TNF: Texans look to ground Jets
TNF: Texans look to ground Jets
Hicks Pick: Stroud and Co. extend New York's dismal state of mind.
Thursday, Oct. 31, 8:15 p.m. ET, MetLife Stadium (NJ), Amazon Streaky Service
Before the season started, fans looking ahead to Week 9 perhaps saw the Halloween night Jets vs. Texans matchup as a treat, one between playoff teams featuring QBs at opposite ends of brilliant career arcs.
But by October 31, the 2024 season for the Jets has devolved into a gangrenous trick, as a team many pundits rubber-stamped for a playoff spot instead inspires drive-by rubbernecking at the creative ways it finds to lose football games.
New York has dropped five in a row — four of them by six points or fewer — including a Week 8 setback to lowly New England, as the Patriots engineered a game-winning 75-yard march on its final possession, scoring against the “vaunted” Jets pass defense with 22 seconds left.
Penalties killed New York on Sunday, and the Jets will need to clean that up if they hope to beat Houston on Thursday. New York’s offensive line has pass-blocked much better than a year ago, but against the Texans, it goes up against one of the top pass-rushing units, anchored by ends Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter. This OL-vs.-DL matchup could determine the outcome. If it goes New York’s way, Rodgers and receivers Garrett Wilson and Davante Adams could have productive evenings.
The Texans’ season has been a mirror image of the Jets: Houston repeatedly found ways to win one-possession games. Stroud and the offense weathered the absence of Nico Collins (expected to return Week 10) but then learned on Monday that wideout Stefon Diggs will miss the remainder of the season because of a torn ACL, a non-contact injury suffered in the Week 8 win over the Colts. Yet again, injuries continued to hollow out the 2024 NFL season.
In the Week 8 win over the Colts, Houston’s Joe Mixon had 25 carries for 102 yards. With Diggs and Collins out, the former Bengal RB could be a workhorse in Week 9. We took a jab at the Jets’ pass defense earlier, but despite its failings against the Pats, it is still ranked No. 2 in the NFL. The run defense is a different story.
We think Mixon runs for 125-plus yards, and the Texans win by 11. If New York’s run defense does itself proud, and the game comes down to Greg Zeurline making kicks, then Houston wins by three. Tell you what, we’ll split the difference.
PICK: Houston 26, New York Jets 22
Key matchups
DE Will Anderson Jr. (HOU) vs. T Morgan Moses (NYG): We could just as easily focus on the tantalizing confrontation between Tyron Smith vs. Danielle Hunter on the other side, but we pick this battle because the Jets’ big right tackle was limited in practice this week because of a knee issue. Moses at less than 100 percent could be fodder for Anderson, who has racked up five sacks and 16 combined tackles in the last three games. We anticipate the second-year edge rusher putting up a prime-time performance on Thursday.
CB D.J. Reed (NYJ) vs. WR Tank Dell (HOU): Reed grades out as one of the top cover corners in the entire NFL. With Collins and Diggs out of the lineup, a lot falls on the relatively small shoulders of Dell. The second-year pro is one of the AFC’s more dynamic receivers — but he has always had either Collins and/or Diggs flanking him. Will Dell make plays as the primary provider for the Houston passing game? We say he does and has 80-plus yards and a receiving TD.
