The defeated the to prove who was the top team in Texas in 2024.
This was no surprise as fans rushed to the exits quicker as Cooper Rush went through his progressions.
Fans were amazed at the limited reps of Nico Collins, the No. 1 target. After he missed five games on injured reserve with a hamstring injury, many expected the fourth-year pro to be the focal point of Arlington's passing attack would.
Actually, far from it. Collins, who caught four passes for 54 yards, appeared in just 28 of Houston's 60 offensive snaps, a career low since 2021.
Was Collins fast forwarding? According to Texans offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik, no, but Houston didn't want to risk a setback that could further derail its season goals.
Nico Collins completed a 77-yard screen pass for a touchdown on the first play of the game, but it was called back because the Texans needed an ineligible man downfield.
– Arye Pulli (@AryePulli)
“Any time you get a player like that back, you take notes on how we want to use him and how we want to make sure we're smart,” Slowik said Thursday. “If this game ends up being a critical game, we want him on the field. So how do we make sure we get the best version of Nico in this case?”
Houston, which secured a 34-10 win at AT&T Stadium, was content to trust its ground game. Joe Mixon scored three touchdowns and averaged 5.5 yards per carry with 153 yards of offense en route to graduation.
CJ Stroud wasn't perfect, but he found his groove on crucial drives. The second-year passer completed 23 of 34 passes for 257 yards and intercepted a pass intended for Collins in the first quarter.
Houston (7-4) needs Collins to keep its offensive approach at its peak. Over the first five weeks, Stroud and Collins have been at different levels of consistency. Since his departure, the reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year has seen significant declines in passing, speed and consistency.
That should change as Collins continues to return to full strength. The Texans host the Tennessee Titans on Sunday and star cornerback L'Jarius Sneed has already been ruled out.
Star wide receiver Nico Collins is working on his routes
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL)
That should benefit Collins in man coverage, right? Maybe, but Slowik mentioned that the Texans aren't changing their approach to rep count until Collins is in full swing.
“We’re always going to approach it and try to be smart,” Slowik said. “The more you can get a really good player on the field at 100 percent who isn’t out of breath and can roll, we’re going to do that as often as possible.”
Kickoff is scheduled for noon CT.