Los Angeles is a perfect 3-0 on the road in 2021 while the Texans’ lone win came back on home field in Week 1. Surprisingly, neither team has sole possession of either first or last place in their respective divisions.

The Texans didn’t help out the Rams last week either as Houston went into Arizona and lost 31-5. Los Angeles took care of business at home in Week 7, winning 28-19 over Detroit.

Kickoff at NRG Stadium goes at 1 p.m. EST. The Rams are 14.5-point favourites to win with the over-under at 47.5 on the NFL odds.

NFL Point Spread and Betting Analysis

Behind their fifth-ranked scoring offence the Rams are 4-2-1 to the over this season. Houston’s 3-4 to the under but a lot of that has to do with the absence of quarterback Tyrod Taylor, who went down Week 2 which has since made Houston a bottom-five offence in most key categories.

The Texans are 30th in yards per game (275.1) and 31st in points for per game (13.9). They own the league’s second worst average scoring margin at -15.1 points and have Davis Mills ranking 30th in ESPN’s total quarterback ranking statistic.

Houston’s a large underdog but are 2-1 against the spread at home this season. Their two highest-scoring games this season have been at home too but the Rams are only allowing 17 points per game on the road in 2021.

Los Angeles Rams

Headlined by Matthew Stafford and Cooper Kupp, L.A.’s offence is full of weapons. Stafford’s 2,172 passing yards rank third in the NFL and he’s put together a very strong 19:4 touchdown to interception ratio. Kupp meanwhile leads the entire NFL in receiving, across the board. The 28-year-old has 56 catches, 809 yards, and nine touchdowns. All are league highs.

Aside from those two Darrell Henderson Jr. has four rushing touchdowns, Robert Woods has over 400 receiving yards, Van Jefferson has accounted for three receiving touchdowns, and DeSean Jackson is averaging 27.6 yards a catch on eight receptions. Pick your poison.

Houston Texans

It’s still going to be Mills under centre, which isn’t ideal for Houston considering he is their third-stringer in a perfect world. Mills has 1,047 passing yards in six games and five touchdowns to go with seven interceptions. Houston’s averaging 3.3 yards a carry as a team as well, so nothing’s working for the Texans on offence hence their three-point output last week.

One bright spot on the other side of the football is Jonathan Greenard. The 2020 third-round pick has six sacks on the season (tied for seventh in the NFL) but Houston is still a bottom-five defence.

NFL Prediction: Who Will Win Rams vs. Texans?

• Regular Season
• Playoffs

Rams Team Leaders

LAR

Touchdowns	Cooper Kupp 16
Rushing	Sony Michel 845
Passing	Matthew Stafford 4886
Receiving	Cooper Kupp 145
Sacks	Aaron Donald 12.5
Interceptions	Taylor Rapp 4

HOU

Touchdowns	Brandin Cooks 6
Rushing	Rex Burkhead 427
Passing	Davis Mills 2664
Receiving	Brandin Cooks 90
Sacks	Jonathan Greenard 8
Interceptions	Desmond King II 3

LAR

Touchdowns	Cooper Kupp 6
Rushing	Cam Akers 172
Passing	Matthew Stafford 1188
Receiving	Cooper Kupp 33
Sacks	Von Miller 4
Interceptions	Marquise Copeland 1

HOU

Touchdowns
Rushing
Passing	Did not qualify
Receiving
Sacks
Interceptions

• Regular Season
• Playoffs

Texans Team Leaders

LAR

Touchdowns	Cooper Kupp 16
Rushing	Sony Michel 845
Passing	Matthew Stafford 4886
Receiving	Cooper Kupp 145
Sacks	Aaron Donald 12.5
Interceptions	Taylor Rapp 4

HOU

Touchdowns	Brandin Cooks 6
Rushing	Rex Burkhead 427
Passing	Davis Mills 2664
Receiving	Brandin Cooks 90
Sacks	Jonathan Greenard 8
Interceptions	Desmond King II 3

LAR

Touchdowns	Cooper Kupp 6
Rushing	Cam Akers 172
Passing	Matthew Stafford 1188
Receiving	Cooper Kupp 33
Sacks	Von Miller 4
Interceptions	Marquise Copeland 1

HOU

Touchdowns
Rushing
Passing	Did not qualify
Receiving
Sacks
Interceptions

Weather

temp	73
condition	dome

Injuries

L.A. Rams

Odell Beckham Jr. (WR)

day-to-day Knee - 13 / 02 / 22

Andrew Whitworth (OL)

Prob Sun Quadricep - 04 / 02 / 22

Van Jefferson (WR)

Prob Sun Knee - 02 / 02 / 22

Grant Haley (DB)

Prob Sun Quadricep - 02 / 02 / 22

Cam Akers (RB)

Prob Sun Shoulder - 30 / 01 / 22

Tyler Higbee (TE)

I-R Knee - 30 / 01 / 22

Greg Gaines (DL)

Prob Sun Toe - 27 / 01 / 22

John Wolford (QB)

Prob Sun Illness - 27 / 01 / 22

Van Jefferson (WR)

Prob Sun Knee - 26 / 01 / 22

Joe Noteboom (OL)

