain electric passer Bo Nix. Historically, Nix has not always responded well to in-game adversity. Having Will Anderson Jr and Danielle Hunter camped out in your face for 4 quarters seems pretty adverse.
Bo Nix certainly has his highlight-reel moments and delivered a few more against the Bengals. He also is proving his games can be a tumultuous experience, demonstrating a tendency to force passes and/or make mistakes by trusting his arm and playmaking ability a bit too much. The Broncos rolled to a win in Week 4, but they’ll only reach their potential if Sean Payton reins in Nix going forward.
Does this game come down to pass rush? It just might.
NFL Communications
Broncos are 1st team ever with 35+ sacks (league-high 36) & 10-or-fewer sacks allowed (league-low 8) in 1st 8 games of season.
Denver Broncos Week 9 Stats
- QB BO NIX passed for 247 yards & 4 TDs vs. INT for 117.4 rating in Week 8, his 3rd-career game with 4 TD passes & 9th-career game with 100+ rating. Aims for his 4th in row on road with 0 INTS & 9th in row on road with TD pass.
- RB J.K. DOBBINS had season-high 121 scrimmage yards (111 rush, 10 rec.) in Week 8, his 8th-career game with 100+ rush yards. Ranks 3rd in NFL with 634 rush yards in 2025. Has 80+ scrimmage yards in 6 of his past 7. Had rush TD in his last game vs. Hou. (9/10/23 w/ Bal.).
- RB RJ HARVEY had 3 TDs (1st 2 career rush, 1 rec.) in Week 8, 1st Den. rookie with 3+ scrimmage TDs in game since Clinton Portis (Week 15, 2002). Aims for his 3rd in row with TD catch. Ranks tied-2nd among rookie with 5 scrimmage TDs.
- WR COURTLAND SUTTON has 65+ rec. yards in 5 of his past 6. Leads team with 536 rec. yards in 2025, his 7th-career season with 500+ rec. yards. Had 77 rec. yards & TD catch in last meeting.
- WR TROY FRANKLIN had 6 catches, tied his career high with 89 rec. yards & had 1st-career game with 2 rec. TDs last week. Aims for his 3rd in row with TD catch.
- WR PAT BRYANT (rookie) had 1st-career TD catch in Week 9.
- TE EVAN ENGRAM has 5+ catches in 4 of his past 5 vs. Hou.
- LB NIK BONITTO (8 sacks) & LB JONATHON COOPER (6) are 1 of 2 sets of teammates (GBs Rashan Gary & Micah Parsons) each with 6+ sacks in 2025.
- LB ALEX SINGLETON had 11 tackles & 2nd-career FF last week. Had 12 tackles & sack in last meeting. Has 5+ tackles in 26 straight games, 2nd-longest active streak.
- CB PAT SURTAIN II has PD in 7 of 8 games in 2025 & needs PD for 5th-straight season with 10+ PD.
- CB RILEY MOSS had career-high 4 PD last week & has career-high 9 PD in 2025.
H-Town QB Stroud is currently riding a 93.7 passer rating, while Nix holds a 91.0. Pretty slim margin. Denver also has a better offensive line, but smart money says the Texans front 7 is better than the 2025 Orange Crush.
Normally when 2 teams with dominant defenses face off, the team with the fewer mistakes wins. Can the Texans play mistake-free football this week?
Houston Texans Week 9 Stats
- QB C.J. STROUD had season highs in completions (30) & pass yards (318) with 2 TD passes & 106.6 rating last week, his 9th-career 300-yard game. Has 2+
- TD passes & 100+ rating in 3 of his past 4. Aims for his 4th in row at home with 95+ rating. Passed for 274 yards & TD vs. 0 INTs for 106.1 rating in last meeting.
- RB NICK CHUBB had 69 scrimmage yards (56 rush, 13 rec.) in Week 8 & has 60+ scrimmage yards in 5 of his 7 games in 2025. Had TD catch in his last game vs. Den. (12/2/24 w/ Cle.).
- RB WOODY MARKS had 111 scrimmage yards (62 rush, 49 rec.) in Week 8 & is 1 of 4 rookies (Omarion Hampton, Quinshon Judkins & Cam Skattebo) with 2 games of 110+ scrimmage yards. Aims for his 3rd in row at home with 110+ scrimmage yards.
- WR NICO COLLINS has 50+ rec. yards in 8 of his past 9 at home & aims for his 4th in row at home with 50+ rec. yards. Had 9 catches for 191 yards & rec. TD in last meeting.
- WR XAVIER HUTCHINSON set career highs with 5 catches & 69 yards & had 3rd-career rec. TD last week.
- WR JAYLIN NOEL (rookie) had career-high 5 receptions in Week 8 & aims for his 3rd in row with 60+ rec. yards.
- DE WILL ANDERSON had 5th sack of season last week. Has TFL in 6 of 7 games in 2025. Had 2 sacks in last meeting.
- DE DANIELLE HUNTER has 8.5 sacks & 11 TFL in his past 6 at home. Had sack & 2 TFL in his last game vs. Den. (11/19/23 w/ Min.).
- CB DEREK STINGLEY JR. had career-high 4 PD & 2 INTs in last meeting. Has PD in 5 of his past 6 & aims for his 4th in row at home with PD.
- CB KAMARI LASSITER had 5th-career INT last week. Aims for his 5th in row with PD.
- S JALEN PITRE had 20th-career TFL last week & is only DB with 20+ TFL & 25+ PD (26) since 2022.
Unfortunately, the current Houston Texans have failed to instill confidence in many of us that they’re able to beat the good teams. And, the Denver Broncos are a good team. If they buck that trend this weekend, maybe Nick Caley will stop seeing his name on the “List of Suck”. Or, if they lose, maybe Demeco Ryans will see his added.
