2023 NFL Power Rankings: Houston Texans

Biggest issue on offense: Running game

The Texans' rushing attack is among the worst in the NFL. They rank last in yards per carry (2.8) and average 70 yards per game, which ranks 29th. The Texans' offensive line has had four starters missing for two out of the three weeks of the season, including their expansive tackle duo in Laremy Tunsil and Tytus Howard. That helps explain why the rushing attack has struggled, but it should still be better. -- DJ Bien-Aime

The win over the Jaguars was a true three-phase victory for the Texans and one of their most thoroughly impressive efforts in years. I saw the clear development of C.J. Stroud and the passing game, a defense that forced two timely turnovers (both corralled by Blake Cashman) and special teams that blocked a field goal and ran back a kickoff for a touchdown. Stroud and fellow rookie Tank Dell forming such a strong early connection gives hope for something special in time. DeMeco Ryans' defense might still be shorthanded, but the group battled all game. The young seeds of the roster really sprouted on Sunday, and it's easy to see how Houston could be a very competitive team in time.

C.J. Stroud is the best of the rookie quarterbacks so far. He was impressive the past two weeks, and the Texans impressed in blowing out the Jaguars for their first victory.

C.J. Stroud and DeMeco Ryans became the first rookie QB-HC pairing to get a wire-to-wire win this season, and in dominant fashion. Now, if they could only get some blocking ...

QB confidence rating: 7

Rookie C.J. Stroud is the third player in NFL history to have at least 900 passing yards in his first three starts. He has four touchdowns and zero interceptions. It could be even better, too. His 14.9 percent off-target rate is the fifth worst in the league, and his receivers have dropped seven passes, the second most in the league. Picking at No. 2, it looks like the Texans got the quarterback draft decision right.

C.J. Stroud has played well all season, and now the Texans finally have the win to back it up. Beating a heavily favored Jacksonville team required a complete team effort, but Stroud's going to get the lion's share of the attention when he has thrown for 906 yards and four touchdowns with no turnovers in three weeks.

C.J. Stroud looked really good, throwing for 280 yards and two touchdowns in a win. So did rookie receiver Tank Dell, who had 145 yards and a touchdown. First-year head coach DeMeco Ryans got his first win. For the first time in a long time, it feels like something is building in Houston.

They found their quarterback, and they unexpectedly found a win that could get things moving in the right direction.

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