Six weeks into the 2026 season, the Houston Texans sit with a 2-4 record, and while 2-4 is nothing to write home about, it does feel like things have started to recalibrate a bit for our hometown team. Recency bias helps, as the two wins came in their last two games, but C.J. Stroud playing at an elite level has fans and experts looking at the upcoming schedule through a very optimistic lens.
The New York Giants, the Los Angeles Chargers, the Cleveland Browns, and the Indianapolis Colts — those are the next four opponents. 2-4 should turn into 6-4 a month from now. For now, it’s the Giants on the dance card, and this just in — the Texans have had an awfully hard time beating the Giants throughout their history. Aside from a win over the Giants in 2002, the Texans are 0-5 in the remaining matchups between the two teams.
The Texans, though, are heavily favored to end that streak on Sunday. The spread on this game is ten points, which is a monster number considering the favorite is 2-4 on the season and the underdog is leading their division (albeit the worst division in the sport). As the Texans look to move to 3-4 on the season, here are four things to watch for at Reliant Stadium this Sunday:
**4\. J.J. McCarthy is starting for the Giants**
If someone had told you back in September that McCarthy would be the starting quarterback for the Giants in this game, you’d have likely said “You mean the Vikings quarterback?” McCarthy was traded to the Giants a few weeks ago for a Day 3 draft pick, and now all of a sudden, on the heels of a 243 yard fourth quarter in competitive mop-up duty in a loss to the Saints, McCarthy is the starter for a first place team. McCarthy poses a bigger threat to the Texans than veteran Jameis Winston does, as McCarthy has decent mobility and can beat you with his legs. Like Winston, though, McCarthy is turnover prone and suspectible to very poor decisions. The Texans need to get on McCarthy early, and squash any first quarter momentum he can generate.
**3\. Will Anderson and Danielle Hunter should enjoy dry ground**
Last week, in London, Anderson and Hunter had their first collective sackless game since Week 13 of last season in Indianapolis. Given that the Jaguars also finished the game without a sack on defense, I would attribute the lack of pressure on the quarterbacks to the wet field conditions. Anderson and Hunter should feast on Sunday, because (a) they will be on dry ground, and (b) the Giants are banged up on the offensive line, with both of their tackles on the injury report this week. One key will be rushing in a disciplined fashion, and keeping McCarthy in the pocket, making sure he doesn’t bust out with any long run plays.
**2\. The Texans’ thin running back room**
C.J. Stroud has been outstanding all season, and it’s been largely with no real running game to speak of. With apologies to Woody Marks, who had some nice runs last weekend and is doing the most with what the offensive line is giving him, this rushing offense is not good. Now, injuries have made the depth chart at running back razor thin. David Montgomery remains out with a groin injury, British Brooks is on injured reserve, and now Jawhar Jordan is on the injured list. The entire depth chart at running back consists of Marks, Dare Ogunbowale (who is on the roster more for special teams than running back), and practice squad body Deuce Vaughn (who is literally 5-foot-5). We might see C.J. Stroud throw the ball 45 times on Sunday, which I’m cool with because…..
**1\. Tank Dell returns!**
Dell is returning after 22 months of rehabbing one of the most gruesome knee injuries in team history. That Dell has made it this far in his comeback, to where he will be activated for Sunday’s game is, unto itself, a minor miracle. Dell said in his media availability on Wednesday that he is ready to get tackled and he’s ready to do whatever the team asks of him. If Dell brings the superpowers he flashed in his first two seasons, this wide receiver room will have gone from average to super intriguing in just two weeks, with Dell’s return and the acquisition of Marvin Harrison, Jr. My only hope for Sunday is that Dell gets introduced with the starters so that the crowd at Reliant Stadium can give him a standing ovation.
**SPREAD: Texans -10**
**PREDICTION: Texans 29, Giants 17**
**SEAN SEASON RECORD: 2-4 SU, 1-5 ATS**