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They probably should have been big sellers at the deadline, given that they don't pick until the third round of the 2021 draft. But instead, Houston sat tight. They're 1-6 and get the Jaguars coming out of the bye.

They come off the bye with an eye on next year. They are considering trading some of their players to get picks, which is clearly look-ahead mode.

If you're wondering who runs the ball less effectively than Houston (84.9 yards per game), the answer is nobody.

Reason for optimism: QB Deshaun Watson

The Texans are 1-6, but one of the few points of optimism for the future is that they have a franchise quarterback under a long-term contract. Even without his former No. 1 target, DeAndre Hopkins, Watson has thrown for at least 300 yards in his past four games and has 11 touchdowns in that span. -- Sarah Barshop

The season is lost, the head coach is already history and the Texans find themselves in an unenviable place -- as a team set up for neither the present nor the future. A 1-6 record typically brings a silver lining in the form of a likely top-10 draft pick to come, but Houston sent that consolation prize to the Dolphins as part of the Laremy Tunsil mega-trade in 2019. (If you dare to look, Miami is currently set up to pick fourth overall in Houston's spot.) Tunsil is a great talent who brought stability to left tackle, but the cost is steep when you combine the draft assets surrendered with Tunsil's top-of-the-market price tag.