Quick Hits: New Orleans Saints vs. Houston Texans Preview

The Houston Texans travel to Mardisgrasville to battle the New Orleans Saints

In an effort to bounce back from last week’s last minute loss to the Atlanta Falcons, your Houston Texans are traveling back to the NFC South this weekend to take on the New Orleans Saints.

After referring to last week’s tilt as potential trap game, we’re going to label this one a trend-maker.

ALL-TIME SERIES HISTORY

REG. SEASON: N0 leads series, 3-2 (Home team won all 5)

If the home team has won every meeting between these 2 franchises, it’s time Demeco Ryans and C.J. Stroud cement that as well.

You see, what odds makers often don’t take into account is focus and emotional momentum. The Texans were flying high on both after decimating the Pittsburgh Steelers in week 4. And, as often happens in the NFL, after a grand win comes a short fall.

But, this week is a ‘re-focus’ week, where the team feels the sting of disappointment from losing to an inferior Falcons squad. Time for the Texans to get to .500 on Sunday.

Stroud currently has the Texans offense averaging 23.0 points per game with 357.4 total yards, while Derek Carr’s Saints are sub-20 at 19.2 points average and 289.0 total yards.

Ryans’ defense is surrendering 20.0 per game and 338.0 yards, while the Saints are stingier at 15.2 and 274.6.

H-Town leads the turnover differential at +5 to the Saints +3.

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS STATS

QB DEREK CARR had 2 TD passes vs. 0 INTs for season-high 114.7 rating last week. Aims for his 3rd in row on road with TD pass vs. 0 INTs. Has 1,084 pass yards (271 per game) & 8 TDs vs. 3 INTs for 103.5 rating in 4 career starts vs. Hou. Aims for his 4th in row vs. Hou. with 115+ rating.

RB ALVIN KAMARA rushed for 80 yards & TD last week. Has 73 career TDs & surpassed Marques Colston (72) for most TDs in franchise history. Had 7 catches & 169 scrimmage yards (97 rush, 72 rec.) in last meeting. Aims for his 7th in row with 80+ scrimmage yards.

RB KENDRE MILLER (rookie) had 90 scrimmage yards (53 rec., 37 rush) in Week 5.

WR CHRIS OLAVE had 1st rec. TD of season last week, his 5th- career TD catch. Has 85+ rec. yards in 2 of 3 road games this season.

WR MICHAEL THOMAS had 4 catches for team-high 65 rec. yards last week. Is 1 of 3 (Stefon Diggs & Puka Nacua) with 50+ rec. yards in 5 games in 2023. Has 5+ catches in 6 of his past 7 road games. Had 10 catches for 123 yards in last meeting.

TE FOSTER MOREAU had 13th-career rec. TD last week.

DE CAMERON JORDAN had half sack & 11th-career FR in Week 5. Aims for his 3rd in row vs. Hou. with sack.

DE CARL GRANDERSON had sack & tied his career high with 3 TFL in Week 5. Has sack in 4 of his past 5 on road.

LB DEMARIO DAVIS had 1st PD of season last week.

LB PETE WERNER had 1st-career INT in Week 5.

CB MARSHON LATTIMORE has PD in 2 of 3 road games this season. Aims for his 5th in row with 5+ tackles.

S TYRANN MATHIEU had 4th-career INT-TD last week, his 30th- career INT. Had 89 tackles, 3 sacks & 2 INTs in 2018 with Hou.

HOUSTON TEXANS STATS

QB C.J. STROUD (rookie) completed 20 of 35 atts. (57.1 pct.) for 249 yards & TD vs. 0 INTs last week. Is 1st QB in NFL history with 0 INTs in 1st 5 career starts (min. 30 atts. in each start) & his 186 atts. this season without an INT are most-ever to begin a career. Ranks 3rd in NFL with 1,461 pass yards & is 4th QB in NFL history with 1,400+ pass yards & 0 INTs in team’s 1st 5 games of season. Has 2 TD passes & 100+ rating in 3 of past 4.

RB DAMEON PIERCE aims for 3rd in row with 80+ scrimmage yards. Has 75+ scrimmage yards in 5 of 6 career games vs. NFC.

RB DEVIN SINGLETARY has 95+ scrimmage yards & rush TD in 2 of his past 3 vs. NFC South.

WR NICO COLLINS has 14 catches for 314 yards (157 per game) & 3 rec. TDs in 2 home games this season. Aims for his 3rd in row at home with rec. TD. Ranks 4th in AFC with 467 rec. yards this season.

WR TANK DELL (rookie) had 57 rec. yards last week & has 55+ rec. yards in 3 of past 4. Ranks 2nd among rookies with 324 rec. yards.

TE DALTON SCHULTZ led team with season-high 7 catches for 65 yards & TD in Week 5. Aims for 3rd in row with rec. TD. Had 5 catches in his last game vs. NO (12/2/21 w/ Dal.).

LB HENRY TO’OTO’O (rookie) led team with season-high 12 tackles last week. Aims for 5th in row with 7+ tackles. Has PD in 2 of past 3. Leads rookies with 39 tackles this season.

LB BLAKE CASHMAN set career highs in tackles (9) & TFL (2) last week. Has 5+ tackles in 2 of past 3.

DE JERRY HUGHES aims for 4th in row with TFL.

DE JONATHAN GREENARD aims for 3rd in row with TFL.

S JALEN PITRE had season-high 11 tackles, PD & 1st FR of season in Week 5. Has 13+ tackles in 3 of his past 4 at home.

C.J. STROUD’s RECORD SETTING STREAK CONTINUES

NFL Communications

Houston rookie quarterback C.J. STROUD ranks third in the NFL with 1,461 passing yards and is one of two quarterbacks (BROCK PURDY) with no interceptions this season (minimum two starts). His 186 pass attempts are the most-ever without an interception to begin a career and he is the fourth player in NFL history with at least 1,400 passing yards and no interceptions in his team’s first five games of a season.

With no interceptions against New Orleans on Sunday (1:00 PM ET, FOX), Stroud will become the first quarterback ever without an interception in each of his first six career starts.

​If Stroud does not throw an interception in his next 26 pass attempts, he will surpass KYLER MURRAY (211 pass attempts in 2019) for the longest streak of pass attempts without an interception by a rookie in NFL history.

With 294 passing yards this week, Stroud will move into the top-five for most passing yards ever by a player in his first six career games.

Cam Newton Carolina 2011 1,847

Justin Herbert L.A. Chargers 2020 1,820

Marc Bulger St. Louis Rams 2002 1,815

Patrick Mahomes Kansas City 2017-18 1,797

Nick Mullens San Francisco 2018 1,754

C.J. Stroud Houston 2023 1,461*

*Through five games

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