I-R Pectoral - 25 / 01 / 22

Houston

Jordan Akins (TE)

Out Sun Illness - 06 / 01 / 22

Chris Conley (WR)

Out Sun Knee - 05 / 01 / 22

Kamu Grugier-Hill (LB)

Prob Sun Knee - 05 / 01 / 22

Justin Britt (OL)

Prob Sun Knee - 05 / 01 / 22

Jonathan Greenard (DL)

day-to-day Foot - 03 / 01 / 22

Jonathan Owens (DB)

I-R Wrist - 03 / 01 / 22

Justin Reid (DB)

Out indefinitely Ankle - 03 / 01 / 22

Grayland Arnold (DB)

I-R Ankle - 03 / 01 / 22

Kevin Pierre-Louis (LB)

Out indefinitely Illness - 31 / 12 / 21

Antony Auclair (TE)

Out indefinitely Illness - 30 / 12 / 21

Injuries

L.A. Rams

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Odell Beckham Jr. (WR)	day-to-day	Knee - 13 / 02 / 22	0-1	0-1	+ -
Beckham Jr. exited Sunday's game with a left knee injury, and it is unknown if he will return.
Andrew Whitworth (OL)	Prob Sun	Quadricep - 04 / 02 / 22	0-1	0-1	+ -
Whitworth has a quad injury, but it is determined that he will partake in the 2022 Super Bowl versus the Bengals.
Van Jefferson (WR)	Prob Sun	Knee - 02 / 02 / 22	0-1	0-1	+ -
Jefferson is hindered by a knee injury, but it is likely that he will suit up for the 2022 Super Bowl versus the Bengals.
Grant Haley (DB)	Prob Sun	Quadricep - 02 / 02 / 22	0-1	0-1	+ -
Haley has a quad injury, but it is unlikely to change his status for Super Bowl 56 versus the Bengals.
Cam Akers (RB)	Prob Sun	Shoulder - 30 / 01 / 22	1-1	1-1	+ -
Akers is hampered by a shoulder injury, but it is likely that he will be available for Super Bowl 56 versus the Bengals.
Tyler Higbee (TE)	I-R	Knee - 30 / 01 / 22	1-1	1-1	+ -
Higbee has been added to the injured reverse list due to an MCL sprain.
Greg Gaines (DL)	Prob Sun	Toe - 27 / 01 / 22	1-1	1-1	+ -
Gaines is bothered by a toe injury, but it is not likely to affect his status for the NFC championship game versus the 49ers.
John Wolford (QB)	Prob Sun	Illness - 27 / 01 / 22	1-1	1-1	+ -
Wolford is ailing from an illness, but it is likely that he will take on the 49ers in the NFC championship game.
Van Jefferson (WR)	Prob Sun	Knee - 26 / 01 / 22	1-1	1-1	+ -
Jefferson is managing a knee injury, but he is likely to play against the 49ers in the NFC championship game.
Joe Noteboom (OL)	I-R	Pectoral - 25 / 01 / 22	1-1	1-1	+ -
Noteboom has been added to the injured reserve list due to a pectoral strain.

Houston

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Jordan Akins (TE)	Out Sun	Illness - 06 / 01 / 22	0-1	0-1	+ -
Akins is nursing an illness, and he will not be active for Sunday's matchup with the Titans.
Chris Conley (WR)	Out Sun	Knee - 05 / 01 / 22	0-1	0-1	+ -
Conley is nursing a knee issue, and he will not partake in Sunday's matchup with the Titans.
Kamu Grugier-Hill (LB)	Prob Sun	Knee - 05 / 01 / 22	0-1	0-1	+ -
Grigier-Hill has a knee injury, but it is anticipated that he will partake in Sunday's showdown with the Titans.
Justin Britt (OL)	Prob Sun	Knee - 05 / 01 / 22	0-1	0-1	+ -
Britt has a knee injury, but it is projected that he will lace up against the Titans on Sunday.
Jonathan Greenard (DL)	day-to-day	Foot - 03 / 01 / 22	0-1	0-1	+ -
Greenard exited Sunday's tilt against the Titans with a foot injury, and he will not return.
Jonathan Owens (DB)	I-R	Wrist - 03 / 01 / 22	0-1	0-1	+ -
Owens has ended up on the injured reserve list due to a wrist injury.
Justin Reid (DB)	Out indefinitely	Ankle - 03 / 01 / 22	0-1	0-1	+ -
Reid is dealing with injuries to his ankle and knee. He has also been assigned to the IR/COVID-19 list, and it has yet to be established when he will be available.
Grayland Arnold (DB)	I-R	Ankle - 03 / 01 / 22	0-1	0-1	+ -
Arnold has landed on the injured reserve list with an ankle injury.
Kevin Pierre-Louis (LB)	Out indefinitely	Illness - 31 / 12 / 21	1-1	1-1	+ -
Pierre-Louis has been shifted to the IR/COVID-19 list, and it is unknown when he will return.
Antony Auclair (TE)	Out indefinitely	Illness - 30 / 12 / 21	1-1	1-1	+ -
Auclair has been assigned to the IR/COVID-19 list, and it is unclear when he will return.