3 Key Factors the Texans Must Carry Into Week 7 to Beat the Giants at Reliant Stadium

The Houston Texans are finally starting to look like a football team that has found its pulse. After opening the season 0-4, Houston has responded with back-to-back victories, including the dramatic 34-31 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars in London. C.J. Stroud threw for 312 yards and three touchdowns, and Ka’imi Fairbairn finished the job with a 49-yard game-winning field goal.

Now comes another challenge.

Houston returns home to Reliant Stadium on Sunday, Oct. 25, for a Week 7 matchup against the New York Giants. The Texans enter at 2-4, but suddenly there is some energy surrounding this team. New York comes in at 3-2-1 after a 34-27 loss to New Orleans.

The Texans don't need to reinvent themselves to get another win. They need to bring three things home from London.

We saw the C.J. Stroud Houston needs against Jacksonville.

Stroud completed 24 of 34 passes for 312 yards and three touchdowns. More importantly, when Houston needed a final drive after Jacksonville tied the game, Stroud responded and helped put Fairbairn in position to win it.

That is the quarterback Houston needs against New York.

But there was also that late interception in the end zone against Jacksonville. It was Stroud's first interception of the season, and it nearly flipped the entire outcome.

The Giants have shown they can take the football away. They enter this matchup with six interceptions, tied for fifth in the NFL according to the league's matchup statistics. Stroud cannot give New York short fields or easy momentum.

Attack downfield. Let the receivers make plays. But when the big play isn't there, live to fight another down.

This is where Houston should smell blood in the water.

New York is dealing with uncertainty at quarterback after J.J. McCarthy replaced Jameis Winston during Sunday's loss to New Orleans. Winston threw two interceptions before McCarthy entered and nearly led a comeback. Giants coach John Harbaugh said Monday that the team was still working through its decision on who will start against Houston.

Whether it's Winston or McCarthy, Houston's defensive philosophy shouldn't change:

Pressure. Pressure. And more pressure.

The Texans have recorded 18 sacks through six games, third-most in the NFL entering the matchup. The Giants, by comparison, have eight.

That is an advantage Houston needs to exploit.

Make whichever quarterback New York starts uncomfortable from the opening possession. Collapse the pocket, get hands in passing lanes and force the Giants into third-and-long situations.

New York committed four turnovers against New Orleans. Houston enters Week 7 with a plus-three turnover differential.

Those numbers are practically begging the Texans defense to be aggressive.

One of the encouraging things about Houston's win over Jacksonville wasn't simply that Stroud threw for more than 300 yards.

Houston found different ways to move the football.

Jaylin Noel exploded for a career-high 107 receiving yards and a touchdown, while Foster Moreau caught two touchdown passes. The Texans also received contributions from their running backs, including a crucial late reception by Woody Marks that helped set up Fairbairn's winning kick.

That's the offense Houston needs moving forward. Don't make every possession depend on Stroud making a superhero throw.

Establish enough of a running game to make New York respect the backfield. Use the short passing game. Attack the middle. Then, when the Giants start creeping toward the line, take the shot downfield.

The Texans have scored 60 points during their two-game winning streak. Something is beginning to click.

Don't complicate it.

The Texans dug themselves a hole, and they're going to spend the next several weeks trying to climb out of it. Snatching two consecutive wins is definitely a good start. But win against the Giants and 3-4 sounds a whole lot different than 2-5. Especially when the bye week is waiting immediately afterwards, which makes this game so important.

Beat the Giants and suddenly Houston heads into its bye with three consecutive victories, confidence growing and a chance to reset before the second half of the season.

Protect the football. Make New York's quarterback uncomfortable, whomever lines behind center and keep the offense unbalanced.

The Texans went all the way across the Atlantic Ocean to find another piece of their confidence. Now it's time to bring it back to H-Town.