Defense Leads the Way
Houston wants C.J. Stroud operating from play action and a stable pocket while Nico Collins controls the outside. The defense can rush four and let the coverage stay patient behind it.
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Houston Texans 2026 Team Rankings and Ratings
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Defense Sets the Terms
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84.8PFM Team Scorei
PFM Verdict
Why PFM Ranks the Texans Here
Houston can trust C.J. Stroud, Nico Collins and a defense led by Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter. The Texans rank No. 10 because protection problems can still wreck the offense before Stroud reaches the concepts designed to attack downfield. If the line lets him play on schedule again, Houston has enough on both sides to climb quickly.
NFL Rank#10Current PFM ranking
AFC Rank#5Among AFC teams
QB Stability#15C.J. Stroud · Built to Trust
Season OutlookPlayoff Contender
Head coachDeMeco Ryans
Offensive coordinatorNick Caley
Defensive coordinatorMatt Burke
PFM Team DNA
View all NFL team rankingsHouston Texans Team DNA
Coaching Direction
DeMeco Ryans' staff cannot let first-down protection losses erase Houston's play-action game. C.J. Stroud needs cleaner early pockets so Nico Collins can work beyond the sticks instead of every series becoming a third-and-long escape.
Houston’s Unit Split Starts With Protection
The offense stands 10.0 points above the defense, but that margin only shows up when the pocket stays firm enough for the route timing to develop. A lead lets the pass rush attack a predictable dropback game; early protection losses reverse that advantage.
Houston's Offense Still Has to Work Too Hard
Houston ranks 22nd in explosive-play ability. Without more chunk plays, too many drives depend on staying perfect for ten or twelve snaps.
PFM ROAD AHEAD
2026 Houston Texans Strength of Schedule
Houston has one of the league’s more favorable schedules at No. 24, with opponents averaging 78.9. Jacksonville Jaguars, Philadelphia Eagles and Green Bay Packers still give the schedule a real test, but 2 games against current top-10 teams keep the full road from looking as heavy as most.
Difficulty Rank#24No. 1 is toughest
Opponent PFM Avg.78.9Average across opponents
Next 3 Avg.80.4Upcoming opponents
Top-10 Matchups2Games vs. current top 10
Away games left8
Top-10 road opponents1
vs. Buffalo Bills85.6 PFM · #8
Sep 13 · 1:00 pmHomeTop 10
vs. Cincinnati Bengals79.4 PFM · #16
Sep 20 · 1:00 pmHome
at Indianapolis Colts76.1 PFM · #23
Sep 27 · 1:00 pmAwayBottom 10
Toughest remaining opponent: 
Philadelphia Eagles at 86.2 PFM.
PFM Reporter
Jayden Higgins ACL Tear Weakens the Texans Offense
Jayden Higgins tore his ACL in Tuesday's joint practice and will miss the entire 2026 season.
Houston can still build the passing game around Nico Collins, Tank Dell and Jaylin Noel but Higgins gave C.J. Stroud a 6-foot-4 target who scored six times as a rookie. That matters for an offense PFM already grades only 19th and 22nd in explosiveness. This opens the door for Noel to get significantly more touches.
Analysis updatedAugust 19, 2026
Around the League
League Context
Closest Team DNA Match
Built Like Denver Broncos
Denver BroncosMatch distance: 1.92 rating points
Shared profile: QB Stability and Roster Strength.
Houston gets early-down control from the offensive line, while Denver gets on-schedule throws from the offensive line. The connection in QB Stability and Roster Strength is the support that keeps one missed block, injury or covered first read from ending the down. Denver owns the coaching edge because the coaching staff provides clearer structure when the first call does not solve the matchup.
Where they separate: Coaching Direction. Broncos hold the stronger current rating.
Division Pressure
AFC South
Jacksonville is the closest AFC South challenger because Trevor Lawrence now has more explosive help. Houston remains ahead through its defense, but protection failures around C.J. Stroud would give the Jaguars the opening to flip the division.
Supporting Team Information
More About the Team
Badge History1 active badge · Last verified change Jul 17, 2026
- Jul 17, 2026 · Badge tracking startedEarned Lockdown Defense
Houston Texans in the Super Bowl Era
Houston has not reached the Super Bowl.
- Super Bowl Titles
- 0
- Super Bowl Appearances
- 0
- Super Bowl Record
- No appearances
- Last Appearance
- Still chasing First appearance
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