Texans’ Defensive Woes Lead The Athletic Analyst to Acknowledge Misjudgment
The Athletic’s senior writers, including Jourdan Rodrigue, assessed their preseason predictions after eight weeks of the 2026 NFL season. Rodrigue identified Houston’s defense as a major misjudgment, expected to be elite but has instead struggled, ranking 24th in EPA per play and allowing three 30-point games. Despite returning key players, the pass defense faltered, led by Pro Bowlers Derek Stingley Jr. and Jalen Pitre. The Texans’ offense, driven by quarterback C.J. Stroud, has exceeded expectations, contrasting with the defense’s decline, which may stem from opponents adapting to DeMeco Ryans’ strategies. Houston faces the winless Chargers after a bye week.
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