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 Preseason Week 1:
Ginormous caveat, this is the 1st preseason game: There weren’t a lot of the big stars for Houston that saw the field for this one. Given that it was the 1st preseason game, it is hardly surprising. Bad enough injuries impact players in practice (see CJ Garnder-Johnson), but to have an injury during this game, arguably the least impactful for the fortunes of the team, yeah, you could understand if Stroud, Anderson, Collins, et al, didn’t see the field. Some of the offensive lineman that Houston will rely on upfront did play, with varying degrees of success. Mainly this game was about the back of the roster. All of those factors need to cage any analysis of this game.
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – AUGUST 09: Davis Mills #10 of the Houston Texans warms up prior to the NFL Preseason 2025 game between Houston Texans and Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium on August 09, 2025 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images) Getty Images
Quick release/short passing game seems to be the modus operandi: For Houston, it was a steady diet of 3-step drops/quick passes/running plays. Part of that is you won’t see a lot of elaborate play designs in these early games. Some of that is just getting guys back into game shape/play. Still, Houston didn’t try to push the ball down the field too much, or when they did try, it didn’t amount to a lot of success. This could be a result of line play, or concern therein, as Houston QBs, especially after the 1st series, didn’t exactly have a lot of time to throw the ball down the field for the big hitter plays, even with Metchie, Hutchinson, Higgins and Noel on the field. The short passing game can work, but if you don’t stretch the field, it severely limits what an offense can do.
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The Biggest Battle on Display: 3rd string QB: This season, no dispute on #2 QB slot on the roster. Mills opened as the starter and aside from one bad end-zone overthrow, looked sharp, leading the Texans down the field for a TD. After that, the offense was helmed by Kedon Slovis (11 of 15 for 71 yards/sacked twice) and Graham Mertz (7 of 14 for 27 yards, 3 INTs). Neither jumps out at you. Slovis led the squad to a FG to open the second half for Houston. As for Mertz…well, the good is that he showed some remarkable mobility for a guy who tore his ACL less than a calendar year ago, particularly on a 1st and 10 scramble that netted Houston 9 yards. Unfortunately, Mertz’s last three drives ended with those 3 INTs, two of which were terrible passes (one tipped). Sure, only a preseason game (recall Stroud’s rookie debut of 2-of-4 for 13 yards/1 INT.), but Slovis moved ahead in the battle for the QB3 spot.
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You have to feel for those second-half players: Early preseason is not exactly the garden spot for watching or analyzing NFL games. The quality of play is not exactly wonderful, and even the commentators are more apt to talk about those players not on the field rather than analyze the actions of those throwing every ounce of effort to try to make a roster. In one respect, you can see that. Why waste brainpower to analyze and learn about a player who might never grace a TV screen ever again? I’ll give the commentators for the TV broadcast some credit for at least acknowledging the names of those players and their immediate actions. There are some preseason games that late in the second half, they can hardly be bothered to actually talk about the game. I know the ratings for most preseason games fall dramatically in the second half, but still, it can feel like a disservice to those players that are getting perhaps their only chance to live out their dreams on the NFL field, and for the attention to be on anything but the field of play.
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1: Total number of wins by Houston Texans in Minnesota. We already know that Houston can’t beat the Vikings in the regular season (0-6 all time). However, they actually have a win in Minnesota against the Vikings…in the preseason. That one came in 2013, when they won 28-24. Yes, the season that the Texans actually won more games in the preseason (3) than they did in the regular season (2). The Texans now have a 2-4 preseason record against the Vikings.
2009: L 17-10 (@ HOU)2011: L 28-0 (@ MIN)2012: W 28-24 (@ HOU)2013: W 27-13 (@ MIN)2025: L 20-10 (@ MIN)
6: Successful long snaps by LS Austin Brinkman. Only has to do that 2,151 more times to match the accomplishments of his predecessor. Oh, and play for 15 years for the same team. No pressure.
Fans: The return of football. Sure, you may not have watched all that much of the game, but the kickoff of preseason means that the regular season is that much closer to reality, and for that, we can all be thankful that the long football drought is over.
Vikings WR Rondale Moore: Been a tough ride for a talented guy. Lost all last season due to injury (preseason at that). A new team, comes out, and gets injured in his first preseason game. He was such a talent at Purdue. Didn’t work out in Arizona, but hate to see this happen. Kind of the fate of Houston’s Brevin Jordan after his most recent leg injury.
C Jake Andrews: Granted, not all of the 1st OL players were in the game, and those that played were mostly done after the 1st drive. Yet, one player that really stood out in watching that first drive was Jake Andrews at center. The biggest weakness for the line was the interior. Not that Jarrett Patterson was super horrible (most of the blame falls on the LG position aka Kenyon Green), but Andrews locked down the middle. He got some good push upfront and held the interior steady enough for Davis Mills to find open receivers in the passing attack. This was against the Brian Flores called defense (he called the plays for the 1st series). True, Aireontae Ersery also played quite well at LT, but was impressed with what I saw with Andrews.
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – AUGUST 09: Graham Mertz #18 of the Houston Texans warms up prior to the NFL Preseason 2025 game between Houston Texans and Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium on August 09, 2025 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images) Getty Images
OT Zach Thomas: Depth piece for camp and is not assured of making the final roster. However, he surrendered 3 key pressures, making life difficult for Slovis, and authored a false start to boot. Hope his practice results were better, ‘cause what he showed in the game did not offer a lot of goodness for his Texans future.
QB Graham Mertz: It was but one game. However, that performance was NOT what a 6th rounder that wants to work his way up the roster needs to show. Yes, still recovering from the ACL, but the ACL wasn’t responsible for those bad INT throws. Best case is that he ends up on a practice squad to further rehab/acclimate to the NFL.
With that, preseason game 1 is in the book. Houston will play its second preseason game (and the only one at home) against the Carolina Panthers on Saturday, Aug 16th with a noon CDT kickoff.