Houston Texans NFL Power Rankings: Week 11

Where does Houston land after their loss to Detroit?

This might just be the lowest point of the season.

In what can only be described as a bout of identity crisis, the Houston Texans squandered a 23-7 halftime lead over the Detroit Lions and lost via a last second field goal, 26-23. After completely smothering the Lions defense, forcing three interceptions from quarterback Jared Goff, and then forcing two more in the third quarter, the Houston Texans’ offense served up a second-half stinker for the ages:

HOUSTON TEXANS SECOND HALF TEAM STATS:

• 7 Possessions
• 82 Yards
• 4 Punts
• 2 Interceptions
• 1 Missed 58-Yard Field Goal
• 0 Points

From the heads of the Texans staff glared the eyes of millions, shocked, confused, utterly enthralled in the slow-motion train wreck that is watching an offense completely lose its way. How they stared as Detroit’s defense silenced the Texans’ spirit and clawed their way back into competition, as if below their feet lie the Scales of Justice visibly shifting in the Lions’ favor. At some point, in some sort of cruel interpretation of justice, it felt inevitable, deserved, even. Bailed out week after week by field goals and lucky breaks, Sunday was the moment Houston’s luck ran out. They were already knocked down several begs after a Halloween loss to the stinky New York Jets, and now, at 6-4, their positioning in the power rankings (and the AFC playoff race) is significantly more murky.

Here’s where the Houston Texans are ranked entering Week 11 of the 2024 NFL Season:

NFL.COM:

12. Houston Texans (6-4) (Last Week: 10)

Just a gutting loss for a Houston team that had played with fire a little too often this season. The Texans were able to beat the Colts, Bears, Jaguars and Bills with late execution, but on Sunday night, they were punished for not putting away the Lions when they had the chance. Since the 41-21 win over New England, Houston has dropped three of four games and has struggled mightily to score after halftime. Detroit blanked Houston in the final 30 minutes, leading to the franchise’s biggest blown lead in more than a decade, per NFL Research. Two turnovers, four punts and a missed field-goal try in your last seven drives is not the formula for taking down a true Super Bowl contender, but these second-half blues are becoming the norm in Houston. The Jets outscored the Texans 21-6 after halftime; against Green Bay, it was a 10-3 second-half deficit. The Texans have one of the easier remaining schedules by opponents’ win percentage, but still must play the Chiefs and Ravens. That’s two big tests left for Houston to prove it can be a 60-minute team and hang with the big boys.

– Eric Edholm

ESPN:

13. Houston Texans (6-4)

Week 10 result: Lost to the Lions 26-23

Week 10 ranking: 11

Non-QB MVP: Running back Joe Mixon

Mixon has helped the Texans’ offense through its passing attack struggles without wideouts Stefon Diggs (torn ACL) and Nico Collins (hamstring). Mixon is averaging 93.6 rushing yards, third most in the NFL, helping to keep the offense in decent shape. He’s also sixth in rushing touchdowns (7) despite playing only seven games. Houston should get Collins, who led the NFL in receiving yards before his injury, back soon, and Mixon’s production should only get better once Collins returns.

– DJ Bien-Aime

SPORTS ILLUSTRATED:

13. Houston Texans (6–4)

Last week’s ranking: No. 12

Last week’s result: lost to Detroit, 26–23

This week: at Dallas

It’s cliché to say we’re about to learn a lot about Houston as a team, but here we have a juxtaposition. Detroit has already been through the suck. DeMeco Ryans coached up a first-year team into a first-round playoff victory. But now, their proverbial suck has arrived. Since Oct. 20, C.J. Stroud hasn’t posted a QB rating over 100, he has a 1:1 touchdown to INT ratio and he’s been sacked 18 times. Not even close to all of this is on his plate, but the salad days are over.

