The Houston Texans are staggering into their off week at a dismal 2-5, and for anyone watching, it’s been a season heavy on disappointment and light on anything to celebrate. The team has completely underperformed, and while there have been a few bright spots, the overall picture is bleak. This midterm report card is a tough read for fans, despite one player trying his absolute best to carry the load.
Stroud Is The Real Deal, And Houston Has To Pay Him
Let’s just get it out there: C.J. Stroud is easily the Texans’ MVP through seven games. The man earned an A- for his performance, which is incredible considering the 2-5 record. He’s having the best seven-game start of his career, and it’s perfect timing because he’s absolutely due for a long-term contract extension, probably this offseason, which could make him the highest-paid quarterback in the league. Why? He’s fourth in the NFL with 1,867 passing yards, thrown 11 touchdown passes, added one rushing touchdown, and has just one interception. That’s tied for the second-fewest in the entire league! Minimizing turnovers was a top priority, and he’s done that and then some. Stroud looks comfortable in the pocket, his accuracy is pinpoint, and he’s consistently throwing his receivers open. It’s a shame his incredible play isn’t translating to more wins.
The Ground Game Is Stuck In Neutral, And It’s Ugly
Now for the bad news: the running back unit gets a C-, and that’s being generous. The Texans’ running game has been a huge disappointment, averaging a pathetic 84.7 rushing yards per game. That ranks them 29th in the 32-team league, which is actually worse than last season when we already knew it was a problem. David Montgomery, the big trade acquisition involving a fourth-round pick, a seventh-round pick, and center Juice Scruggs, has had a tough start. Outside of a three-touchdown game in his debut, he’s averaging just 2.7 yards per carry and missed the past two games with an injury. Woody Marks is doing a little better, averaging 3.5 yards per carry, and he did run for a season-high 66 yards last week against the Giants. But let’s be real, it’s not entirely their fault. The offensive line simply hasn’t blocked well, leaving these running backs getting hammered in the backfield constantly.
Receivers Are A Rollercoaster, But There’s Hope
The wide receivers and tight ends unit gets a B, but it’s been a real mixed bag. Remember Weeks 2 and 3 when Nico Collins was out? Yeah, they were perhaps the worst unit in the league. Thankfully, they’ve improved since Collins returned to the lineup, and he’s clearly the team’s No. 1 receiver when he’s available. Jaylin Noel has been a pleasant surprise, stepping up in recent weeks, and he actually leads the Texans in receiving yards as an explosive weapon. Plus, the team recently added Tank Dell and Marvin Harrison Jr., and those additions should pay off big time if the Texans can figure out how to consistently use their strengths. Tight end Dalton Schultz has had some key moments, and Foster Moreau has been a huge addition in the red zone.
The 2-5 record speaks volumes about this team’s struggles, but C.J. Stroud’s individual brilliance is a massive silver lining. Houston has to figure out how to support their franchise quarterback, starting with a run game that can actually move the ball and an offensive line that can block. Otherwise, Stroud’s amazing play will keep getting wasted.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
Leave a Reply