Houston, We Still Have a Problem: Monday Night Football Preview
Fans were ecstatic to see the start of the Houston Texans football season this past Sunday against the Los Angeles Rams, but what should have been a night of excitement left a bad taste in our mouths. Old problems resurfaced, and new ones emerged, none more glaring than the offensive line.
Since entering the league in 2023, C.J. Stroud has faced a pressure rate of 40% or higher in 14 games, tied for the most of any quarterback. Sunday was no different, as he endured three sacks and constant pressure. The results showed on the scoreboard: three field goals, no touchdowns, and an offense that sputtered its way out of scoring opportunities.
Houston’s line looks almost brand new, with a mix of returns and newcomers, but the chemistry wasn’t there. Veterans like Jarrett Patterson and Tytus Howard couldn’t stabilize the group, and not a single lineman posted a Pro Football Focus offensive grade above 66.5, where 60 is considered average. New additions Aireontae Ersery and Laken Tomlinson struggled the most, with rough grades of 41.6 and 44.5. The unit’s performance led to a bottom-three offensive success rate and the league’s worst third-down conversion percentage at just 22%.
The ground game didn’t provide much relief either. Joe Mixon’s health remains uncertain, leaving the Texans without their full complement of backs. Nick Chubb, still working his way back from a devastating knee injury in 2023, flashed moments of promise with tough, downhill runs that chipped away at the Rams’ front seven. While not explosive, those carries at least gave Stroud some breathing room.
Play-calling also came into question. New offensive coordinator Nick Caley has to find a way to maximize his playmakers, especially Nico Collins. The star receiver, who led the league in receiving yards last season, saw just five targets—two slants, a curl, a go, and a post. That’s not nearly enough involvement for a player of his caliber, and the Texans’ passing attack looked handcuffed as a result.
Now the Texans turn the page to Monday Night Football in Tampa Bay, where they’ll face a Buccaneers team that is well aware of Houston’s strengths and weaknesses. Head coach Todd Bowles said one thing that stands out on film is just how disruptive the Texans’ defensive front has become.
“They just explode off the line,” Bowles explained. “We call it a ‘jet technique,’ because they’re shooting straight upfield. Whether it’s Will Anderson flying off the edge or Danielle Hunter collapsing from the other side, they set the tempo. And it’s not just the front—linebackers like Azeez, and even Jalen Pitre sliding down into nickel, they all swarm to the ball. You can see the effort across the defense, the way they’re picking each other up and trying to outwork their opponent.”
Of course, Bowles is equally aware of what Houston can do on the offensive side, led by Stroud, the 2023 Offensive Rookie of the Year. Stroud famously lit up the Buccaneers for 470 yards and five touchdowns in their meeting last season, and his arsenal has only grown. Collins has put together back-to-back 1,000-yard campaigns, veteran Christian Kirk brings experience and versatility, and rookies Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel add size and depth.
“Quick release, strong arm, and extremely accurate,” Bowles said of Stroud. “If he has time to set his feet, he can pick you apart. Collins is that rare blend of size and speed, Kirk can stretch a defense, and those young guys they drafted—big-bodied receivers with good hands—are dangerous too.”
Tampa Bay, though, is not without answers. Baker Mayfield has thrown more touchdown passes than any quarterback since the start of 2023, and the Buccaneers’ new-look offense already showed signs of balance in their opener. Their defense also proved tough, holding Atlanta to one score after the opening drive and standing tall with a goal-line stand that forced the Falcons to run eight plays just to punch in a late touchdown.
Bucs offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard said his group is more than ready for the spotlight. “They’re juiced up,” Grizzard said. “Monday night football, on the road, loud stadium, one of the top defenses in the league—it’s the kind of stage you want to compete on. We know it’s going to be a challenge, but the guys are ready for it.”
Defensively, Houston has shown encouraging signs. Will Anderson Jr. and the front line set the tone against the Rams, and the secondary has enough playmakers to slow down Mayfield if they can disrupt timing early. But ultimately, the Texans’ fate depends on whether their offensive line can rise to the challenge.
The Texans enter Week 2 as the only team in the NFL without a touchdown. That storyline cannot carry into another primetime spotlight. Monday night is a chance to change the narrative, silence critics, and show that this revamped roster can compete at a high level. But it all begins in the trenches—if Houston can’t protect its franchise quarterback, we may be in for another long season asking the same question: when will the Texans’ offense finally arrive?
The answer—or at least the next chapter comes under the bright lights of Monday Night Football when the Texans and Buccaneers square off on ESPN at 7:15 p.m. CT.