Houston Texans vs Detroit Lions Picks and Predictions November 10th 2024

Texans vs Lions November 10th 2024

The Lions are favored on the road as they take on the Texans at 8:20 ET on Sunday, November 10th at NRG Stadium in Houston. The Lions’ money line odds are -187, while the Texans are at +154. This week 10 non-conference matchup is being televised on NBC, and the Lions are -3.5 point favorites, with the over/under line set at 49.5 points.

Detroit vs. Houston Key Information

• Teams: Lions at Texans
• Where: NRG Stadium Houston
• Date: Sunday, November 10th
• Betting Odds DET -187 | HOU +154 O/U 49.5

The Lions Can Win If…

Heading into week 10, the Lions sit at the top of our power rankings and have a 77.7% chance of winning the NFC North and a 98.2% chance of making the playoffs. Detroit is 7-1 and has won six straight games, including a 24-14 road win over the Packers in week 9. They also have a 4-0 record on the road and are 3-1 at home.

Against the spread, the Lions are 7-1 and have covered in six consecutive games. In week 9, they covered as 2.5-point favorites against the Packers, and in week 8, they easily covered the 12.5-point spread in a 52-14 win over the Titans. Detroit’s O/U record is 4-4, with their games averaging 50.8 points per game.

Jared Goff has been efficient over the last three games, posting passer ratings of 109 in week 9, 129 in week 8, and 140 in week 7. Against the Packers in week 9, he threw for 145 yards and a touchdown, completing 18 of 22 passes. Amon-Ra St. Brown led the team with 56 receiving yards on 7 catches, while David Montgomery rushed for 73 yards on 17 carries.

Heading into week 10, the Lions are 3rd in our offensive power rankings. They lead the NFL in scoring, averaging 32.2 points per game, and rank 7th in total yards with 369.6 per game. Despite being 26th in passing attempts, they are 15th in passing yards, averaging 217 per game. Detroit is 6th in rushing yards, with 152.6 per game, on 31 attempts per game.

In their 24-14 win over the Packers, the Lions’ defense gave up 138 rushing yards on just 23 attempts. Despite this, they held Green Bay to a 25% third-down conversion rate and didn’t allow any passing touchdowns. The Lions gave up 411 total yards, but the Packers were unable to capitalize on their drives, thanks in part to a 59% completion rate for Detroit’s defense.

Even though they didn’t force any sacks, the Lions did come up with one interception. Green Bay’s offense was able to move the ball down the field, but Detroit’s defense tightened up when needed, keeping the Packers out of the endzone through the air.

• Detroit has put together a record of 3-0 over their past three games. In terms of betting, the team went 3-0 ATS in these matchups. Their over/under record in these matchups is 2-1.
• Through their last ten regular season contests, Detroit has a record of 8-2. Against the spread, Detroit went 9-1 in these games and finished with an over-under mark of 6-4.

The Texans Can Win If…

Heading into week 10, the Texans sit atop the AFC South with a 6-3 record, including a 3-0 mark in division play. They have a +0.1 scoring margin this season and rank 12th in our power rankings, giving them a 93.2% chance of making the playoffs and an 88.2% chance of winning the division. Houston is 4-0 at home but just 2-3 on the road, including a 21-13 loss to the Jets in week 9.

The Texans are 3-6 against the spread this season and have failed to cover in two straight games. They were 2.5-point underdogs against the Jets but couldn’t get the win. Their O/U record is 2-7, with the under hitting in three consecutive games.

Heading into week 10, the Texans are 17th in our offensive power rankings. They are 16th in the NFL in points per game, averaging 22.3, and 11th in total yards with 348.1 per game. Houston ranks 13th in passing yards, with 221.7 per game, on 34.6 attempts per game. On the ground, they are 11th in rushing yards, averaging 126.4 per game. The Texans have been strong in the 1st quarter, ranking 4th in the league in points scored.

In week 9, C.J. Stroud struggled, completing just 11 of 30 passes for 191 yards and was sacked 8 times. Joe Mixon rushed for 106 yards on 24 carries, while Tank Dell led the receiving corps with 6 catches for 126 yards. Houston converted 6 of 17 third downs and scored on 1 of 4 red zone trips.

In their most recent game, the Texans’ defense allowed the Jets to complete 68.8% of their passes for 193 yards. Despite allowing just 100 rushing yards on 21 attempts, Houston gave up three passing touchdowns and lost 21-13. The Texans’ defense recorded two sacks and held the Jets to a 41.7% third-down conversion rate.

The Texans’ defense struggled to defend the pass, as the Jets were able to find the end zone through the air despite limited overall yardage. Houston’s offense managed just 13 points in the loss.

• The Texans have posted a 3-0 record in their previous three games. This includes going 1-2 vs. the spread and posting an over-under mark of 0-3.
• Through their last ten regular season contests, Houston has a record of 8-2. In these contests, the team went just 4-6 against the spread, while going 2-8 on the over-under.

The Lean

With the point spread sitting at 49.5, we have a good opportunity to take the under, as our projections have this game finishing with 46 combined points. For this week 10 matchup between the Lions and Texans, we have a point spread pick and an over/under pick to share.

