Texans Have Potential To Be AFC Contenders

The Houston Texans’ search for a quarterback ended in the 2017 season with the arrival of Deshaun Watson, who proved his credentials in the NFL.

Watson was electric during his time on the field, including a five-touchdown performance against the Kansas City Chiefs. However, the 23-year-old suffered a torn ACL during his side’s narrow defeat to the Seattle Seahawks, ruling him out for the rest of the campaign.

The quarterback has had time to recover and has played in pre-season, giving the club hope that with their main man behind centre they have the potential to reach the Super Bowl. It’s the way Bill O’Brien’s men should be thinking given the quality of their roster.

Houston have been forced into a reshuffle on defense following the departure of Mike Vrabel. Romeo Crennel moves back to his former position of defensive coordinator, regaining the controls of an elite unit.

The Texans were hit by injuries to their best players throughout the 2017 term. Not only was Watson sidelined, but JJ Watt and Whitney Mercilus missed the majority of the campaign, robbing the team of two All-Pro calibre players.

O’Brien will be hopeful that his side can avoid the same misfortune this term to regain their place in the playoffs, although the AFC South has quietly become one of the most competitive divisions in the NFL.

Offense

The Texans offense was night and day with Watson in at quarterback compared to the other players at his position on the roster. O’Brien made the decision to start the campaign with Tom Savage ahead of the rookie. It didn’t take him long to realise his mistake to put Watson into the side. With the 23-year-old in place the Texans were a revelation on offense. He threw down the field with ease, while Watson’s ability to run caused opposing defenses headaches a plenty.

The rookie proved his quality and character against elite teams in the NFL. Watson threw five strikes against the Chiefs and four apiece against the Tennessee Titans and Seattle Seahawks. He was unfortunate to lose to a late Tom Brady drive against the New England Patriots, highlighting his and the Texans’ potential. Without him Houston sank, struggling to mount a semblance of a passing game. Having Watson back on the field turns them into a contender in the AFC Conference.

The quarterback formed an excellent partnership with DeAndre Hopkins. Hopkins has been starved of a quality passer since being drafted by the club in the 2013 Draft. However, he has always managed to put up yards and touchdowns due to his quality. Expect Hopkins to be at the peak of his powers downfield with Watson back in place. An 1,000-yard season along with double-digit touchdowns should be in his sights. It will open up the offense for Bruce Ellington, Will Fuller and Braxton Miller to play supporting roles, all of whom will be battling for the number spot to complement Hopkins.

Lamar Miller will get the chunk of the carries on the ground. D’Onta Forman showed promise before tearing his Achilles in his rookie season. It will be a lot to task for the running back to return to form immediately following the severity of his injury. However, he could be an important player later in the season. Adding another dimension to Houston’s offense.

Defense

Houston’s defense boasts two of the elite players in the NFL, with Watt and Jadeveon Clowney in the pass-rush. Watt was named defensive player of the year two years on the bounce between 2014 and 2015, after previously winning the award in 2012. At the peak of his powers, there’s not a player that can match his quality and production in the league. However, a number of injuries have taken their toll on the 29-year-old, who has played just eight matches over the last two seasons, notching 1.5 sacks.

The Texans need him at his best on the defensive line, putting pressure on opposing quarterbacks. In Watt’s absence, Clowney took a major step forward in his development. Clowney has struggled for time on the field with his own fitness issues. The defensive end has not lived up to expectations since being selected first-overall in the 2014 Draft. Clowney enjoyed his best campaign last term, collecting 9.5 sacks, a similar return is needed in the 2018 season.

Losing Watt was bad enough for the Texans, but Mercilus’ injury was a tough blow to take. He has been a model of consistency at the outside linebacker position. Mercilus adds an extra threat from the second level with his ability to rush the passer, while also providing an element of coverage downfield. Alongside Bernardrick McKinney and Zach Cunningham, Houston will boast one of the best linebacking corps in the NFL.

The Texans made a coup in the secondary with the signing of Tyrann Mathieu. The safety was released by the Arizona Cardinals due to a high salary cap figure. Injuries have limited the 25-year-old on the field, but at his best Mathieu is one of the elite players at his position. Houston’s secondary has its faults, but should Mathieu find his best form, it could prop up his team-mates around him.

Betting Options

The Texans should be on course for a return to the playoffs if their key players are able to remain healthy. They’re one season removed from a Divisional Round berth therefore they’re more than capable of reaching the post-season either by winning the AFC South or securing a Wildcard spot. Back them to reach the playoffs at 1.85Bet €100 to win €18517/20Bet £100 to win £185-118Bet $100 to win $1850.85Bet HK$100 to win HK$185-1.18Bet Rp100 to win Rp1850.8500Bet RM100 to win RM185  and to win over nine matches at 1.70Bet €100 to win €1707/10Bet £100 to win £170-143Bet $100 to win $1700.70Bet HK$100 to win HK$170-1.43Bet Rp100 to win Rp1700.7000Bet RM100 to win RM170  with 888Sport. They face a challenge to knock off the Jacksonville Jaguars at the top of the division.

