Texans vs Rams predictions
When you look at the Houston Texans, the spotlight naturally falls on C.J. Stroud and what he might pull off under center. I’d expect Stroud to keep pushing the ball downfield, likely hitting somewhere around 230 passing yards with a couple of scores thrown in—he’s been consistent when it comes to slicing up defenses with concise throws. On the ground, Joe Mixon should get plenty of touches, maybe approaching 60 rush yards and a shot at finding the end zone. Don’t sleep on Nico Collins either; it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him rack up close to 75 receiving yards and potentially a touchdown as the Texans look to attack with a mix of short and explosive plays.
Shifting over to the Rams, Matthew Stafford will be back there slinging it with his usual confidence. You can almost pencil him in for about 235 passing yards and at least one or two touchdowns—he just has that knack for making things happen, especially at SoFi Stadium. For the run game, Kyren Williams looks set to carry the bulk of the load. I'd bet he gets close to 70 rushing yards and maybe even punches one in at the goal line. In the passing game, it’s all about Puka Nacua; he’s been a chain-mover and big-play threat, so I’m pegging him for a solid six catches and easily topping 70 receiving yards, if not more.
With both teams rolling out talented playmakers and the ability to move the ball, this could be one of those fun-to-watch, back-and-forth matchups. But if I’m picking a winner? I see the Rams having a slight edge at home. That combo of Stafford’s veteran experience, a balanced offensive approach, and the energy at SoFi should give LA just enough to come out on top, but don’t put it past the Texans to keep this one close and interesting all the way to the finish.
