Both teams will be searching for their first win this week as the New York Giants battle the Houston Texans. Game time is set for 1:00 EST on Sunday, September 23, at NRG Stadium in Houston. Fans in local markets will be able to watch the game on Fox.
Oddsmakers view the Texans as 6-point favorites at home. The game also has an over/under of 41 points. Be sure to check out a full list of the Week 3 NFL betting odds.
The Texans are no doubt disappointed to start the season 0-2. However, there is some consolation knowing that both games came on the road and both were one-possession games. In Week 1, Houston nearly overcame a sluggish 1st half but couldn’t quite make it all the way back against the Patriots. Last week against the Titans, Houston managed to erase an early 14-0 deficit but couldn’t hold onto the lead once they got it despite out-gaining Tennessee by more than 150 yards.
The Giants, meanwhile, will be venturing to the state of Texas for the second straight week. A 10-point surge in the final two minutes of last week’s game against the Cowboys wasn’t nearly enough after tailing 20-3 early in the 2nd half. That game came on the heels of a tough but understandable loss to the Jaguars at home in Week 1.
Obviously, both teams will understand how difficult their season will be if they fall to 0-3. However, the Texans have a little more reason to be optimistic, knowing that Deshaun Watson should improve as the season goes along after last year’s knee injury. Meanwhile, the Giants are being plagued by the same problems they’ve had the past few years, putting a great deal of pressure on new head coach Pat Shurmur to find answers before another season goes down the drain.
I don’t love the idea of swallowing six points for a team that’s 0-2 on the season. But my eyes tell me that the Texans are a lot closer to having a breakout game than the Giants. At home against another winless team, I like Houston to win by at least a touchdown and cover the spread.
One thing that was missing from Houston’s Week 1 loss to New England was wide receiver, Will Fuller. He returned from injury last week and made an immediate difference, even if it wasn’t enough to win the game. In Watson’s brief career, his QBR is roughly 30 points higher in games Fuller plays compared to games he’s missed due to injury. It’s a small sample, but one that’s hard to ignore.
When Fuller plays, opposing defenses have to pay close attention to both him and DeAndre Hopkins. They also have to worry about Watson taking off and making plays with his legs. On top of that trio, running back Lamar Miller has gotten off to a fast start this season, gaining 4.9 yards per carry. While not everything has clicked for Houston’s offense just yet, the Texans have the pieces to be one of the more dynamic teams in the NFL.
To be fair, the Giants have one of the better secondaries in football two games into the season. However, it’s important to remember who they’ve played in those two games. The Giants played a Jacksonville team that prefers to run the ball rather than leave things in the hands of Blake Bortles. They’ve also played a Dallas team that doesn’t have standout receivers or a proficient passer at quarterback.
That being said, the Giants do have plenty of talent in their secondary. However, they’re going to be challenged against the Texans in ways that they haven’t been challenged this season. I think Houston will take some chances, eventually leading to Hopkins and Fuller making big plays that help the Texans put the ball in the end zone. It certainly doesn’t help that the Giants have struggled to stop the run and have just one sack in their first two games of the season.
Meanwhile, the Giants are still waiting to break out offensively as well. As usual, the biggest problem is their offensive line, which continues to underperform. The result has been Eli Manning getting sacked six times in two games while the Giants struggle to generate a consistent rushing attack. Things will get even more difficult this week with Jon Halapio out for the season with an injury.
If there’s a silver lining for the Giants, it’s that Houston’s secondary looks vulnerable with top cornerback Kevin Johnson on IR. With Odell Beckham Jr., Evan Engram, and Sterling Shepard, the Giants have more than enough skill players to trouble the Texans. However, Houston also has a strong front-7 and a capable pass rush, especially if Jadeveon Clowney can return from injury. If Manning doesn’t have time, he’ll simply keep throwing short to Saquon Barkley rather than looking downfield for big plays against the Houston secondary.
While playing on the road with a weak offensive line, I think the Giants will struggle to get Beckham and company involved. If they can’t hit on explosive plays, the Giants won’t find the end zone. Houston’s offense, on the other hand, has a little more balance and a little more upside, which makes me feel good that they’ll be able to win at home by at least a touchdown.