Back them at 3.00Bet €100 to win €3002/1Bet £100 to win £300+200Bet $100 to win $3002.00Bet HK$100 to win HK$3002.00Bet Rp100 to win Rp300-0.5000Bet RM100 to win RM300  with BetOnline to finish 2^nd in the AFC South, although they could snatch the crown at 3.00Bet €100 to win €3002/1Bet £100 to win £300+200Bet $100 to win $3002.00Bet HK$100 to win HK$3002.00Bet Rp100 to win Rp300-0.5000Bet RM100 to win RM300 . They did push the Patriots in their Divisional Round match in 2016 and last term with Watson. Back them at 11.00Bet €100 to win €110010/1Bet £100 to win £1100+1000Bet $100 to win $110010.00Bet HK$100 to win HK$110010.00Bet Rp100 to win Rp1100-0.1000Bet RM100 to win RM1100  with TopBet to win the AFC Conference, but the Super Bowl could be beyond them this season. Such a performance could O’Brien named coach of the year at odds of 17.00Bet €100 to win €170016/1Bet £100 to win £1700+1600Bet $100 to win $170016.00Bet HK$100 to win HK$170016.00Bet Rp100 to win Rp1700-0.0625Bet RM100 to win RM1700  with 888Sport.

Watson’s return to the field will be huge for the Texans. He was on pace to throw for over 4,000 yards before his injury. Back him to lead the NFL in passing yards 26.00Bet €100 to win €260025/1Bet £100 to win £2600+2500Bet $100 to win $260025.00Bet HK$100 to win HK$260025.00Bet Rp100 to win Rp2600-0.0400Bet RM100 to win RM2600  with BetOnline, while it’s not out of the equation that he could compete for MVP at odds 19.00Bet €100 to win €190018/1Bet £100 to win £1900+1800Bet $100 to win $190018.00Bet HK$100 to win HK$190018.00Bet Rp100 to win Rp1900-0.0556Bet RM100 to win RM1900 . Hopkins should come into consideration to lead the NFL in receiving yards at 10.00Bet €100 to win €10009/1Bet £100 to win £1000+900Bet $100 to win $10009.00Bet HK$100 to win HK$10009.00Bet Rp100 to win Rp1000-0.1111Bet RM100 to win RM1000 .

Watson and Watt were both sidelined last season and will be worthy candidates for the comeback player of the year award at 9.00Bet €100 to win €9008/1Bet £100 to win £900+800Bet $100 to win $9008.00Bet HK$100 to win HK$9008.00Bet Rp100 to win Rp900-0.1250Bet RM100 to win RM900  and 5.50Bet €100 to win €5509/2Bet £100 to win £550+450Bet $100 to win $5504.50Bet HK$100 to win HK$5504.50Bet Rp100 to win Rp550-0.2222Bet RM100 to win RM550  respectively with 888Sport. At 11.00Bet €100 to win €110010/1Bet £100 to win £1100+1000Bet $100 to win $110010.00Bet HK$100 to win HK$110010.00Bet Rp100 to win Rp1100-0.1000Bet RM100 to win RM1100  Watt is good value to lead the NFL in sacks, although Clowney has better value at 67.00Bet €100 to win €670066/1Bet £100 to win £6700+6600Bet $100 to win $670066.00Bet HK$100 to win HK$670066.00Bet Rp100 to win Rp6700-0.0152Bet RM100 to win RM6700 . However, take Watt at odds of 8.00Bet €100 to win €8007/1Bet £100 to win £800+700Bet $100 to win $8007.00Bet HK$100 to win HK$8007.00Bet Rp100 to win Rp800-0.1429Bet RM100 to win RM800  with BetOnline to win defensive player of the year.

Also take Hopkins to record over 1,300 receiving yards and over 10 touchdowns both at 1.87Bet €100 to win €18787/100Bet £100 to win £187-115Bet $100 to win $1870.87Bet HK$100 to win HK$187-1.15Bet Rp100 to win Rp1870.8700Bet RM100 to win RM187  with BetOnline. Meanwhile, it’s also worth a punt on Watson to notch over 3,800 yards and 27 touchdowns both at 1.83Bet €100 to win €18383/100Bet £100 to win £183-120Bet $100 to win $1830.83Bet HK$100 to win HK$183-1.20Bet Rp100 to win Rp1830.8300Bet RM100 to win RM183  with BetOnline to round off your Texans’ betting.

