When you talk about two teams that have headed in opposite directions of late, you think of the Dolphins and Texans. After a 3-0 start, the Dolphins dropped three of four to fall to 4-3. After an 0-3 start, which left Bill O'Brien on the hot seat, the Texans are one of the hottest teams in the NFL, winning four straight to improve to 4-3. Houston has gone from last place in the AFC South to first with the win streak. They get to face their old pal Brock Osweiler, who will start at QB again for the Dolphins in place of the injured Ryan Tannehill.
How to Watch Dolphins vs. Texans: Week 8
Where: Houston, Texans
Start: Thursday, Oct. 25, 8:20 p.m. ET
TV Network: FOX, NFL Network
Radio: WQAM (Dolphins), KILT (Texans)
Stream Online: Watch live with fuboTV
Year after year, the Dolphins have to deal with the fact that they probably aren't going to win the AFC East over the Patriots. It's been essentially a lock every season Tom Brady has been QB that the Patriots will win the division. The Dolphins early on looked like they had a chance to change that, but they have struggled since their 3-0 start. Tannehill is working his way back, but he'll miss at least this week. Osweiler has done a surprisingly good job in his place after struggling so much with the Broncos and Texans. The problem is the Dolphins' defense has been nearly non-existent after their first three wins. They will need to eat a lot of clock in the run game with Frank Gore and Kenyan Drake to keep their defense fresh against Deshaun Watson and company.
The Texans aren't blowing the doors off anyone, but they're doing enough to get victories. Their defense made a mockery of the Jaguars last week, forcing Blake Bortles to the bench. Their pass rush has been the recipe for their success during the win streak. J.J. Watt and Jadeveon Clowney know very well that Osweiler isn't the most mobile QB, and they are going to do all they can to give him nightmares. This has the feeling of a game where the Texans defense dominates and shows Osweiler why they got rid of him. This team is just rolling right now. They do a good job making Watson's job easier and scoring points off turnovers, which is a big reason they have jumped from last to first in a weak division in the blink of an eye.
