Both the Houston Texans and the Miami Dolphins are highly unlikely to make the playoffs, but sometimes, two bad teams make for a great game. Which of these two will come away with a victory in Week 9? Check out our preview of this contest below.
The free fall continues for the Texans. The team had just suffered a 38-22 home loss to the Los Angeles Rams in Week 8 at home, which was Houston’s seventh defeat in a row. But scoring 22 points against the Rams must have surprised at least a few people. Quarterback Davis Mills went 29/38 for 310 yards and two touchdowns and an interception, while wide receiver Brandin Cooks finished with 83 receiving yards and a touchdown on six catches. Houston’s offense is really nothing to write home about, but if the team can get back Tyrod Taylor in Week 9, that would at least elevate the ceiling of the Texans’ attack. Taylor was under center when the Texans scored a win in Week 1 over the Jacksonville Jaguars, 37-21. Miami’s defense is not impressing anyone either this season, so the Texans have a decent shot at a cover, at least.
The Texans are 4-4 against the spread in their last eight road games.
One thing you need to know about the Dolphins in their Week 8 game against the Buffalo Bills: they held Josh Allen and company to just three points through the first two periods. Miami’s defense has been statistically bad, but that shows the Dolphins are still very much capable on defense. As mentioned earlier, there’s nothing on Houston’s offense that jumps out of the paper. Miami’s defense failed to keep in step with the Bills for an entire game, but against Houston, which entered Week 8 second-worst in the NFL with just an average of 13.9 points per game, and that’s the kind of offense the Dolphins can feel confident about in their chances of containing it. Offensively, the Dolphins will try to bounce back. Tua Tagovailia wasn’t able to toss a touchdown against Buffalo but scored a rushing TD, while wide receiver DeVante Parker caught 11 passes for 85 receiving yards.
The Dolphins are 6-4 against the spread in their last 10 home games.
