Your Houston Texans currently have the #1 defense in all the land. Danielle Hunter was awarded AFC Defensive Player of the Week. He a fellow quarterback predator Will Anderson Jr. are both within 3 sacks of double digits on the season.
Derek Stingley Jr. has 3 INTs so far, including an amazing 1-hander against Trevor Lawrence and the Jacksonville Jaguars last week. That puts him at 14 in his career, only 3 back of Jonathan Joseph, the Texans all-time leading interceptor.
Based on the #2 defense on the Los Angeles Rams facing the Seattle Seahawks this weekend, it’s very likely Hunter, Anderson, Sting and the rest carry that #1 D belt into next week as well.
Meanwhile, the BESFs are averaging a mighty 14.4 points per game with their steamrolling offense. /s
With C.J. Stroud ruled out again this week due to concussion, Davis Mills has a pretty good chance to pad his resume against a middle of the road Titans defense. A defense that will likely face utter exhaustion by the 3rd quarter after spending most of the first half on the field.
Now, the BESFs are boasting the top rookie passer, Cam Ward, who brings 1760 passing yards into this tilt. But leverage that number against the average points per game, and it’s easy to extrapolate that number is inflated due to having to the throw the ball on nearly every down.
His completion percentage is 57.8, while he’s thrown 5 touchdowns against 6 picks. Hunter, Anderson and Sting are likely jonesing for a chance to get after him this weekend.
* QB DAVIS MILLS completed 27 of 45 pass att. (60%) for 292 yards, 2 TDs & INT in Week 10.
* RB WOODY MARKS led team with 63 rush yards on 14 carries & TD in Week 10. Aims for 2nd straight on road with rec. TD. Is 1 of 5 rookies (Emeka Egubka, Omarion Hampton, Quinshon Judkins & Cam Skattebo) with 2 games of 110+ scrimmage yards in 2025.
* RB NICK CHUBB has 202 rush yards & TD in 2-career games vs. Ten.
* WR NICO COLLINS led team with season-high 136 rec. yards on 7 rec. in Week 10. Has rec. TD in 2 of his last 3 on road. Aims for 3rd straight with 7+ catches.
* TE DALTON SCHULTZ had 7 rec. for 53 yards & first rec. TD in 2025 last week.
* WR JAYDEN HIGGINS (rookie) had 3rd rec. TD of the season last week, 4th most among rookie WRs in 2025.
* LB AZEEZ AL-SHAIR led team with 8 tackles in Week 10 & PD. Has 6+ tackles in 3 of his last 4. Aims for 2nd in row on road with FR.
* LB HENRY TO’OTO’O had 4 tackles, 0.5 sack & PD in Week 10.
* DE WILL ANDERSON had sack, TFL, PD & FF last week. Aims for 5th in row with sack. Has 4 sacks in 3 career games vs. Ten.
* DE DANIELLE HUNTER had 2nd career game with 3.5 sacks last week, 1 of 9 players with multiple games of 3.5 sacks since entering the league in 2015. Added 7 tackles & FF in Week 10. Ranks 4th in NFL in sacks (107) since 2015. Had 2 sacks in last meeting.
* DT SHELDON RANKINS had 32-yard FR for TD last week.
* CB DEREK STINGLEY had 3rd INT of season & 14th career in Week 10. 1 of 4 players (Jessie Bates, DaRon Bland & Kerby Joseph) with 14+ INTs since entering the league in 2022. Aims for 5th straight with PD.
Now, Houston’s defense is the talk of the town - as it should be. And, the offense is, well, not worth talking about aside from about 7 quarters so far this season. But, here’s a take that might just make this team a true threat down the stretch:
The Texans offense is currently hitting 22.7 points per game, notably behind the league average of 24.5. The AFC South Division leading Indianapolis Colts are landing 32.1 per game. And, Houston has to face the baby horses twice between now and the end of the season. #1 defenses have carried teams all the way in the past - but that was before the NFL slanted the rules so heavily in favor of scoring.
Nick Caley can’t score consistently.
AFC championship contenders can.
Thankfully, the BESFs are neither a top scoring team or a championship contender.
* QB CAM WARD completed 12 of 21 att. (57.1 pct.) for 145 yards in Week 9. Has TD pass in 3 of his past 4 games at home & overall. Ranks 1st among rookie QBs with 1,760 pass yards.
* RB TONY POLLARD had 68 scrimmage yards (56 rush, 12 rec.) in Week 9. Has recorded 50+ scrimmage yards in 9 of his past 10 games, incl. each of his past 5 at home. Has 60+ rushing yards in each of past 3 games vs. Hou.
* RB TYJAE SPEARS had 62 scrimmage yards (36 rec., 26 rush) in Week 9. Has 3+ catches in each of his past 4 games.
* WR CHIMERE DIKE had 3 punt returns for 98 yards & 1st-career kick/punt return touchdown in Week 9. Also had 117 yards on 4 kick returns.
* WR ELIC AYOMANOR led the team with 46 rec. yards on 3 catches last week. 1 of 5 rookies (Tetairoa McMillan (10), Tyler Warren (10), Emeka Egbuka (9) 7 Harold Fannin Jr. (9)) to record 2+ catches in 9 straight to start the season.
* DT JEFFERY SIMMONS has sack in 3 of his past 4 games. Had 4 tackles for loss in last game vs. Hou. Has sack in 2 of his past 3 games vs. Hou.
* NT T’VONDRE SWEAT had 3 tackles & tackle for loss in Week 9. Aims for 4th in row with TFL. Has sack in 2 of his past 3 games.
* LB CODY BARTON had 6 tackles & 1st-career INT-TD in Week 9. Is 1 of 4 LBs (Tremaine Edmunds, Ernest Jones & Devin Lloyd) to have 3+ INTs in 2025.
* LB CEDRIC GRAY had 16 tackles & 1st-career sack in Week 9. Is the only player this season to record 10+ tackles & TFL in 4 games. Is the only player this season to record 15+ tackles & sack in a game. 1 of 4 (Nick Bolton, Jordyn Brooks & Roquan Smith) to record 3 games of 12+ tackles.
* LB JIHAD WARD had 4 tackles & career-high 2.5 sacks in Week 9. Has sack and TFL in 2 of his past 3 games.
* S AMANI HOOKER had 7 tackles in Week 9. Has 6+ tackles in 5 of his past 6 games at home.
Right now we’re all riding the high of the incredible comeback Houston pulled off last weekend. It was definitely one for the ages. Unfortunately, all the 4th quarter success doesn’t erase the 1st 40 minutes of mediocrity Caley’s offense brought to the field with Davis Mills under center.
Now, Mills is a quality backup QB for sure. Possibly the best the Texans have ever had for a consistent amount of games. But he’s not proven to be the answer to “how do you win with a bad play caller?” over the course of the last several seasons.
Even though it’s the BESFs, expect Houston’s offensive struggles to continue, while the defense bails them out time and again.
And, just to appease any BESF fans reading this, here’s the always necessary reminder:
See More:
* [Houston Texans Analysis](/houston-texans-analysis)
* [Houston Texans Game Information](/houston-texans-game-information)