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2021 NFL Power Rankings: Houston Texans

Throughout the 2021 NFL season, we will compile a consensus NFL Power Rankings that averages the rankings of all 32 NFL teams.

Here is where the Houston Texans rank in terms of average, best and worst:

Below you will find a Week 4 roundup for the Texans in our consensus 2021 NFL Power Rankings.

ESPN -- Rank: 28

The Texans are 1-2, but the team felt really good about Tyrod Taylor's play through the first six quarters of the season, before he injured his left hamstring against Cleveland. Now, Houston hopes to see growth from Davis Mills. The rookie quarterback will play at least two more games with Taylor on the injured reserve, and coach David Culley said he thought Mills showed that "he can handle a lot more than what we felt like, because of the way he handled himself" in his first NFL start. -- Sarah Barshop

NFL.com -- Rank: 28

The Texans feel like the AFC's answer to the Lions: A talent-deficient roster that fights hard for its coach but ultimately lacks the firepower to keep up. Houston struggled to limit chunk gains from a Sam Darnold-led Panthers offense that played without Christian McCaffrey for most of the game, while the Texans' ground attack was practically non-existent in a 24-9 loss in prime time. Davis Mills had moments in his NFL starting debut -- most of them during Houston's lone touchdown march late in the first half -- but he's a third-string rookie quarterback who's been pressed into duty before he's ready. The kid needs help, and Mark Ingram, Phillip Lindsay and the rest of the Texans' run game couldn't give it to him on Thursday night.

CBS Sports -- Rank: 29

Davis Mills did some good things against the Panthers, but they were too restrictive in their play calling. It's time to let him play a little looser going forward.

USA Today -- Rank: 29

No matter the quarterback, you have to admire WR Brandin Cooks' constant production -- his numbers currently spiking to 107 receiving yards per game despite Houston's offensive issues.

The Athletic -- Rank: 29

Surprise! The Texans hoped to improve their running game after languishing near the bottom of the league last season. It was something Houston thought it might be able to rely on once its quarterback situation -- first with Deshaun Watson's legal issues and then with Tyrod Taylor's injury -- devolved into arguably the league's worst. Instead, the Texans have the worst rushing attack in the league measured by EPA per rush. New additions Phillip Lindsay and Mark Ingram have not met expectations.

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