Houston Texans lost 19-17 to the Colts despite forcing three turnovers, dropping to 0-3 for the second straight season. Edge rusher Will Anderson Jr. was the biggest reason Houston stayed in the game, finishing with 2.5 sacks, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and seven tackles.
Pro Football Focus gave him a 93.4 overall grade for Week 3, the highest mark in the game, after he produced nine pressures and three sacks. The outlet has also logged Anderson at a 90.6 overall grade, with a 90.5 run-defense grade that ranks second. He is No. 1 among 109 edge defenders, after a 93.0 overall grade. Anderson’s season-long PFF numbers show how important he has been.
Eventually, the defense is giving the Texans a chance, but the offense keeps wasting it.
Houston held Indianapolis to 300 yards and forced three turnovers, yet the offense produced only 223 total yards and 70 rushing yards. Just one of the three takeaways became points.
C.J. Stroud went 16-of-27 for 167 yards and a touchdown, while the Texans’ offensive line has struggled to create running lanes and has allowed Stroud to be sacked 10 times through three games. Meanwhile, Dalton Schultz has quietly been one of Houston’s better offensive players, carrying a 75.4 PFF grade and ranking seventh among qualified tight ends with 175 receiving yards.
Will Anderson Jr.’s Contract Shows How Much the Texans Believe in Him
The Texans signed Anderson to a three-year, $150 million extension with $134 million guaranteed, making him the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history at the time. The deal also includes a no-trade clause. It followed his breakout 2025 season, when he posted career highs with 12 sacks, 54 tackles, 20 tackles for loss and three forced fumbles.
Anderson is not simply collecting a massive contract; he is already producing at an elite level. Unlike him, Stroud entered 2026 without a long-term extension. He said before the season that he believed he had “held my bargain up,” leaving the contract situation to his agent while he focused on football.
Through three games, Stroud has 794 passing yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions, but Houston’s offense has scored only 54 points and has struggled to consistently create explosive plays.
Ryans must fix the offense without losing the defense’s momentum. The head coach is hopeful that Nico Collins and Ed Ingram can return for Week 4 against Dallas, while Jadeveon Clowney remains week-to-week. Collins has missed two games, and his absence has coincided with Houston scoring only six and 17 points in Weeks 2 and 3.
