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NFL power rankings round-up 2026: How do Texans fare entering Week 8?
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- NFL power rankings round-up 2026: How do Texans fare entering Week 8?
Just like that, the vibes are bad around the Houston Texans .
Cam Skattebo came back to life with 17 carries for 124 yards after not having a carry last Sunday, as the difference in the New York Giants ' 27-20 overtime win against the Texans . Former Texans starting running back Devin Singletary scored the game-winning 30-yard touchdown run after the defense forced a three-and-out to begin overtime.
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Skattebo, who didn't record a stat last week after two costly fumbles earlier in the month, scored on a 16-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter. That broke the 14-14 tie and put pressure on Houston's offense to respond. In overtime, his 42-yard scamper to set up Singletary's game-winning run a play later.
With former 2024 first-round pick J.J. McCarthy making his first start of the regular season, the Giants made life easy for the offense. He was 20 of 28 for 252 yards and pushed the ball into the red zone for two rushing scoring drives, including one behind the legs of Jameis Winston.
As for the Texans' offense, they responded before halftime with a touchdown pass from C.J. Stroud to Marvin Harrison Jr. Houston looked like Ohio State since former Buckeyes tight end Cade Stover caught the two-point conversion to tie the game.
Stroud guided the Texans downfield for a 3-yard touchdown pass to Xaiver Hutchinson with less than a minute left, but finished with a season-low 153 passing yards. The run game was limited again, with Houston rushing for 84 yards on 26 carries.
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What do the experts think of Houston's chance of making a run to the postseason and where the AFC South's most disappointing team sits entering Week 8? Here's the latest power rankings from the top publications.
Oct 25, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Texans wide receiver Tank Dell (1) runs onto the field before the game against the New York Giants at Reliant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images
Nate Davis, USA TODAY : 24 (Last Week 20)
From Davis: "It may be a lost season in H-Town, but not if you're Tank Dell. Welcome back, boss, and props."
Pete Prisco, CBS Sports: 21 (Last Week 15)
From Prisco: "Losing at home to the Giants just might be the death blow in their chances of winning the AFC South. The defense just isn't good enough."
Oct 18, 2026; London, United Kingdom; Houston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans at press conference after the 2026 NFL London Games at Wembley Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Frank Schwab, Yahoo! Sports: 21 (Last Week 17)
From Schwab: "The Texans' loss Sunday was one of the most damaging of the entire NFL season. They were double-digit favorites to beat the Giants, and a win over New York would have put Houston at 3-4, not far behind 4-2 Jacksonville with a head-to-head win over the Jaguars. And the Texans had a massive letdown in an overtime loss to the Giants. At 2-5, their margin of error is incredibly slim with 10 games to go."
Oct 25, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud (7) hands off to wide receiver Tank Dell (1) during the third quarter against the New York Giants at Reliant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images
Nick Shook, NFL.com: 18 (Last Week 14)
From Shook: "Another tough loss has landed on the Texans' ledger, reducing their room for error going forward. It's fair to say this defense is no longer deserving of its respected reputation -- especially when reflecting on how Devin Singletary ran right through the heart of the unit to a game-winning touchdown. I do believe C.J. Stroud will continue to keep Houston competitive. I'm keeping an eye on that connection with Marvin Harrison Jr. too; Stroud's touchdown pass to his former Ohio State teammate on Sunday was exquisite."
Sep 20, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Texans kicker Ka'imi Fairbairn (15) celebrates with punter Kai Kroeger (38) after making a field goal during the second quarter against the Cincinnati Bengals at Reliant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Shea-Imagn Images
The Score: 22 (Last Week 20)
From The Score: "The Texans' defense has been a shell of itself all year, in large part because the takeaways have evaporated. Last year's Texans ranked third in that category with 29, but this year's team only has six, tied for the fifth fewest. Houston is still getting to opposing quarterbacks, but the lack of turnovers makes DeMeco Ryans' defense far less scary."
Josh Kendall, The Athletic: 22 (Last Week 17)
From Kendall: "Houston's slow start was not the fault of its quarterback. Stroud, who is in the fourth year of his rookie deal and is headed toward interesting contract negotiations with the Texans, is 16th in the league in fantasy scoring (112.2) and on pace for the best passer rating (100.9) and EPA per dropback (0.15) numbers of his career. The Texans have won two in a row after Sunday's victory in London."
Oct 25, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Texans running back Woody Marks (4) runs with the ball during the third quarter against the New York Giants at Reliant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images
Gary Davenport, Bleacher Report : 22 (Last Week 19)
From Davenport: "There are a number of reasons why the Texans have struggled, but the most surprising has to be the team's defensive collapse. Last year, Houston led the league in total defense and ranked first in the AFC in scoring defense. This season, Houston's defense has been average—on a good day. The Texans allowed 420 yards of offense in Sunday's overtime loss, including 188 yards and four scores on the ground."
Aug 13, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Texans general manager Nick Caserio watches during practice before the game against the Los Angeles Chargers at Reliant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images
Ralph Vacchiano, FOX Sports: 22 (Last Week 19)
Super Bowl odds: +3500
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From Vacchiano: "The Texans are undoubtedly a much-improved team over the past three weeks and can take comfort in that as they head into their bye week. But here's their reality: It was always going to be tough, if not impossible, to rebound from a 0-4 start. The upstart Giants showed them how hard on Sunday by running all over them. The loss was bad enough, but giving up 420 yards to a Giants team starting its third QB this season? This Texans' defense just hasn't been good enough and now the club is operating the rest of the season with almost no margin for error."
Conor Orr, Sports Illustrated: 21 (Last Week 14)
From Orr: "I know great defenses are difficult to maintain from year to year, but the Texans' fall from grace remains one of the most stunning moments in recent history. J.J. McCarthy would have been ripped to shreds by almost the exact same cast of characters a year ago (no offense). How do you not evolve over the course of an offseason? "
Oct 4, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Texans defensive end Danielle Hunter (55) runs onto the field before the game against the Dallas Cowboys at Reliant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images
D.J. Bien-Aime, ESPN: 21 (Last Week 16)
From Bien-Aime: "The Texans didn't have many big offseason acquisitions, but Moreau has provided help in the run game. And he has been a good red zone threat with three total touchdowns. Moreau has played 43% of the snaps, eating into the playing time of tight end Dalton Schultz, who is down from 70% in 2025 to 57% this season. Moreau helps Houston's offense not be predictable when he's in the game. Even though Houston has just two wins, its offense is averaging 24 points per game. And Moreau is a noteworthy part of the unit. "
Oct 25, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans reacts on the sideline during the second quarter against the New York Giants at Reliant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images
Cole Thompson, Texans Wire : 21 (Last Week 17)
From Thompson: "Look, it's one thing to have a defense lose its luster after a historic season. It's another to be completely embarrassed for the fourth time in two months. Once again, a late defensive blunder cost Houston a win. There's a world where if Kamari Lassiter didn't drop that interception by Josh Allen in Week 1, we'd be on a warpath to watching the Texans post a 6-1 record at the bye and in the driver's seat for the AFC South. Instead, we live in a timeline where J.J. McCarthy has a win over Houston because of the poor defensive outlook. And gang, it's not getting better. Is the season over? Until we see three straight exceptional outings from DeMeco Ryans' side of the ball? I think so."
This article originally appeared on Texans Wire: NFL power rankings round-up 2026: How do Texans fare entering Week 8?
