Saturday, November 6, 2021

Houston Texans Week 9 NFL Power Rankings Roundup

Throughout the 2021 NFL season, we will compile a consensus NFL Power Rankings that averages the rankings of all 32 NFL teams.

Here is where the Houston Texans rank in terms of average, best and worst:

  • Average ranking: 31.2 (31st)
  • Best ranking: 31st (Multiple)
  • Worst ranking: 32nd (The Athletic)

Below you will find a Week 9 roundup for the Texans in our consensus 2021 NFL Power Rankings.

ESPN -- Rank: 31

Biggest Achilles' heel: Running game

It's hard to pick just one category for a 1-7 team, but one area the Texans have struggled in all season -- and not because of injury -- is running the ball. Houston ranks dead last in Football Outsider's rush DVOA and is averaging 76.1 rushing yards per game. Now that Houston has traded lead back Mark Ingram II, it has four running backs: veterans David Johnson, Phillip Lindsay and Rex Burkhead and second-year pro Scottie Phillips. After Ingram was traded, it was Burkhead who led the way in Sunday's loss to the Rams -- but the group was still held to 44 yards on 14 carries. -- Sarah Barshop

NFL.com -- Rank: 32

Another week, another punishing loss for the worst team in football. The biggest story around the Texans remains Deshaun Watson, who, if recent reports are correct, will not be moved ahead of Tuesday's trade deadline. Being rid of Watson and all that comes with him would have been a positive development for the Texans, but there will be more time to address the situation again in the months ahead. As for the actual on-field product, Houston is talent poor and outclassed every time it steps on the field. Years of poor draft-capital management and questionable roster moves have left the franchise barren. The upcoming offseason will be the most critical in the organization's history.

CBS Sports -- Rank: 31

When do they put Tyrod Taylor back in the lineup? It probably doesn't matter who plays quarterback, but they have a winnable game against the Dolphins this week.

USA Today -- Rank: 31

There might finally be blessed clarity on Houston's quarterback conundrum this week ... meaning the potential return of Tyrod Taylor, of course.

The Athletic -- Rank: 31

How's the head coach? The wheels are coming off for David Culley. His team's greatest accomplishments in October were taking a lead to the fourth quarter vs. New England and delivering an all-timer of a bad beat Sunday -- the Texans (16.5-point underdogs at many spots) ripped off 22 points in garbage time to lose by 16. Coaches can survive bad seasons. Typically, they can't make it through when a team is downright uncompetitive.

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