– Conor Orr

THE ATHLETIC:

13. Houston Texans (6-4)

Last week: 12

Sunday: Lost to Detroit Lions 26-23

QB confidence rating: 7

C.J. Stroud’s season now officially qualifies as a sophomore slump. He had a 64.2 passer rating and threw two interceptions Sunday night and lost despite a five-interception game from his opponent. Stroud is 24th in EPA per dropback (minus-.01). As a rookie, he finished sixth (.11). Houston has lost two in a row and three of its last four.

Up next: vs. Dallas Cowboys, Monday, 8:15 p.m. ET

– Josh Kendall

BLEACHER REPORT:

11. Houston Texans (6-4)

Last Week: 11

Week 10 Result: Lost vs. Detroit 26-23

At halftime of Sunday’s night’s game with the Detroit Lions, it appeared that the Houston Texans were on the verge of a statement win. The Lions couldn’t stop turning the ball over. Houston hit intermission with a 23-7 lead.

However, when Detroit kicker Jake Bates’ game-winning field goal snuck just inside the upright as time expired, the Texans became just the second team in over 80 years to lose a game in which they intercepted five passes and led by 15 points.

The Texans had their own turnover issues in the second half, and while speaking to the media after the game, head coach DeMeco Ryans bemoaned those giveaways as one of the reasons Houston came up short.

“It’s not good enough. Turning the football over there, especially in the red zone, or coming out,” Ryans said. “We talked about getting started in the second half, and we talked about being better in the second half. But to come out and turn the ball over on the first play of the second half and to get in the red zone where we have points and to turn the ball over, that’s not winning football.”

Analyst’s Take

In what should be viewed as an embarrassing night for the Texans by losing to the Detroit Lions despite forcing five turnovers, John Metchie III’s emergence deserves plenty of attention.

Metchie provided a career-high 74 yards against the Lions and scored his first career touchdown. Keep in mind, the third-year wide receiver is two-and-a-half years removed from being diagnosed with leukemia. The fact he’s on the field contributing is a great story unto itself.

However, Metchie could fill a vital role as the season progresses. Despite the loss, the Texans still have a pretty strong grasp of the AFC South. Metchie can provide quarterback C.J. Stroud with a legitimate third target at wide receiver alongside Tank Dell and Nico Collins, when the latter returns from injury. — Sobleski

– Gary Davenport, Maurice Moton, Kristopher Knox, Brent Sobleski

CBS SPORTS:

14. Houston Texans (6-4) (Last Week: 12)

At 6-4, they have to be thankful the division isn’t good. They will win it, but they have to get back on track and start winning some games.

– Pete Prisco

YAHOO! SPORTS:

12. Houston Texans (6-4) (Last Week: 10)

The Lions’ comeback was the focus, but don’t ignore the Texans’ collapse. Detroit was the first team since 1970 to throw five interceptions, trail by 15 or more and still win, which means Houston was the first team since 1970 to lose in that situation. That’s two bad losses in a row for the Texans.

– Frank Schwab

USA TODAY:

12. Houston Texans (12): Their ongoing struggles continue to coincide with a depleted receiver corps. Yet how cool was it to see WR John Metchie III score his first NFL TD more than two years after his career was interrupted by a battle with leukemia?

– Nate Davis

PRO FOOTBALL TALK:

14. Texans (No. 11; 6-4): Fortunately, they’ll face the second-best team (by far) in Texas next Monday.

– Mike Florio

Average Ranking: 12.67

Photo by Brooke Sutton/Getty Images

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These are a far cry from the positions they were holding in Week 5 or Week 6! Jeez oh man, the Texans are 1-3 in the last four games and are officially in a mire on offense. Joe Mixon or not, they have some serious soul searching to do…and, by the way, when did Joe Mixon become our hero? What happened to C.J. Stroud? This is now his fourth time in five games where he’s been under 200 passing yards.

Although, the next three games will be the great silver lining: at Dallas, vs. Tennessee, at Jacksonville. If there were a moment in a season for the Texans to rebound and get their steam back for the homestretch, it’s here.

What do you think, though? Is the party crashing down in fires in flames, or are the Texans just going through a rough patch? Let us know in the comments below!