Friday, October 13, 2023

Houston Texans Week 6 NFL Power Rankings Roundup

Throughout the 2023 NFL season, we will compile a consensus NFL Power Rankings that averages the rankings of all 32 NFL teams.

Below you will find a Week 6 roundup for the Houston Texans in our consensus 2023 NFL Power Rankings.

ESPN -- Rank: 22

Fantasy surprise: RB Dameon Pierce

Pierce hasn't come close to his production from last year. In his rookie season, he averaged 72 yards rushing per game. This season, it's at 49.4. He only has one game over 70 yards rushing with multiple outings of under 40. There have been a rash of injuries on the offensive line, but when left tackle Laremy Tunsil and right tackle Tytus Howard were available against the Atlanta Falcons, Pierce only averaged 3.3 yards per carry. -- DJ Bien-Aime

NFL.com -- Rank: 21

The Texans did almost everything right against the Falcons, winning the turnover battle (2-0) and committing fewer penalties (7-5), with C.J. Stroud leading a rousing TD drive to take the lead with less than two minutes left on the road. That Stroud has begun his pro career throwing an NFL-record 186 straight passes without an INT and hasn't taken a sack since Week 2 is frankly incredible. If you want to gripe about Houston's defense giving up the game-winning drive, I won't blame you. But given the high level Stroud is playing at, it was disappointing the offense couldn't muster better than 4-for-13 on third downs or 1-for-3 on red-zone possessions. Maybe DeMeco Ryans is regretting kicking a field goal early on fourth-and-1. Either way, this team is farther along than I imagined it would be.

CBS Sports -- Rank: 15

C.J. Stroud still has not thrown a pick, which is amazing. At 2-3, with a tough loss Sunday to the Falcons, they are one of the most improved teams in the league.

USA Today -- Rank: 18

No matter Sunday's outcome, this will be their best six-game start since 2019. But it would help if Houston would run the ball better after cracking 90 yards just once so far this season.

The Athletic -- Rank: 18

Remember how much trouble Lovie Smith caused last year when he led Houston to a Week 18 victory and cost the team the No. 1 pick? Turns out he did the Texans a favor. If Houston had the first pick, it might have taken the wrong quarterback. Picking No. 2, it got the right one. C.J. Stroud set the NFL record for attempts to start a career without an interception (186) on Sunday, and he's third in the league in passing yards (1,461) and has seven touchdown passes. Throw in linebacker Will Anderson and wide receiver Tank Dell (who suffered a concussion Sunday), and the Texans are on the rise despite Sunday's loss.

FOX -- Rank: 15

The Texans lose and fall back below .500, but I'm still impressed by what we saw from Stroud in Atlanta. He has thrown almost 200 passes without a pick, and he led the Texans 75 yards for a beautiful go-ahead touchdown on the road. Rookie seasons are going to have ups and downs, but Stroud looks like the right guy for the job, even in defeat.

Yahoo! -- Rank: 21

The two wins shouldn't have changed the expectations for the Texans. It's still a slow build. The progress matters, win or lose, and C.J. Stroud throwing a go-ahead touchdown in the final two minutes is another sign that Houston has the right quarterback. Even in a last-second loss, that's a positive.

PFT -- Rank: 18

Two impressive wins got undermined in one fell swoop.

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