Tips Summary

Houston Texans To Reach Playoffs
Odds: 1.85Bet €100 to win €18517/20Bet £100 to win £185-118Bet $100 to win $1850.85Bet HK$100 to win HK$185-1.18Bet Rp100 to win Rp1850.8500Bet RM100 to win RM185

Houston Texans To Win Over Nine Matches
Odds: 1.70Bet €100 to win €1707/10Bet £100 to win £170-143Bet $100 to win $1700.70Bet HK$100 to win HK$170-1.43Bet Rp100 to win Rp1700.7000Bet RM100 to win RM170

Houston Texans To Finish Second AFC South
Odds: 3.00Bet €100 to win €3002/1Bet £100 to win £300+200Bet $100 to win $3002.00Bet HK$100 to win HK$3002.00Bet Rp100 to win Rp300-0.5000Bet RM100 to win RM300

Houston Texans To Win AFC South
Odds: 3.00Bet €100 to win €3002/1Bet £100 to win £300+200Bet $100 to win $3002.00Bet HK$100 to win HK$3002.00Bet Rp100 to win Rp300-0.5000Bet RM100 to win RM300

Houston Texans To Win AFC Conference
Odds: 11.00Bet €100 to win €110010/1Bet £100 to win £1100+1000Bet $100 to win $110010.00Bet HK$100 to win HK$110010.00Bet Rp100 to win Rp1100-0.1000Bet RM100 to win RM1100

Bill O’Brien To Win Coach Of The Year
Odds: 17.00Bet €100 to win €170016/1Bet £100 to win £1700+1600Bet $100 to win $170016.00Bet HK$100 to win HK$170016.00Bet Rp100 to win Rp1700-0.0625Bet RM100 to win RM1700

Deshaun Watson To Lead NFL In Passing Yards
Odds: 26.00Bet €100 to win €260025/1Bet £100 to win £2600+2500Bet $100 to win $260025.00Bet HK$100 to win HK$260025.00Bet Rp100 to win Rp2600-0.0400Bet RM100 to win RM2600

Deshaun Watson To Win NFL MVP
Odds: 19.00Bet €100 to win €190018/1Bet £100 to win £1900+1800Bet $100 to win $190018.00Bet HK$100 to win HK$190018.00Bet Rp100 to win Rp1900-0.0556Bet RM100 to win RM1900

DeAndre Hopkins To Lead NFL In Receiving Yards
Odds: 10.00Bet €100 to win €10009/1Bet £100 to win £1000+900Bet $100 to win $10009.00Bet HK$100 to win HK$10009.00Bet Rp100 to win Rp1000-0.1111Bet RM100 to win RM1000

Deshaun Watson To Win Comeback Player Of The Year
Odds: 9.00Bet €100 to win €9008/1Bet £100 to win £900+800Bet $100 to win $9008.00Bet HK$100 to win HK$9008.00Bet Rp100 to win Rp900-0.1250Bet RM100 to win RM900

JJ Watt To Win Comeback Player Of The Year
Odds: 5.50Bet €100 to win €5509/2Bet £100 to win £550+450Bet $100 to win $5504.50Bet HK$100 to win HK$5504.50Bet Rp100 to win Rp550-0.2222Bet RM100 to win RM550

JJ Watt To Lead NFL In Sacks
Odds: 11.00Bet €100 to win €110010/1Bet £100 to win £1100+1000Bet $100 to win $110010.00Bet HK$100 to win HK$110010.00Bet Rp100 to win Rp1100-0.1000Bet RM100 to win RM1100

Jadeveon Clowney To Lead NFL In Sacks
Odds: 67.00Bet €100 to win €670066/1Bet £100 to win £6700+6600Bet $100 to win $670066.00Bet HK$100 to win HK$670066.00Bet Rp100 to win Rp6700-0.0152Bet RM100 to win RM6700

JJ Watt To Win Defensive Player Of The Year
Odds: 8.00Bet €100 to win €8007/1Bet £100 to win £800+700Bet $100 to win $8007.00Bet HK$100 to win HK$8007.00Bet Rp100 to win Rp800-0.1429Bet RM100 to win RM800

DeAndre Hopkins To Record Over 1,300 Yards
Odds: 1.87Bet €100 to win €18787/100Bet £100 to win £187-115Bet $100 to win $1870.87Bet HK$100 to win HK$187-1.15Bet Rp100 to win Rp1870.8700Bet RM100 to win RM187

DeAndre Hopkins To Record Over 10 Touchdowns
Odds: 1.87Bet €100 to win €18787/100Bet £100 to win £187-115Bet $100 to win $1870.87Bet HK$100 to win HK$187-1.15Bet Rp100 to win Rp1870.8700Bet RM100 to win RM187

Deshaun Watson To Record Over 3,800 Passing Yards
Odds: 1.83Bet €100 to win €18383/100Bet £100 to win £183-120Bet $100 to win $1830.83Bet HK$100 to win HK$183-1.20Bet Rp100 to win Rp1830.8300Bet RM100 to win RM183

Deshaun Watson To Record Over 27 Touchdowns
Odds: 1.83Bet €100 to win €18383/100Bet £100 to win £183-120Bet $100 to win $1830.83Bet HK$100 to win HK$183-1.20Bet Rp100 to win Rp1830.8300Bet RM100 to win RM183