2026 NFL Matchup Hub: Houston Texans

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Houston Texans 2026 Team Report

AFC South · Bye: Week 8

Record2-4straight up
Against the spread2-4vs. Circa line
Power ranking#11Group B Week 7 rankings (was #16)
Net EPA rank#8Off #3 · Def #19
Points144-143differential +1
Strength of schedule13.2avg. opponent rank at kickoff, 6 games (#5 toughest)

Next game

Week 7 · Sun, Oct 25 · vs. New York Giants · opponent power rank #28 Group D (Week 7 rankings) · Circa line -9

Matchup preview: compare both teams ›

Game log & recaps

Lines are the Circa line from this team's side. Opponent rank = where I had them in my power rankings in effect at kickoff. Recaps are mine, word for word.

Opponent's group in my power rankings at kickoff: Group A Group B Group C Group D Group F

Week 1Sun, Sep 13 vs. Buffalo Bills Opp. rank #3Group A
L 31-36 Line +0.5 ATS: Did not cover (-4.5)

Bills 36, TEXANS 31 (HOU +0.5). This was a back-and-forth thriller with big plays by both teams on both sides of the ball. The Texans forgot to run the ball in the second half and Kamari Lassiter dropped a game-sealing interception. The Texans had a chance to win at the end, but the Bills sacked C.J. Stroud twice in the red zone. 409-381 BUF, 7.9-5.2 BUF

Week 2Sun, Sep 20 vs. Cincinnati Bengals Opp. rank #6Group B
L 6-20 Line -2.5 ATS: Did not cover (-16.5)

Bengals 20, TEXANS 6 (HOU -2.5). The Texans botched some early scoring opportunities. The Bengals had two amazing touchdowns to Ja'Marr Chase, and then Cincinnati's pass rush smothered C.J. Stroud. 374-267 HOU, 4.8-4.5 HOU

Week 3Sun, Sep 27 at Indianapolis Colts Opp. rank #26Group D
L 17-19 Line -1.5 ATS: Did not cover (-3.5)

COLTS 19, Texans 17 (IND +1.5). The Texans strip-sacked Daniel Jones twice in this game, but Jones otherwise shredded Houston's secondary, while C.J. Stroud couldn't get anything going on offensive. The Texans once again blew a scoring opportunity on a fourth-down stuff. 300-223 IND, 4.4-4.2 HOU

Week 4Sun, Oct 4 vs. Dallas Cowboys Opp. rank #10Group B
L 30-34 Line -3 ATS: Did not cover (-7)

Cowboys 34, TEXANS 30 (HOU -3). The Texans led 16-6 at halftime, but couldn't stop CeeDee Lamb in the second half. They had some big plays from Nico Collins, but kicked way too many field goals in an eventual shootout. 399-397 DAL, 7.6-5.5 HOU

Week 5Sun, Oct 11 at Tennessee Titans Opp. rank #30Group F
W 26-3 Line -7.5 ATS: Covered (+15.5)

Texans 26, TITANS 3 (TEN +7.5). The Titans kicked an early field goal and then the Texans outscored them 26-0 the rest of the way. Their defensive line gave Cam Ward no chance. 329-187 HOU, 5.2-3.2 HOU

Week 6Sun, Oct 18 vs. Jacksonville Jaguars (neutral) Opp. rank #4Group A
W 34-31 Line +2.5 ATS: Covered (+5.5)

Texans 34, Jaguars 31 (JAX -2.5). The Jaguars had the body-clock advantage, but they were lethargic and sloppy in this game. They had first-half drives end at the Houston 32 and 5. They tried to play catch-up in the second half, but couldn't stop C.J. Stroud. They settled for a 60-yard field goal, giving the Texans a good chance to win.

Week 7Sun, Oct 25 vs. New York Giants Opp. rank #28Group D
Upcoming · Circa line -9

Bye week: Week 8.

Splits

SituationGamesStraight upATS
Home30-30-3
Away21-11-1
Neutral11-01-0
As favorite41-31-3
As underdog21-11-1

Average cover margin: -1.8 points per game against the Circa line.

EPA rankings

Weighted EPA per play from rbsdm.com, Weeks 2-6 (Week 1 excluded). Rank among 32 teams; #1 is best on both sides of the ball.

Net EPA#8last week #11
Offense#3
Defense#19

My adjustment: Collins 4-6

DropbackRushSuccess rate
Offense#10#26#16
Defense#14#21#13

Power rankings history

#1#3265716181611PreW2W3W4W5W6W7
RankingsPublishedRankGroup
Preseason rankingsSept. 2, 2026#6Group B
Week 2 rankingsSept. 14, 2026#5Group B
Week 3 rankingsSept. 22, 2026#7Group B
Week 4 rankingsSept. 29, 2026#16Group C
Week 5 rankingsOct. 6, 2026#18Group C
Week 6 rankingsOct. 13, 2026#16Group C
Week 7 rankingsOct. 19, 2026#11Group B

Injury history

RBs

  • David Montgomery out 6

WR/TE

  • Jayden Higgins out 1-IR
  • Tank Dell out 1-6
  • Nico Collins out 2-3
  • Nico Collins returns 4

OL

  • Braden Smith out 1-4
  • Ed Ingram out 2-3
  • Trent Brown DLF 3 (in)
  • Ed Ingram LLF 4 (returns)
  • Braden Smith LFF 5

Int DL

  • Kayden McDonald out 2-4
  • Mario Edwards out 4-IR
  • Logan Hall LFL 4 (in)
  • Kayden McDonald LFF 5

Pass Rush

  • Jadeveon Clowney out 2-3
  • Jadeveon Clowney LLD 4 (returns)

LBs

  • Henry To'oTo'o out 2-5
  • Jake Hansen LLF 4 (in)
  • Azeez Al-Shaair out 4
  • Azeez Al-Shaair returns 5
  • Henry To'oTo'o LFF 6

Safeties

  • Jalen Pitre out 6

Key: F = Full in practice · L = Limited in practice · D = Did not practice · IR = Injured Reserve · PUP = Physically unable to perform · CE = Commissioner's Exempt List. Numbers are game weeks.