Gameday is almost upon us!
FanDuel and SB Nation are joining forces to bring you a better NFL fan experience. In the aftermath of last night’s opener, which saw the Kansas City Chiefs edge out the Baltimore Ravens in a last minute nail biter, your Houston Texans are ready to step into the ring and show they can go toe-to-toe with the Ravens, Chiefs and other AFC powerhouses.
FanDuel currently has the Texans favored by 2.5, but this game could get ugly for the baby horse crowd really quickly.
A team’s success is often measured in how well their “triplets” perform. The triplets being their quarterback, top running back (RB1) and top wide receiver (WR1). With the Texans, the triplets are downright scary for opposing teams.
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QB C.J. STROUD had 4,108 pass yards & 100.8 rating last season, 3rd-most pass yards by rookie in NFL history & 3rd-highest rating ever by qualifiying rookie QB. Had 648 pass yards (324 per game) & 4 TDs vs. 0 INTs with 114.4 rating in 2 starts vs. Ind. last season. Has 0 INTs & 100+ rating in each of 5 career starts vs. division. Has 0 INTs in 7 of 8 career road starts, incl. playoffs.
RB JOE MIXON makes Houston debut after spending 1st 7 career seasons with Cincinnati. Totaled 1,410 scrimmage yards (1,034 rush, 376 rec.) & 12 TDs (9 rush, 3 rec.) in 2023 & is 1 of 2 in NFL (Christian McCaffrey) with 1,400+ scrimmage yards in 4 of past 6 seasons. Has 452 scrimmage yards (113 per game) & 3 rush TDs in 4 career games vs. Ind.
WR STEFON DIGGS makes Houston debut after spending past 4 seasons with Buffalo. Is 1 of 2 in NFL (Davante Adams) with 100+ catches, 1,100+ rec. yards & 8+ rec. TDs in each of past 4 seasons. Has 810 career catches, 3rd-most ever by player in 1st 9 seasons. Had 2 rec. TDs in his last game vs. Ind. (11/21/21 w/ Buf.).
WR NICO COLLINS led team with career highs in catches (80), rec. yards (1,297) & rec. TDs (8) in 2023. Had 16 catches for 341 yards (170.5 per game) & 2 TDs in 2 games vs. Ind. last season.
On last year’s Texans, Collins was the WR1. This year, he and Diggs are likely viewed as dual WR1s. They very well may turn in the best wide receiver duo performance in Texans history by the time the 2024 season is over.
While the Colts’ triplets are nothing to sneeze at, and shouldn’t be taken lightly, they’re just not quite at the level of the H-Town gang.
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QB ANTHONY RICHARDSON had 7 TDs (4 rush, 3 pass) vs. INT in 4 starts as rookie last season, becoming 1st QB in SB era with rush TD in each of 1st 3 games.
RB JONATHAN TAYLOR had 894 scrimmage yards (89.4 per game) & 8 TDs in (7 rush, 1 rec.) in 10 games last season, with TD in each of his final 6 games. Has 902 scrimmage yards (150.3 per game) & 8 TDs (7 rush, 1 rec.) in 6 career games vs. Hou., with 95+ scrimmage yards & TD in each game. Aims for his 6th in row at home with 90+ scrimmage yards. Since entering NFL in 2020, ranks 2nd among RBs with 4,582 rush yards.
WR MICHAEL PITTMAN ranked 5th in NFL with career-high 109 catches in 2023 & had career-best 1,152 rec. yards. Is 1 of 5 WRs with 85+ catches & 900+ rec. yards in each of past 3 seasons.
With all this, and the sheer momentum the Texans are bringing to the 2024 season, you should expect the Colts to end the week at 0-1 as H-Town snatches a victory in Indy.
Houston Texans 31
And for those who like simulations with their picks, Madden25 thinks H-Town wins this with ease:
Madden 25 type pic.twitter.com/imPAeHchjZ
— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) September 5, 2024
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