Struggling through a challenging season, the Texans are dealing with delays due to serious knee injuries sidelining star wide receivers Stefon Diggs and Tank Dell for the remainder of the year.
The timing couldn’t be worse, as the team has recently experienced consecutive losses to the Kansas City Chiefs and the Baltimore Ravens, both of whom are strong contenders for the Super Bowl in the AFC.
The defeat against the Ravens on Christmas Day was particularly disheartening, ending with a lopsided score of 31-2. Ben Maller did not shy away from criticizing the team’s lackluster performance.
During that game, Houston’s defense struggled to contain the Ravens, allowing an astounding 251 rushing yards, with 147 yards coming from Derrick Henry and another 87 yards from quarterback Lamar Jackson.
Despite Jackson’s modest passing statistics—completing 10 of 15 attempts for 168 yards and two touchdowns—his contribution was largely unnecessary given the Ravens’ dominant showing.
On the other hand, C.J. Stroud, the Texans’ quarterback, managed to complete only 17 of his 31 passes, finishing the game without a touchdown and throwing one interception, all while being sacked five times.
At the beginning of the season, many viewed the Texans as a potential dark horse in the AFC; however, despite the likelihood of clinching the AFC South title, they now resemble a team running on empty. Their regular season will conclude with a matchup against the Tennessee Titans on January 5.
