Houston Texans vs. Cincinnati Bengals Preview: Can C.J. Stroud Best Joe Burrow?

The Houston Texans are coming off their most thrilling win of the season, but C.J. Stroud will need to continue playing well to beat Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals.

The Houston Texans took a page out of a video game script on Sunday. After a chaos-filled thriller against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, resulting in a 39-37 win, it was clear quarterback C.J. Stroud had arrived as one of the best young passers in the sport.

His rookie-record 470 yards and five touchdowns told the league that he had leveled up. Naturally, it’s time to turn the difficulty up.

Tampa Bay is no pushover, but a lack of discipline—regarding both the league’s rulebook and the defensive playbook—sunk its ship. In all likelihood, the Cincinnati Bengals will offer a much tougher challenge.

Stroud looks on after a big play against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers / Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

The Bengals (5-3) will host the Texans (4-4) on Sunday in what should be Week 10’s premier passing matchup. Stroud has all but cemented himself as Offensive Rookie of the Year and Cincinnati quarterback Joe Burrow is returning to All-Pro form.

After a sluggish start to the year, almost entirely thanks to a calf injury, Burrow has re-emerged as one of the league’s top passers. On Sunday Night Football last week, he diced up the Buffalo Bills to the tune of 31 completions, 348 yards, two touchdowns, and a 24-18 win.

The Bengals are one of the hottest teams in football and need to keep their foot on the gas pedal to keep pace in the AFC North. Despite their record, tiebreakers have kept them in last place.

Expect Burrow to be on point, even if injuries to receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins (who are not guaranteed to play) dampen the offense’s explosiveness. He’s just playing too good of football right now. Unfortunately for the Texans, their injury report is rather extensive this week.

Of course, Stroud won’t be expected to repeat Week 9’s nuclear performance. However, falling back to Earth can very well send Houston back under .500. Against Cincinnati defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo, perhaps the best in the sport, Stroud will once again have to fight through adversity.

Unless the Bengals’ talent advantage renders everything else obsolete, the better passing game should come out victorious.

WHAT: Houston Texans (4-4) vs. Cincinnati Bengals (5-3)

WHERE: Paycor Stadium, Cincinnati, OH (65,515)

WHEN: Sunday, Nov. 12, 2023, 12 p.m. (CDT)

TELEVISION: CBS

RADIO: SportsRadio 610 AM, 100.3 FM The Bull

ODDS: Texans +6.5 (-110), +245 Moneyline, Total: 46.5 (o -118/u -110)