Our point spread pick is to take the Texans to cover as home underdogs. Even though we have the Lions pulling off the upset by a score of 24-22, the Texans are our pick to cover at +3.5.

Weekly Football Picks

Jared Goff, Streaking Lions Face Off Against Texans in High-Stakes Sunday Showdown

Two teams with high hopes beyond the regular season square off Sunday night as the Detroit Lions visit the Houston Texans. Both squads come in with notable records, but each faces unique challenges and opportunities that make this matchup compelling. The Lions, surging with a six-game win streak, are looking to secure their NFC lead, while the Texans seek to bounce back from recent setbacks and stabilize their position in the AFC.

Lions vs. Texans: Season Overview and Context

The Detroit Lions (7-1) are currently the NFC’s top team and hold the NFL’s second-best record, trailing only the undefeated Kansas City Chiefs. On the other hand, the Houston Texans (6-3) are tied for fourth place in the AFC with the Baltimore Ravens, positioning themselves as serious playoff contenders despite recent struggles.

The Lions come into the game with momentum, treating this Sunday night prime-time slot as a midseason benchmark, while Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans encourages his team to view it as another game in their journey.

“This is one we’re looking forward to,” said Lions coach Dan Campbell. “You respect the brand of football they play with. This will be a good matchup.”

Team Strategies and Recent Trends

Detroit Lions

The Lions are riding a six-game winning streak that has bolstered their confidence and made them one of the league’s most formidable teams. Jared Goff, their star quarterback, has maintained a consistent level of efficiency, despite recent games showing lower passing yardage. In the last two matchups, Goff threw for 85 and 145 yards, respectively, but his completion rate remains high, with over 80% accuracy in three of the last four games.

Campbell has kept his team focused on “stacking wins,” signaling that the Lions aren’t getting distracted by talk of being one of the NFL’s top teams. Goff echoed this sentiment: “Who cares who thinks we’re any good right now? It doesn’t matter. We’re just trying to find a way to win games.”

Houston Texans

The Texans have had a mixed season so far. After a strong start with five wins in their first six games, they have struggled lately, losing two of their last three games. The team’s recent outing against the New York Jets resulted in a frustrating 21-13 loss, where quarterback C.J. Stroud faced tremendous pressure, getting sacked a season-high eight times and completing just 36.7% of his throws — his lowest percentage of the season.

Stroud, who started the season with a string of 200-plus yard games, has recently struggled to reach this threshold, falling below it in three of the past four games. Despite these challenges, he remains optimistic. “There are things I can get better at fundamentally, for sure,” Stroud said, focusing on improving his release time and overall ball control.

Key Injuries and Recent Acquisitions

Detroit Lions

The Lions took a major hit when star pass rusher Aidan Hutchinson suffered a severe leg injury in mid-October, sidelining him for the rest of the season. In response, Detroit traded for three-time Pro Bowl defensive end Za’Darius Smith from the Cleveland Browns to fill the gap. Smith, a seasoned defensive playmaker, adds experience and versatility to Detroit’s defensive line, an area of concern without Hutchinson.

Houston Texans

Houston faces injury challenges as well, especially on their defensive line. Notable players, including defensive end Will Anderson Jr. (ankle), Derek Barnett (calf/shoulder), and Dylan Horton (illness), all missed practice mid-week. Other key players out include running back Dameon Pierce (groin) and guard Kenyon Green (shoulder), making it uncertain how well Houston can hold up against the Lions’ aggressive offensive front.

Coaching Perspectives: Balancing Mindset and Momentum

For Detroit, Dan Campbell treats this matchup as an opportunity to test his team in a pressure-filled, high-stakes game. While Campbell respects Houston’s brand of football, he wants his team to stay focused on executing their game plan and building upon their strong season.

DeMeco Ryans, the Texans’ head coach, has taken a more reserved approach. While acknowledging the Lions’ strengths, he reminds his players to treat each game as equally important, urging a level-headed approach amid the team’s recent performance fluctuations.

“This game isn’t more important just because of the Lions and what they’ve done,” Ryans said. “Our approach remains the same each week. We’re just going out there to win this one.”

Game Philosophy: Staying Focused on the Bigger Picture

Both teams have embraced slightly different philosophies for approaching the game, influenced by each team’s season trajectory:

• Lions’ Focus on Winning Streaks: With Goff leading a balanced offense, Detroit is determined to “stack wins,” prioritizing consistency and downplaying media hype around their record. Campbell’s game plan has focused on efficiency and making tactical improvements week-to-week.
• Texans’ Drive for Consistency: The Texans’ approach emphasizes resilience and continuity, even amid recent struggles. Ryans has worked to keep the team steady and grounded, using the game to reinforce Houston’s mindset of consistency over hype or anticipation.

The Road Ahead: A Pivotal Game for Both Teams

This Lions-Texans matchup offers a glimpse of how these two playoff contenders handle midseason challenges and elevated expectations. Detroit looks to extend their winning streak and solidify their status as NFC leaders, while Houston aims to regain momentum and solidify a playoff-worthy record.

With both teams treating this game as a litmus test of sorts, the outcome could influence playoff positioning and team morale significantly.