Houston Texans rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud still receiving treatment for concussion
The Houston Texans are on the playoff bubble and quarterback C.J. Stroud may not play this week as he remains in the concussion protocol after suffering a head injury in Week 14.
Stroud suffered a concussion after hitting his head on the MetLife Stadium turf in a loss to the New York Jets. He missed the Week 15 game against the Tennessee Titans.
If Stroud does not clarify concussion protocol in the next few days, veteran backup Case Keenum will start in Week 16 against the Cleveland Browns.
Keenum opens Week 15 for the Texans. He completed 23 of 36 passes for 229 yards and a touchdown in a comeback win over the Titans in overtime. He has a 30-35 career record with seven different teams.
Stroud’s favorite rookie of the year
The Texans selected Stroud with the second overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft out of Ohio State. At -10,000 odds, he's the clear favorite to win Offensive Rookie of the Year (OROY).
Detroit Lions running back JahmGibbs and Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua are the favorites for Stroud to win at +2000 odds OROY'S COMPETITORS.
Stroud completed 62.4 percent of his passes for 3,631 yards and 20 touchdowns. He also rushed for three touchdowns. He had just five interceptions in 13 games but was sacked 35 times.
After losing his first two starts, Stroud won seven of his next ten games to help the Texans reach the playoffs.
Browns and Texas compete for AFC Wild Card
The Browns (9-5) are currently in fifth place in the AFC playoffs, while the Texans (8-6) enter the playoff bubble in eighth place.
The Texans are one of four 8-6 teams, including the Cincinnati Bengals, Indianapolis Colts and Buffalo Bills, who are fighting for a playoff spot with three games remaining. If the season ended today, the Browns, Bengals and Colts would have three wild-card spots.
According to the latest playoff projections from Upshot, the Texans have a 57% chance of making the playoffs.
The Browns lost starting quarterback Deshaun Watson to a season-ending shoulder injury. Lacking backups in rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson and veteran P.J. Walker whom they trusted, they hired veteran gunner Joe Flacco. The Browns are 2-1 with Flacco as the starter. He won two games in a row to help the Browns improve their record to 9-6.
According to a DraftKings bet, the Browns are the favorite to make the playoffs at -800 odds and +550 odds to miss the playoffs.
Betting on the Texans over the past three weeks
The Browns are -2.5 against the Texans, who are like a house dog without Stroud. The Browns own a winning record of 8-5-1 (ATS). The Texans are 7-7 ATS.
The Jaguars are in first place in the AFC South despite having the same record as the Colts and Texans. That's because they have tiebreakers against both division rivals. The Jaguars are -130 to win the AFC South, but the Colts and Texans are both +270.
According to Upshot, the Jaguars have a 57% chance of winning the AFC South. The Texans have a 22% chance of winning the division and the Colts have a 21% chance of winning the division.
The Jaguars have lost three straight games with quarterback Trevor Lawrence spraining his ankle. They have two more away games and only one home game left. They visit the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday and face the Titans in Nashville in Week 18. They host the Carolina Panthers in Week 17.
The Texans have two home games and a tough road game remaining at the end of the season. They face the Browns on Sunday in Week 17 and the Titans on New Year's Eve. In Week 18, they travel to Indianapolis to face the Colts.
The Colts, led by backup quarterback Gardner Minshew, also have games against the Atlanta Falcons, Las Vegas Raiders and Texans.
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Source: www.casino.org
