Lions at Texans Week 8: Game preview, odds, prediction

The AFC South-leading Houston Texans look to remain perfect at home this season when they play host to the Detroit Lions.

If form hold this week, the Houston Texans will squeeze out a narrow victory over the Detroit Lions. But there’s no such thing as true form in the NFL.

Bill O’Brien’s club is 4-0 at home and have outscored their opponents by a combined 95-69 count. The resurgent Lions are 4-3 this season and all seven of their contests this year have been decided by seven points or less.

In his last three games, quarterback Matthew Stafford has thrown eight TD passes and zero interceptions. In his last 15 outings dating back to last season, he’s served up 34 scores while being picked off only six times.

Houston’s Brock Osweiler wouldn’t mind that kind of consistency. The Texans’ newest quarterback has committed at least one turnover in each of those contests. Perhaps he can get untracked against a Detroit defense that has already allowed 18 touchdown passes in seven games.

Odds

Line: Texans (-2.5)

Over/Under: 45.5

It would certainly be a good time to get veteran wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins on track. His quarterback’s hesitancy has been costly and while the 2015 Pro Bowler leads the club with 36 catches and three touchdown receptions, he’s averaging a mere 10.8 yards per grab.

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Osweiler’s erratic play is certainly a concern and you can bet that O’Brien will lean on his running game once again. That should include running back Lamar Miller, who got banged up at Denver on Monday night in the loss to the Broncos. However, it’s Stafford and company with the hotter hand as of late. The quarterback will make his mistakes against Houston’s pass defense. But he’ll also keep his club in the game and once again manage some late heroics.

Pick: Lions 28, Texans 26