LB Brennan Scarlett is expected to start at outside linebacker after the team traded Jadeveon Clowney to the Seahawks.

Analysis: Clowney is obviously better than Scarlett, but Scarlett can play both in coverage and against the run. Still, that's probably not enough to stop the Saints. QB Drew Brees may be on the decline, but he still completed a league-best 74 percent of passes last year while posting a 32:5 TD:INT ratio. The Saints kept their main pass catchers around, and they added TE Jared Cook this offseason. That leaves a limited upside for the Texans defense, especially when Houston's offense is good enough now to…read more

Jadeveon Clowney (contract dispute) has yet to report to Texans' training camp heading into Saturday's preseason game against the Cowboys.

Analysis: Clowney is still reportedly expected to rejoin the team prior to Week 1, but it remains a possibility his absence extends into the regular season, which would be a significant blow to Houston's defense. The Texans finished ranked 12th in total defense (343.1 YPG) and fourth in scoring defense (19.8 PPG) in 2018, while also finishing fourth with 29 takeaways. The departures of Tyrann Mathieu and Kareem Jackson are sure to be felt in the secondary, Tashaun Gipson and Bradley Roby attempting to…read more

The Texans enter their Week 17 matchup against the Jaguars with the sixth-ranked scoring defense (20.9 PPG) in the league.

Analysis: Houston provided an uninspired performance against the Eagles last week, allowing 32 points, over 500 yards of offense and registering only one sack, though they did force three turnovers. Sunday's game was the first time since Week 4 against the Colts that the Texans allowed an opponent to eclipse 24 points. The Jaguars averaged 11.3 points over the last four games but are now going back to the previously benched Blake Bortles for the regular-season finale. Bortles has struggled significantly,…read more

Houston has the fifth-ranked scoring defense (20.1 PPG) entering their Week 16 game against the Eagles.

Analysis: The Jets managed only 318 total yards and 22 points despite possessing the ball for over 35 minutes Week 15 against the Texans, as QB Sam Darnold was sacked six times. Houston has played well defensively since the start of the season, having allowed more than 27 points in only one game, and no more than 24 since Week 4 against the Colts. The Texans run defense has been particularly dominant, as they yield a league-best 3.6 yards per carry. Starting QB Carson Wentz (back) has already been ruled…read more

The Texans enter Week 15 with the league's fifth-ranked scoring defense (19.9 PPG).

Analysis: Houston took a step back this past week losing to the Colts in a 24-21 nail-biter. It was the most points the Texans have surrendered since Week 4's 37-34 overtime win over Indianapolis. Despite the loss, Houston's spirits entering Saturday's tilt with the Jets shouldn't fall too low. New York enters this week with the 30th-ranked total defense averaging just 296.9 YPG. Sam Darnold is back under center, but there hasn't been too much of a gap between him and Josh McCown under center. The Jets…read more

Houston boasts the league's third-ranked scoring defense (19.6 PPG) entering Week 14.

Analysis: The Texans meteoric rise this season has been well-documented by now. A win over the Colts on Sunday will all but wrap up the division and a first-round bye remains in play for Bill O'Brien's unit. Indianapolis was shut out in last week's 6-0 loss to Jacksonville, but prior to the poor performance Andrew Luck had the Colts' offense playing its best in over two years. It's going to be tough to keep a lid on Luck for two consecutive weeks, but if nothing else, the Texans have proven capable of…read more

The Texans enter Week 13 with the league's 5th-ranked scoring defense (20.2 PPG).

Analysis: Houston's masterful turnaround has sprung whispers of a potential dark horse super bowl run. The offense is deservedly credited, but the defense has been magnificent during the eight-game win streak. The Texans have kept opponents to 23 or less points in each if their last seven contests and 17 or less in five of those seven games. Bill O'Brien's bunch has effectively kept opponents out of the end zone thanks to the rejuvenation of J.J. Watt and his presence up front. Sunday's tilt with…read more

The Texans have the seventh-ranked total defense (330.5 YPG) entering their Week 12 game against the Titans.

Analysis: Houston has a similarly ranked scoring defense -- 20.5 PPG ranks seventh -- and are allowing an even better 16.2 points over their last six games. The Texans managed to hold the Redskins under 300 yards of offense last week and safety Justin Reid made perhaps the play of the game with a 101-yard interception return for a touchdown to flip the script on a red-zone opportunity. The Titans have been a bottom-five offense for the year with 17.8 PPG and 295.4 YPG, but have shown competency at times…read more