Houston Texans 2026 Team Rankings and Ratings

83.8PFM Team Score

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. 11 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#11Current PFM ranking

AFC Rank#6Among AFC teams

QB Stability#16C.J. Stroud · Built to Trust

Season OutlookPlayoff Contender

Head coachDeMeco Ryans

Offensive coordinatorNick Caley

Defensive coordinatorMatt Burke

Offense78.7No. 19

Defense85.2No. 3

Coaching Direction81.0No. 15

Regular-Season Baseline

PFM Trend

Baseline September 8, 2026

Current stateBaseline set

Houston starts the regular season with a 83.8 PFM Team Score and the No. 11 spot in PFM’s NFL rankings. Movement will appear after the first published weekly ratings update.

PFM Team Score83.8

Score movementStarts here

NFL RankNo. 11

Rank movementStarts here

See Latest NFL Ranking Changes

PFM Team DNA

Houston Texans Team DNA

View all NFL team rankings

PFM category scores · 0–100 scale

QB Stability82.6No. 16 in NFLStrength

Offense78.7No. 19 in NFLWatch

Explosiveness73.0No. 22 in NFLMajor Concern

Roster Strength78.7No. 18 in NFLWatch

Franchise Direction80.1No. 7 in NFLWatch

Coaching Direction81.0No. 15 in NFLWatch

Defense85.2No. 3 in NFLStrength

Identity

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.

Pressure Point

C.J. Stroud Needs Cleaner Early Downs

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.

Week 1 matchup

AwayBUF0-0

HomeHOU0-0

Pick the winner.

PFM ROAD AHEAD

2026 Houston Texans Strength of Schedule

Houston has one of the league’s more favorable schedules at No. 25, with opponents averaging 78.8. Jacksonville Jaguars, Philadelphia Eagles and Green Bay Packers still give the schedule a real test, but 3 games against current top-10 teams keep the full road from looking as heavy as most.

Difficulty Rank#25No. 1 is toughest

Opponent PFM Avg.78.8Average across opponents

Next 3 Avg.80.5Upcoming opponents

Top-10 Matchups3Games vs. current top 10

Away games left8

Top-10 road opponents2

Week 1

vs. Buffalo Bills85.7 PFM · #7

Sep 13 · 1:00 pm

HomeTop 10

Week 2

vs. Cincinnati Bengals79.5 PFM · #16

Sep 20 · 1:00 pm

Home

Week 3

at Indianapolis Colts76.2 PFM · #23

Sep 27 · 1:00 pm

AwayBottom 10

Toughest remaining opponent: Philadelphia Eagles at 86.3 PFM.

See all 32 NFL strength of schedule rankings View Houston Texans’ full schedule breakdown

PFM ReporterReportedAugust 30, 2026

Tank Dell's Return Is Pushed Beyond the First Four Games

Houston placed Tank Dell on injured reserve with a designation to return, so he will miss at least the first four games while continuing his recovery from the severe 2024 knee injury.

PFM previously held the offense and roster ratings when Dell returned to padded work because the next test was fuller participation without a setback. This changes that state. Houston's offense was already the weaker side of a top-10 PFM profile, so Offense Rating and Roster Strength deserve another review.

By Justin Fuhr

Sources: Houston Texans Transactions (8-30-2026)

Around the League

League Context

Closest Team DNA Match

Built Like Denver Broncos

Denver BroncosMatch distance: 2.12 rating points

Shared profile: QB Stability and Defense.

Houston builds early-down control around the offensive line; Denver gets on-schedule throws from the offensive line. two important parts of the roster connect the teams because each side has a football answer beyond the first option. Denver separates in Coaching Direction through the coaching staff and a more established response to changing game conditions.

Where they separate: Coaching Direction. Broncos hold the stronger current rating.

View Broncos dashboard Compare the teams

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.

Houston Texans83.8