Kirk Herbstreit said during the broadcast that CJ Stroud admitted to being beaten up Thursday night. What happened on the field certainly didn’t help, as Stroud was hit early and often. He stood up slowly during his final (meaningful) moment of the first half, when Jets defensive lineman Solomon Thomas hit him (not called by the officials) on a bag with his leg. On the other side of the ball, the Texans’ defensive MVP Will Anderson suffered an apparent ankle injury in the first half and, after a brief return, did not play again after halftime.

The Jets did what they could to give this game away. But with Nico Collins and Stefon Diggs out, the Texans receivers couldn’t separate. Houston’s offensive line couldn’t protect Stroud. Regardless, Stroud had an uneven night. And it was a stunning off-night for kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn. However, Houston has some margin for error in the AFC South race, at 6-3 and having already earned a season-long win over the second-place Colts.

Now they have three extra days off before hosting the Lions next week, when they could have Nico Collins back in the lineup. Things are still going well with the second half of the season in Houston.