Quick Hits: Houston Texans vs. Cincinnati Bengals Preview

All these numbers add up to something…

Before we dive into next week, let’s get one thing straight:

NFL.com

6th player in NFL history to pass for over 450 yards, 5 or more touchdowns and ZERO interceptions in a game.

As a rook.

Yes.

All day YES!

Anyway, time to stop living in the past. Is it really? Nah…

But, for the sake of this post, we’ll move on.

Maybe.

This weekend marks the 12th meeting of these two not-so-storied franchises, with the Houston Texans taking 3 of the past 4 matchups.

2 of those wins came in the playoffs.

Many great memories including T.J. Yates and more notably, J.J. Watt come to mind when thinking about the Bengals.

Hopefully Stroud, Tank Dell and Will Anderson Jr. can add to that family photo album of Bengal-killin’ goodness this Sunday.

Did someone say Tank Dell?

Anyway, let’s get back on track here for this weekend.

HOUSTON TEXANS WEEK 10 STATS

• QB C.J. STROUD completed 30 of 42 atts. (71.4 pct.) for 470 yards & 5 TDs vs. 0 INTs with 147.8 rating last week, most pass yards ever in a single game by rookie & highest-rating ever (min. 30 attempts). Became 2nd rookie ever with 400+ pass yards & 5+ TD passes in a game (Matthew Stafford) & 6th player ever with 450+ pass yards, 5+ TD passes & 0 INTs in a game. Has 7 games with 0 INTs this season, most among starting QBs. Leads rookies with 2,270 pass yards & 14 TD passes in 2023.
• RB DAMEON PIERCE has 55+ scrimmage yards in 2 of his past 3 on road.
• WR NICO COLLINS had 54 rec. yards & TD catch last week.
• WR TANK DELL had 6 catches for 114 yards & career-high 2 TDs in Week 9, his 2nd game this season with 100+ rec. yards & rec. TD, most among rookies. Has 55+ rec. yards in 2 of past 3.
• WR NOAH BROWN had 6 catches for career-high 153 yards & TD last week. Aims for 3rd in row with 55+ rec. yards. Had 5 catches for 91 yards & TD in his last game vs. Cin. (9/18/22 w/ Dal.).
• TE DALTON SCHULTZ set career highs in catches (10) & rec. yards (130) & had rec. TD last week. Has rec. TD in 4 of past 5. Dell, Brown & Schultz last week became 4th trio of teammates in SB era each with 5+ catches, 100+ rec. yards & rec. TD in same game.
• LB BLAKE CASHMAN led team with 10 tackles & 2 TFL last week. Aims for 5th in row with 5+ tackles & 2+ TFL.
• DE HENRY TO’OTO’O (rookie) had 1st-career FF in Week 9. Has 10+ tackles in 2 of past 3 on road.
• DE WILL ANDERSON (rookie) had 2nd-career sack last week. Aims for 3rd in row on road with TFL.
• S JALEN PITRE aims for 5th in row with 5+ tackles & 3rd in row with TFL & PD.

The Texans offense is averaging 23.4 points per game right now, while the Bengals are scoring a more pedestrian 19.4.

Houston’s defense is surrendering 20.6 points per game, while Cincinnati is slightly under that with 20.3 points against.

CINCINNATI BENGALS WEEK 10 STATS

• QB JOE BURROW completed 31 of 44 atts. (70.5 pct) for season- high 348 yards & 2 TDs vs. 0 INTs with 108.9 rating last week, his 4th-straight game with 2+ TD passes. Has 2 TD passes in 3 of 4 home games this season. Since Week 5, leads NFL with 75.8 comp. pct. & 111.2 rating.
• RB JOE MIXON has 60+ scrimmage yards in 8 games this season, most among RBs. Aims for 3rd in row with rush TD. Has TD in 7 of his past 8 vs. AFC South.
• WR JA’MARR CHASE has 5+ catches & 70+ rec. yards in 5 of past 6. Ranks tied-4th in NFL with 64 catches this season.
• WR TEE HIGGINS led team with 8 catches for season-high 110 yards, his 11th-career game with 100+ rec. yards. Aims for 3rd in row with 5+ catches & 65+ rec. yards. Had 6 catches for 99 yards & TD in last meeting. Has 75+ rec. yards in 5 of 6 career games vs. AFC South.
• WR TYLER BOYD had season-best 56 rec. yards in Week 9. Has rec. TD in 2 of past 3.
• TEs IRV SMITH JR. & DREW SAMPLE both had 1st TD catch of season last week. Sample had 1st-career rec. TD in last meeting.
• DE TREY HENDRICKSON has 0.5+ sacks in 5 of his past 6 & full sack in 3 of his past 4. Had 2 sacks in only career game vs. Hou. (9/9/19 w/ NO). Is 1 of 2 in NFL (Myles Garrett) with 8+ sacks in each of past 4 seasons.
• DE SAM HUBBARD has sack in 2 of past 3. Had sack & FF in last meeting.
• LB GERMAINE PRATT led team with 11 tackles & had 2nd FF of season in Week 9. Aims for 6th in row with 5+ tackles.
• CB CAM TAYLOR-BRITT had INT last week & has INT in 3 of past 4. Has 6+ tackles in 2 of past 3.

Did someone say J.J. Watt?

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