Houston Texans vs. New York Jets Preview: Can C.J. Stroud Overcome Elite Jets Defense?

If C.J. Stroud and the Houston Texans take care of business against a lowly New York Jets offense could do wonders for their playoff chances. Is Week 14 more than a trap game?

The Houston Texans are playing meaningful games in December. That, in itself, is a victory.

On Sunday, though, moral victories won’t mean much. Houston is traveling to the Tri-State Area in a critical contest against the New York Jets. The Jets may be the laughingstock of the league—this week’s events certainly didn’t help—but they prove to be a challenge to opposing quarterbacks week in and week out.

They’ve made elite quarterbacks like Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen look mediocre. They’ve made bad passers look irredeemable. Where will Texans rookie C.J. Stroud land?

The Houston Texans will visit the New York Jets on Sunday with a chance to help their playoff positioning / ClutchPoints

It seems every week is similar for New York. Head coach Robert Saleh’s defense plays well. The offense does not. Winning or losing is often a matter of how many explosive plays running back Breece Hall generated, how many turnovers the defense forced, or if an act of god special teams highlight came into play.

Thus, the recipe for Houston is fairly simple. Keep the ball safe, win the turnover battle, and fly home with a win. Obviously, that’s easier said than done. But New York’s offense is so prone to sabotage that it remains true.

No qualified passer has been worse than “starter” Zach Wilson in terms of expected points added and completion percentage over expected. The eye test and traditional statistics don’t do him any favors, either.

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Expect a big day from Houston’s pass rush, perhaps another clutch interception from the defense, too. In what could very well be a race to 20, the Texans can afford to play this one safe and let the Jets beat themselves.

If this season is any indication, that won’t be the case. Winning in the final seconds is just too damn fun.

WHAT: Houston Texans (7-5) vs. New York Jets (4-8)

WHERE: MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ (82,500)

WHEN: Sunday, Dec. 10, 2023, 12 p.m. (CT)

TELEVISION: CBS

RADIO: SportRadio 610 AM, 100.3 FM The Bull

ODDS: Texans -3.5 (-110), -200 Moneyline, Total: 33.5 (o -110/u -110)