Here’s what every NFL team’s grade is at midseason
Houston Texans
The Texans started the year miserably at 0-3, but Bill O’Brien’s squad has reeled off five straights wins to put them atop the AFC South standings. A lot of their success feels unsustainable, but it’s hard to argue with their results to date.
Anytime the porous offensive line can give Deshaun Watson some protection he looks like a Pro Bowl quarterback. Unfortunately, that doesn’t happen all that often. He’s been excellent through eight games, but we have serious concerns about whether or not he can survive 16.
The way the defense has played during the team’s five game winning streak has been very encouraging. J.J. Watt may never be the player he was during his prime, but he’s playing like an All-Pro once again. Putting him on one side of the formation and Jadeveon Clowney on the other gives opposing offenses a lot to handle off the edge.
The secondary could be better, but they aren’t asked to do too much. The pass rush covers up a lot of their potential sins. When you put it all together the Texans are still 12th in the NFL against the pass.
Remember, this grade is about what a team has done so far, not whether or not we think they can duplicate it in the second half. You cannot argue with Houston’s accomplishments so far.