Houston Texans vs. New Orleans Saints: How to Watch, Betting Odds
The Texans host a struggling Saints team on Sunday at NRG Stadium, and Houston's rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud has been his own biggest critic this season.
“It’s hard to live like that,” he said. “I just put pressure on myself and just try to be as best prepared as I can, so yeah, I would say I’m a perfectionist ... but I’m trying to be more accepting of my flaws and plays I don’t make.”
Whatever he's doing, it's working for Stroud, who in his first season at the helm, has transformed the Texans' passing game. On Sunday, he'll have his hands full against one of the best pass defenses in the NFL.
The Houston offense is producing an average of almost 275 yards per contest behind Stroud after the past two seasons under Davis Mills, the Texans ranked near the bottom. And teams across the league are noticing.
Derek Carr (L) and CJ Stroud
“C.J.’s doing a great job and I’m happy for him, but ... our defense makes it tough on anybody — a rookie or not a rookie, they make it hard on you,” New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr said. “Hopefully, they can do that this week for us.”
On paper, it might be harder on Stroud, as the Saints are 11-3 against rookie quarterbacks since 2015 with current head coach Dennis Allen running the defense. But Allen doesn't think any of that matters.
“The one thing that you do see sometimes out of rookie quarterbacks is you see them not always processing the information as quickly as they need to and getting the ball to the right spots all the time, which presents some challenges for the offense — and that’s not what I see out of this player,” he said.
WHAT: New Orleans Saints (3-2) at Houston Texans (2-3)
WHERE: NRG Stadium, Houston, Texas (71,995)
WHEN: Sunday, Oct. 15, 2023, 12 p.m. CT
TELEVISION: FOX / FuboTV (try it free)
RADIO: Sports Radio 610 (KILT-AM) | 100.3 The Bull
Get your tickets at SI Tickets
Betting via SI SportsBook
SPREAD: Texans +1.5
TOTAL: 41.5
MONEYLINE: Saints -125, Texans +105
