In this week's mailbag, readers were curious about the Texans' past two defensive performances and what the inconsistency on offense means.

Justin Herbert's dual-threat dominance, Hampton's punishing runs, and Johnston's game-breaking catches present a critical challenge for Houston's defense.

Houston Texans CB Derek Stingley Jr. has been named AFC Defensive Player of the Week, the NFL announced today.

Houston's defense, led by head coach Demeco Ryans, has stifled opposing offenses on a weekly basis. The Texans boast the No. 1 scoring defense, allowing only 16.6 points per game, and they rank in the top 10 in nearly every major defensive category.

During Carroll's postgame presser after the Texans' 23-20 win over the Raiders, he dove into what he saw from Houston's elite defense that led to some of their success in stopping his and Vegas' attack, ultimately calling them not just one of, but the best defensive unit in the entire NFL.

Texans defensive tackle Mario Edwards ruptured his pec in Week 15, per Jonathan M Alexander of The Houston Chronicle. He will miss the rest of the 2025 season.

The Arizona Cardinals have lost five straight games and are 1-10 in their last 11 since starting the season 2-0. Their next opponents are the Houston Texans, and that might be the most overwhleming matchup of the year. Why? The Texans have the best defense in the NFL.

HOUSTON – The Texans are signing veteran defensive lineman Leki Fotu to the practice squad, per a league source. Fotu is a 6-foot-5, 317-pound former Arizona Cardinals fourth-round draft pick from Utah. He has also played for the New York Jets and Las Vegas Raiders.

A former standout for Iowa, Houston will be Merriweather's second stop in the NFL after initially starting with the Buccaneers as an undrafted free agent in 2023. Since the start of his NFL career, the third-year defensive back played in 42 career games, totaling 46 tackles and a pass breakup.

The Day After the Day After…when the raw, immediate emotions from the aftermath of a game diminish into the realm of clarity and the proverbial (or literal) hangover no longer haunts the mind. With that, a review of Week 17: