A pair of 2-2 teams will go head-to-head on Sunday in Week 5, as the Houston Texans and Atlanta Falcons will square off. Both teams have been fairly inconsistent in 2023, but have also shown exciting upside. A couple of rookies lead both offenses, with QB CJ Stroud under center for Houston and RB Bijan Robinson in the Falcons’ backfield.
This game projects to be a competitive affair. It is tough to predict exactly what is going to happen. Today, though, we will be making five bold predictions for the Falcons-Texans contest.
Without further ado, let’s get right into it.
CJ Stroud continues to perform well
Stroud has been fantastic for the Texans so far. He’s recorded over 1,200 yards to go along with six touchdown passes through his first four games. Stroud also hasn’t thrown an interception yet, something that is especially impressive for a rookie.
Stroud looks poised and confident right now. It’s clear he’s going to be a star. The Falcons defense is capable of causing some havoc, but look for Stroud to continue performing at a high level.
Desmond Ridder throws two interceptions
Ridder is in his second season and hasn’t looked all that great. He’s thrown for just 744 yards and three touchdowns compared to three interceptions.
Houston’s defense is going to be focused on containing the run. However, they will also be ready for the pass. If the Texans do a good job of limiting Bijan Robinson, then the Falcons will have to pass the football.
That will lead to interception opportunities given Ridder’s struggles. Look for Houston to record two interceptions versus the Falcons QB.
Texans rush for 125-plus yards
The Falcons’ rushing attack has endured its ups and downs in 2023. Dameon Pierce has led the charge with Devin Singletary also receiving reps.
Houston’s offense has displayed signs of life in recent action though, which could lead to a scoring advantage for the Texans. As a result, Houston should be in position to run the football towards the end of the game.
Falcons jump out to an early lead
The Texans should be able to have a good game. That said, look for the Falcons to start strong. Atlanta is playing at home and will have momentum. In fact, it would not be surprising to see Atlanta leading at the half.
That lead likely won’t remain though, which we will discuss more in the fifth and final bold prediction.
Texans win by 10 or more points
This is the most attention-catching bold prediction in this article. The Falcons are narrow favorites in this game, but CJ Stroud and Houston are contenders to upset the odds on the road.
The Texans will take control in the fourth quarter after a competitive first three quarters of play. In the end, look for Houston to win by at least 10 points.
With that all being said, this contest still projects to be an exciting affair between two teams looking to climb over the .500 mark.
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