For the fourth time in seven games, the Houston Texans' defense gave up the final score, resulting in a loss.
This one was different, so at least give credit there. Behind a breakout performance from Cam Skattebo, the New York Giants find their pulse in overtime, capping off the day with a 30-yard touchdown run by Devin Singletary to secure the 27-21 win at Reliant Stadium.
Here is Texans Wire's grade for every group following Week 7's performance entering the bye week.
Quarterback: B-
C.J. Stroud once again didn't turn the football. He found the end zone twice, including a late pass to Xavier Hutchinson with under a minute remaining. But there never was a moment where he felt like it just click. In fact, everything felt difficult.
Stroud finished with a season-low
153 passing yards. He had one throw of over 30 yards, coming to Tank Dell in the second quarter. That pass, despite Dell's comments postgame, probably wasn't even going to him and it was an overthrown ball intended for Jaylin Noel. And in overtime, Stroud threw a pass into coverage that was initially intercepted before being dropped.
Stroud wasn't the reason Houston lost. He also wasn't the reason Houston could find a pulse in the second half.
Running back: C
With Jawhar Jordan and David Montgomery out, Woody Marks was one of two running backs active Sunday, so the grade has to be discussed accordingly. Finishing with 66 yards on 19 carries, Marks did enough to pass the test. Dare Ogunbowale was also used in the run game and that backfired. Given that he can't do much, C is the only letter worthy of the performance.
Wide Receivers: C-
Credit to New York's secondary for coming up with a game plan to neutralize Nico Collins. Denard Wilson's unit bracketed him all afternoon and took away Stroud's best vertical threat, holding the Pro Bowler to just two catches for 6 yards. Tank Dell and Marvin Harrison Jr. flashed with a 43-yard gain and a touchdown reception, but those were their only catches. Jaylin Noel made one catch and left with a foot injury.
But the drops were brutal. Harrison had a gain of 30 yards before he dropped the pass across the middle of the field. That was an issue in Arizona and it's showing up in Houston once more.
Tight Ends: D-
Dalton Schultz had a walk-in first down at midfield before he dropped the easy pass. Cade Stover also could have scored a touchdown in the second quarter, but he dropped the pass. At least he made up for it with the two-point conversion after the Harrison touchdown. There's nothing else to write about with the position.
Offensive Line: D
The offensive line protected only allowed one sack and gave Stroud time to throw. That's not good enough to call this a passing grade when the self-inflicted wounds continue to take points off the board. How many more times will fans have to see a holding call and a loss of 10 yards? How much longer will false starts and illegal shifts hinder the success of an explosive run? And for the love of the game, if the Texans are going to send out a sixth offensive lineman out there, can they line up properly? Houston kept five tight ends on the roster and yet still every week its best blocker is a sixth lineman. Why?
Defense: F
This is who the Texans' defense is in 2026. Sunday performance against a young quarterback who was making his first career start in a new uniform was the perfect plan to get right before the bye week.
Instead, Houston once again was exposed in every form. A Danielle Hunter sack was the only positive play from the defensive line. The linebackers were gashed by Skattebo and missed tackles on Singletary, keeping drives alive. Oh, as for the secondary? Malik Nabers finished with 111 yards, but rookie Malachi Fields also got in on the action with a 83 yards on four catches.
Friends, it's time to admit that the Texans' defense, that historic name blessed on terrorizing opponents en route to a Super Bowl, was always a myth. This is who they truly are.
This article originally appeared on Texans Wire: Texans Report Card: Grades for Houston following loss to Giants in Week 7
