Houston Texans’ tough start to the NFL season continues on Sunday as they prepare to face the Baltimore Ravens at the NRG Stadium.
Attritional Start for Texans
The Texans have been handed an unenviable first two weeks of the campaign, as they have been pitted against the Super Bowl winners Kansas City before hosting reigning league MVP Lamar Jackson and the Ravens.
Houston got off to a losing start against the Chiefs and now Texans’ defensive end J.J. Watt says these early challenges will provide a great acid test to see how his team matches up against some of the best in the league.
“Obviously, it’s tough to lose the first game of the season,” Watt told Sky Sports. “After a loss, nobody cares about your feelings, nobody cares if you’re tired, what your excuses are, they just want to see you win, so you’ve got to go work harder to get better.”
It certainly looks a tall order after the Ravens impressed in their opening game, thrashing the Cleveland Browns 38-6 as an early sign of intent.
Jackson looked in the mood as well, completing 20 of 25 passes for 275 yards and three touchdowns, rushing for 45 yards off seven carries as well, while the defence restricted the Browns to just 189 yards in the air.
The Ravens are the firm favourites at 2/7 to get the win on the road with the Texans on offer at 11/4 to bag their first win of the season, while Baltimore are 1/1 to cover the spread of -7.5 points.
Rams Can Add to Eagles’ Woes
After throwing away a 17-0 lead against Washington, Philadelphia could be staring down the barrel of 0-2 as they host the LA Rams on Sunday.
The Eagles’ soft underbelly was once again exposed in the capital last week and even the familiar surroundings of Lincoln Financial Field won’t be enough to solve Philadelphia’s injury concerns.
Defensive ends Derek Barnett and Brandon Graham are both questionable, while there are doubts surrounding the availability of wide receivers Alshon Jeffrey and DeSean Jackson.
Meanwhile, the Rams will be looking to build on their 20-17 win over another NFC East outfit, Dallas Cowboys, who had been in some circles as a Super Bowl contender before the season got underway.
That victory came despite Jared Goff throwing one interception and no touchdowns, with Malcolm Brown scoring twice on the ground to help secure the win, but it should act as a confidence booster if nothing else and LA are 21/20 to claim the spoils in Philly.
Chiefs Set to Continue Chargers Domination
Reigning champs Kansas City will be confident of maintaining their excellent record against the LA Chargers this weekend.
The Chiefs, impressive in their opening 34-20 win over the Texans, seem to have the sign over the Chargers, having lost just once in their last 12 meetings.
LA were fortunate to overcome the Cincinnati Bengals in week one and this should be a regulation win for the Chiefs, who are 25/26 for the W with a -8.5 FT handicap.
*All odds correct at time of writing