When your team has a 1-4 record, there’s not a ton to feel great about. That’s just a statistical fact. Losing is losing. However, recency bias can at least be a salve on the wound of a 1-4 record when the most recent game was your only victory, and it was a blowout of a hated rival. I say all that to say “Thank you, Tennessee Titans, for existing!”
There was a lot to like about the Texans’ win on Sunday, independent of the final score, certain developments that bode well for the next several games and, perhaps, the remainder of the season. The goal for the Texans, at 1-4, should be to find a way back to 5-5, and then try to go on a run to end the season, which is exactly what happened last season, when they finished 12-5 on the strength of a season-closing nine game winning streak.
As far as developments that work toward that end, here are the crumbs left over from the Titans game (and the past few days off the field) that give me hope:
Kayden McDonald’s debut was stellar
The rookie second round pick out of Ohio State, who the Texans were lauded for drafting with the 36th overall pick back in April, was outstanding in his NFL debut on Sunday. He only got on the field for 11 snaps, but made a couple tackles and was stout in defending the run. With the Texans’ other second round pick, TE Marlin Klein, inactive for the last two weeks, McDonald turning into a strong fixture in the defensive line rotation would be a nice win for GM Nick Caserio, and would be a welcome development heading into the meat of the 2026 schedule.
David Montgomery’s injury means they HAVE to lean into Woody Marks
I hate that it had to come down this way, because I like David Montgomery the person (and would probably like Montgomery the running back, too, if the Texans blocked better for him), but Montgomery’s groin injury opening the door for more Woody Marks touches in the offense is probably best for the Texans in the short term. Marks has run with more juice and more physicality than Montgomery this season, and getting the ball in his hands 15 to 20 times is probably a much better path to victory this Sunday than splitting carries with Montgomery would be. The issue at running back is the depth behind Marks, but that only becomes an issue if Mark’s gets banged up. For now, more Woody is goody!
Marvin Harrison, Jr.’s arrival signals a change in offensive philosophy
I’ll be honest, even with Jayden Higgins’ season ending ACL tear and with the questionable future for Tank Dell, I did not expect to see the Texans trading premium draft capital for a wide receiver. However, lo and behold, out goes a second round pick in this coming draft, and in comes Marvin Harrison. Jr. Harrison was the fourth overall pick in the 2024 draft, so at least from a pedigree standpoint, he qualifies as a player that most teams would want in the building, regardless if they are run-first or pass-first. Given C.J. Stroud’s high level of play, five weeks in, I see this acquisition as a smoke signal that the Texans are going to be leaning into Stroud as the fulcrum of the offense. This would be a wise approach.
Will Anderson, Jr. is doing a spot-on J.J. Watt impersonation
There were a couple seasons, about a decade or so ago, where the Texans were, at best, a middling operation. Specifically, back in 2014 and 2015, they were a collectively uninspiring 9-7 in each of those seasons. In 2015, they actually started 2-5 and had to claw their way back to 9-7, so if this season has a familiar feel, maybe that’s way. Another reason there is a familiar feel to this season is that Will Anderson, Jr. is the runaway leader for Defensive Player of the Year, much the same way J.J. Watt brought him that hardware in both 2014 and 2015 (to place alongside his DPoY trophy from 2012, as well). If this season starts to really slide into the toilet, at least we have individual accolades to root for, and who doesn’t love Will Anderson?
