Matchup Preview: Denver Broncos vs. Houston Texans
The Denver Broncos (6-2) are set to face the Houston Texans (3-4) on Sunday at 1 p.m. EST, with the game broadcasted on FOX. The BetMGM line has the Texans as favorites by 1.5 points. In terms of performance against the spread, the Broncos have a record of 3-4-1, while the Texans sit at 3-4.
The series between the two teams is closely contested, with the Broncos holding a 6-4 lead in head-to-head meetings. Their last encounter took place on December 3, 2023, when the Texans emerged victorious with a 22-17 win in Houston.
Recent Performance and Key Players
Last week, the Broncos delivered a strong performance, defeating the Cowboys 44-24, while the Texans came out on top against the 49ers with a score of 26-15.
In terms of offensive and defensive rankings, the Broncos are ranked 9th overall, with their rushing offense tied for third and passing offense at 14th. Their scoring offense is 10th. On the defensive side, the Broncos are ranked 5th overall, with their rushing defense at 10th and passing defense at 7th. Their scoring defense is 5th.
The Texans, on the other hand, are ranked 17th overall, with their rushing offense at 17th and passing offense at 16th. Their scoring offense is 20th. Defensively, the Texans are the best in the league, ranked 1st overall, with their rushing defense at 5th and passing defense at 4th. Their scoring defense is also 1st.
The turnover differential shows that the Broncos are -1, while the Texans are +4.
Broncos Player to Watch
ILB Dre Greenlaw is returning from a one-game suspension following an incident where he criticized a referee after his Denver debut. Greenlaw, who was a key free agent addition, has struggled with a strained quadriceps throughout the offseason, which kept him sidelined for the first 1.5 months of the season. He made his return against the New York Giants, recording six tackles in just 21 snaps. His return is crucial for the Broncos as they deal with the absence of star cornerback Patrick Surtain II, which will affect how coordinator Vance Joseph organizes the defense.
Texans Player to Watch
QB C.J. Stroud had his best game of the season last week, throwing for 318 yards and two touchdowns. He connected with nine different receivers despite missing star receiver Nico Collins, who was out due to a concussion. Stroud has thrown five touchdown passes with only one interception in three home games this season.
Key Matchup
The Texans' top-ranked defense faces off against the Broncos' high-scoring offense. The Texans lead the NFL in both yards (266.9) and points (14.7) allowed. The Broncos have been dominant lately, scoring all their points in the fourth quarter of a 33-32 win over the Giants before putting up 44 points against the Cowboys. Their recent point total surpasses the 69 points the Texans' defense has allowed in the past five games combined. The Texans also forced the 49ers into three consecutive three-and-outs to start last week’s game, limiting their possession time significantly.
Key Injuries
For the Broncos, Patrick Surtain II is expected to miss multiple weeks after straining his left pectoral muscle. TE Nate Adkins is also out for several games due to a knee injury. WR-KR Marvin Mims Jr. is in concussion protocol after being hurt on a kickoff return.
On the Texans’ side, Nico Collins is expected to play after returning to practice. WR Christian Kirk and Braxton Berrios are also set to return, while TE Dalton Schultz should be available despite injuries. DE Dylan Horton could miss the game after sustaining a knee injury.
Series Notes
The Broncos won the previous two games in the series before the Texans’ victory in 2023. Their first meeting in 2004 saw the Broncos win 31-13, and the Texans repeated the same score in their next meeting in 2007.
Stats and Highlights
The Broncos are off to their best eight-game start since 2016, matching their 6-2 record. They are the first team in NFL history to exceed 35 sacks in the first eight games while allowing fewer than 10 sacks. RB J.K. Dobbins has two 100-yard rushing games, making him the first Broncos running back since Latavius Murray in 2022 to achieve this feat multiple times in a season.
QB Bo Nix is coming off his third career game with at least four touchdown passes, tying him for third most among quarterbacks since the start of the 2024 season. Nix has thrown a touchdown pass in 16 consecutive games, the third-longest streak in the NFL.
For the Texans, RB Nick Chubb has reached at least 60 yards of offense in five of seven games this season. Rookie WR Woody Marks had 111 yards of offense last week, joining four other rookies this season with at least two games of 110 or more yards of offense.
Fantasy Tip
Nico Collins could be a valuable pickup for fantasy teams, as 16 of his 21 career touchdowns have come in Houston.