So far, we have covered two teams in the Arizona Cardinals and the Carolina Panthers in our in-depth analysis series. Today, the Houston Texans are next to be broken down and looked at. I have them ranked 30th on my pre-training camp power rankings.
A promising future is ahead in Houston, but let’s start with what they accomplished last year.
How was 2022?
Not good. Like, it was bad for the 2022 Texans.
First, they kicked off Week One with a tie against the Indianapolis Colts. Then, they proceeded to lose three straight against Denver, Chicago, and the Chargers.
But, they finally got their first win of the season against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week Five.
That was all they would accomplish for quite a while, losing nine straight before grabbing another win.
Houston finished 3-13-1 and would fire head coach Lovie Smith after the end of the season.
Davis Mills was the leading passer for a team that played three quarterbacks last year. The former Stanford product finished with 3,118 passing yards and 17 touchdowns. The negatives? He also had 15 interceptions.
Running back Dameon Pierce was a pleasant surprise, as the rookie led the team with 939 yards rushing. He literally was the lead back, as the next closest rusher was Dare Ogunbowale with 123 yards. In comparison, Pierce had 220 carries compared to Ogunbowale’s 42.
Brandin Cooks led the team in receiving with 699 yards on 57 catches. Defensively, safety Jalen Pitre did it all. Leading the team was 147 tackles were outstanding, but also had eight pass deflections and five interceptions.
The Offseason
With the firing of Lovie Smith, Houston decided to hire DeMeco Ryans as their next head coach. The former 49ers defensive coordinator was drafted by the Texans during his playing career, where he won Defensive Rookie of the Year and was also a two-time Pro Bowler.
The team also added some pieces on offense. Devin Singletary comes from Buffalo to provide depth at running back. Dalton Schultz lands from Dallas and becomes the TE1.
On defense, safety Jimmie Ward reunites with Ryans from their time in San Francisco.
Most notably, the Texans had a pretty great draft. Their quarterback hole was filled by second-overall pick C.J. Stroud. They traded up to land an impactful and disruptive edge rusher in Will Anderson Jr.
I am excited to see third-round pick Nathaniel Dell. Despite being undersized, he is incredibly explosive. A playmaker for Stroud, he will be on the field early and often.
Schedule Review
The first six weeks of the schedule do not look daunting for Houston. After a matchup against the Ravens in Week One, they have winnable games against teams like Indianapolis, Pittsburgh, and Atlanta. I see them starting 3-3 before their Week Seven bye.
After that, they face off against Carolina and Tampa Bay and are both winnable. The rest of the schedule is a bit of a toss-up for me, but I have them finishing 7-10.
In Review
Despite having them 30th on my power rankings, there’s no reason why this team could surprise some people. This defense along with DeMeco Ryans is a great pairing.
Derek Stingley Jr. and Shaquill Griffin need to stay healthy for the cornerback corps. I do like Christian Harris at the “Will” linebacker position.
Offensively, Nico Collins nor Robert Woods should be atop the depth chart as they are. John Metchie III and Nathaniel Dell should overtake both of them eventually, giving C.J. Stroud two solid weapons.
Dameon Pierce will once again lead the backfield and will be depended on often with a rookie quarterback under center.
In all, the AFC South is a weak division. The Texans, with some luck, could sneak into the playoffs and make me look foolish.
Thank you for reading! Make sure to visit Belly Up Sports every week and follow me on Twitter! My new podcast “Nate Ball” is up and running, with our first episode out now! Check it out on either Spotify or Apple Podcasts!
