The Houston Texans are one of the hottest squads in all of football, and their defense has been the topic of the discussion for many as teams prepare for the playoffs. After an 0-3 start, the Texans rallied behind their defense to turn things around. They now have a 9-5 record and a strong foothold in the NFL playoff picture.
With such a commanding defense, not much has been said about the Texans’ offense. Everyone agrees: If the Texans control the ball and don’t force turnovers, their defense will keep them in the game. However, recent trends are showing that the offense is closing in on the ability to win matches on their own.
Houston’s usage of their playmakers is improving week-by-week
The Texans handled business against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, winning 40-20 at home. While the defense had a subpar performance according to their standards, Houston’s offense had one of their better days of the season. One big reason for their explosion was Nico Collins, who had two touchdowns, one of them coming in the first minute of the first quarter. The Texans took advantage of Nico’s explosiveness in the middle of the field, and it paid off with a score.
The Texans are attacking the middle of the field as well as any offense in football right now pic.twitter.com/Z1DkSwO0yg
— Mina Kimes (@minakimes) December 15, 2025
Nick Caley deserves a lot of praise for adjusting to Nico Collins and his style of play after a tough start to the season. He’s been able to scheme at least a few high YAC (Yards After Catch) plays for Nico week in and week out. Even if he only has three or four chances per game, Collins has the ability to make them count.
Stroud has also become more comfortable in the pocket and is not afraid to hit his running back on checkdowns to gain easy yards. The Texans have playmakers on offense like rookies Jaylin Noel, Jayden Higgins, and Woody Marks. They’ve all provided positive contributions to the squad, and there’s no reason to believe that their quality will decrease. The Texans are still not among the best offenses in the AFC, but if they can continue to find their playmakers in open space while using the running game as a consistent yard-getter, teams will not only have to worry about Houston’s defense come playoff time.
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