The Houston Texans return home on primetime for a matchup against the Detroit Lions on Sunday Night Football. One team is trending down after losing to a New York Jets team that had no life following a loss to the New England Patriots. The other roster hasn’t slowed down since a Week 2 loss to Tampa Bay at home and feels like the favorite to win the NFC title.
The Texans could be getting healthy on offense as Nico Collins is off the injured reserve with a hamstring injury. However, Stefon Diggs’ tenure off NRG Drive could be over after the four-time Pro Bowler suffered a season-ending torn ACL in Week 8’s win against the Colts.
“He’s been such an important part to our team and everything that he brought, not only on the field, but off the field,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said. “The energy, the leader, the way he worked every single day,” Ryans said. “Have to pick up the slack. A lot of guys have to step up and pick up the slack. Definitely praying for him.”
Can Houston survive a close one against an NFC North opponent who could clinch a playoff berth (not really but still) on the bigtime stage?
Here’s the staff at Texans Wire’s predictions for Sunday Night’s showdown between two vastly different “contenders” at home while debuting the new “Battle Red” uniforms.