Saying the Houston Texans have been a mess on offense would be an understatement. It feels like the coaching staff is getting worse as the weeks go on, and while it might not be something that gets fixed overnight, the Texans still have some talent on the roster to get things moving in the right direction.
The offensive scheme has been criticized by just about anyone who’s watched this team, and rightfully so. It doesn’t feel like they’re putting players in positions to succeed. The best weapon Houston has on offense is wide receiver Nico Collins, and his talent is undeniable. Yet, he hasn’t been featured nearly as much as he should be — and that falls directly on offensive coordinator Nick Caley.
Collins is now set to miss his first game of the season due to a concussion suffered against the Seahawks. With him sidelined, Houston will need to rely on their young receivers to step up. The Texans drafted two playmakers in the 2025 NFL Draft — Jayden Higgins in the second round and Jaylin Noel in the third, both out of Iowa State. Through six games, both have struggled to see consistent involvement, but that should change this week with Collins and Christian Kirk both out.
Another rookie that Texans fans have been begging for more of, is running back Woody Marks. Marks may not be fully better than veteran Nick Chubb yet, but it is close. The physical talent is there, but the real difference is experience, and that can only come with time and more opportunities.
On the other side of the ball, defensive coordinator Matt Burke has his unit firing on all cylinders. The Texans currently have the top-ranked defense in the league, and it still feels like they haven’t hit their full stride yet. The only concern is that if the offense continues to stall, the defense will eventually wear down.
To win games in this league, you need complementary football — and that simply hasn’t happened so far in Houston, but the key is to get your rookies more involved, and protect your franchise quarterback in C.J. Stroud.