Click on any stream link below to watch the game

 Click on any link in the table above to watch the game.

The Houston Texans are aiming to level their record when they face off against the New Orleans Saints this Sunday. Houston, with a 2-3 record, suffered a narrow 21-19 loss to Atlanta last week due to a last-second field goal. On the other hand, New Orleans (3-2) had an impressive 34-0 victory over New England on the road. Historically, New Orleans has struggled at NRG Stadium with a 0-2 record, while the home team has a perfect 5-0 record in this series. In terms of performance against the spread, Houston stands at 3-2, while New Orleans is at 1-3-1 ATS in 2023.

The kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET at NRG Stadium in Houston. The Saints are favored by 1.5 points in the latest odds against the Texans, and the over/under for total points is set at 42.5.

After two consecutive losses, the Saints vented their frustration on a struggling New England team, delivering a shutout with a score of 34-0. The Patriots were held to just 156 total yards, and the Saints dominated possession time, holding the ball for 39 minutes and 34 seconds compared to New England's 20 minutes and 26 seconds. The Saints also forced three turnovers, including a 27-yard interception return by safety Tyrann Mathieu, which was the first score of the game.

Following a lackluster performance against Tampa Bay in Week 4, quarterback Derek Carr bounced back with 183 passing yards and two touchdowns on Sunday. Running back Alvin Kamara scored his first touchdown of 2023, gaining 80 yards on 23 carries and catching three passes for an additional 17 yards. It's anticipated that Kamara will need to be more effective on the ground, especially against the Texans who rank in the lower half of the NFL in yards allowed per game (112.4).

Houston has been a pleasant surprise, largely due to the standout performance of current Offensive Rookie of the Year favorite, QB C.J. Stroud. In their two victories this season, the Texans have scored 30 or more points in both games, a notable achievement considering they only accomplished this once in the entire 2022 season. In Stroud's first five NFL games, he's thrown for seven touchdowns on 1,461 passing yards with no interceptions. He's started his NFL career with a record-setting zero interceptions on 186 attempts.

Another positive for Houston has been its receiving corps, despite quieter performances in Week 5. This group is led by veterans Nico Collins (3 receptions, 39 yards) and Robert Woods (3 receptions, 30 yards), as well as rookie Tank Dell (3 receptions, 57 yards). The standout receiver against Atlanta was tight end Dalton Schultz, who caught seven passes for 65 yards and a touchdown. New Orleans currently ranks fourth against the pass this season, allowing an average of 183 yards per game. Therefore, Stroud and his receivers will likely need to surpass these numbers to keep up with the steadily improving Saints offense.

The Houston Texans have been surpassing expectations, but that doesn't mean there aren't valid concerns on a week-to-week basis. One notable issue is the inconsistency of their offense. When facing the well-coached New Orleans Saints defense, it will be challenging to establish a stable offensive rhythm.

New Orleans is coming off an impressive victory against the once-dominant New England Patriots, winning 34-0 on the road. While Texans' quarterback C.J. Stroud has proven himself to be a level above Patriots' quarterback Mac Jones, a sluggish start could put Houston in a difficult position and limit their options.

The Texans have struggled with their running game all season, ranking 30th in expected points added per rush and last in rushing success rate. On the contrary, New Orleans excels in these defensive metrics.

Whether it's the offensive line improving with another week of practice or running back Dameon Pierce delivering a game-changing performance, something needs to change. It's possible that offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik may opt for a quick passing game to compensate for the running game's struggles, but overburdening Stroud may be a risky move.

Furthermore, despite the offensive successes of the Texans, they've had trouble performing consistently over four quarters. Starting slowly has been a recurring issue, as they have failed to score more than 10 first-half points in each of their three losses.

Fans have reasons to be optimistic about the future, but the next challenge for Stroud and this young Houston team is to maintain competitiveness for the entire 60 minutes. Without achieving this, it's difficult to view the Texans as serious contenders for the AFC South title, regardless of how closely contested the race may be.

When evaluating the Texans, it's crucial to distinguish between their past and present. They've struggled with a 13-41 record over the past four seasons and are currently below .500 in 2023, but there have been encouraging signs.

First-year head coach DeMeco Ryans has succeeded in establishing a culture of fast and physical play among his players. Despite their losing record, Houston ranks 11th in scoring defense, allowing 20 points per game, and 12th in scoring offense, with 23 points per game. The Texans recently had convincing wins against the Jacksonville Jaguars and Pittsburgh Steelers, outscoring them 67-23 in consecutive weeks. They only narrowly lost to the Atlanta Falcons last week on a last-minute field goal.

On the other hand, New Orleans has been on the upswing, notably with their dominant 34-0 win over the New England Patriots on the road. Although their offense didn't shine, the defense made significant contributions, including a pick-six by Tyrann Mathieu and consistently favorable field position.

Derek Carr, despite his high offseason expectations, has not lived up to the hype for New Orleans, averaging 189.2 passing yards per game with four touchdowns and two interceptions. He ranks 17th in QBR but 26th in Pro Football Focus' quarterback rankings, positioning him between Jimmy Garoppolo and Gardner Minshew.

Carr's struggles partly account for the Saints' ranking of 22nd in scoring and 25th in yardage. However, their defense has been a strong point, allowing the fourth-fewest points and yards per game while forcing the sixth-most turnovers per game (1.8).

New Orleans' two losses this season have come against the Green Bay Packers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, teams that share similarities with Houston due to their strong-armed quarterbacks who take deep shots, but it's worth noting that C.J. Stroud has yet to throw an interception.