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

Rams Team Leaders

LAR

Touchdowns	Cooper Kupp 11
Rushing	Darrell Henderson Jr. 648
Passing	Matthew Stafford 3611
Receiving	Cooper Kupp 100
Sacks	Leonard Floyd 8
Interceptions	Jalen Ramsey 3

HOU

Touchdowns	Brandin Cooks 3
Rushing	David Johnson 176
Passing	Davis Mills 1406
Receiving	Brandin Cooks 65
Sacks	Jonathan Greenard 8
Interceptions	Lonnie Johnson Jr. 3

• Regular Season

Texans Team Leaders

LAR

Touchdowns	Cooper Kupp 11
Rushing	Darrell Henderson Jr. 648
Passing	Matthew Stafford 3611
Receiving	Cooper Kupp 100
Sacks	Leonard Floyd 8
Interceptions	Jalen Ramsey 3

HOU

Touchdowns	Brandin Cooks 3
Rushing	David Johnson 176
Passing	Davis Mills 1406
Receiving	Brandin Cooks 65
Sacks	Jonathan Greenard 8
Interceptions	Lonnie Johnson Jr. 3

Weather

temp	73
condition	dome

Injuries

L.A. Rams

Brian Allen (OL)

Ques Mon Ankle - 05 / 12 / 21

Rob Havenstein (OL)

Ques Sun Foot - 03 / 12 / 21

Buddy Howell (RB)

Out indefinitely Thigh - 03 / 12 / 21

Michael Brockers (DL)

Ques Sun Knee - 01 / 12 / 21

Darrell Henderson Jr. (RB)

Prob Sun Thigh - 01 / 12 / 21

David Long Jr. (CB)

Ques Mon Illness - 01 / 12 / 21

Odell Beckham Jr. (WR)

Prob Sun Hip - 01 / 12 / 21

Ben Skowronek (WR)

Prob Sun Back - 26 / 11 / 21

Dont'e Deayon (CB)

Prob Sun Thigh - 25 / 11 / 21

Michael Brockers (DL)

Ques Thurs Knee - 23 / 11 / 21

Houston

Tyrod Taylor (QB)

Ques Sun Wrist - 05 / 12 / 21

Terrance Mitchell (DB)

Prob Sun Illness - 03 / 12 / 21

Roy Lopez (DL)

Ques Sun Illness - 03 / 12 / 21

Chris Conley (WR)

Ques Sun Illness - 01 / 12 / 21

Brandin Cooks (WR)

Prob Sun Illness - 01 / 12 / 21

Jonathan Greenard (DL)

Ques Sun Foot - 01 / 12 / 21

David Johnson (RB)

Ques Sun Illness - 01 / 12 / 21

Jacob Martin (DL)

Prob Sun Shin - 01 / 12 / 21

Justin McCray (OL)

Ques Sun Concussion - 01 / 12 / 21

Cole Toner (OL)

Ques Sun Illness - 01 / 12 / 21

Injuries

L.A. Rams

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Brian Allen (OL)	Ques Mon	Ankle - 05 / 12 / 21	1-1	1-1	+ -
Allen was forced from the previous game with an ankle injury, and it is undetermined if he will play against the Cardinals on Monday.
Rob Havenstein (OL)	Ques Sun	Foot - 03 / 12 / 21	1-1	1-1	+ -
Havenstein is bothered by a foot injury, leaving his status for Sunday's showdown with the Jaguars clouded.
Buddy Howell (RB)	Out indefinitely	Thigh - 03 / 12 / 21	1-1	1-1	+ -
Howell has ended up on the injured reserve list due to a thigh injury, and he will miss an undetermined length of time.
Michael Brockers (DL)	Ques Sun	Knee - 01 / 12 / 21	1-1	1-1	+ -
Brockers is hampered by a knee injury, and it has yet to be determined if he will participate in Sunday's showdown against the Vikings.
Darrell Henderson Jr. (RB)	Prob Sun	Thigh - 01 / 12 / 21	1-1	1-1	+ -
Henderson Jr. is hampered by a thigh injury, but it is likely that he will be active on Sunday versus the Jaguars.
David Long Jr. (CB)	Ques Mon	Illness - 01 / 12 / 21	1-1	1-1	+ -
Long Jr. sat out the previous contest with an illness, and it is unknown if he will lace up Monday versus the Cardinals.
Odell Beckham Jr. (WR)	Prob Sun	Hip - 01 / 12 / 21	1-1	1-1	+ -
Beckham Jr. is bothered by a hip pointer, but it is likely that he will suit up Sunday versus the Jaguars.
Ben Skowronek (WR)	Prob Sun	Back - 26 / 11 / 21	1-2	1-2	+ -
Skowronek missed the last game due to a back issue, but it is likely that he will be active Sunday versus the Jaguars.
Dont'e Deayon (CB)	Prob Sun	Thigh - 25 / 11 / 21	1-2	1-2	+ -
Deayon is dealing with a thigh injury, but it is likely that he will take on the Packers on Sunday.
Michael Brockers (DL)	Ques Thurs	Knee - 23 / 11 / 21	1-2	1-2	+ -
Brockers is bothered by a knee injury, and it has yet to be decided if he will face the Bears on Sunday.

Houston

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Tyrod Taylor (QB)	Ques Sun	Wrist - 05 / 12 / 21	0-2	0-2	+ -
Taylor was removed from the previous contest with a hyperextended wrist and possible torn ligaments, leaving his status for Sunday versus the Seahawks up in the air.
Terrance Mitchell (DB)	Prob Sun	Illness - 03 / 12 / 21	0-2	0-2	+ -
Mitchell is expected to take on the Colts on Sunday despite an illness.
Roy Lopez (DL)	Ques Sun	Illness - 03 / 12 / 21	0-2	0-2	+ -
Lopez is bothered by an illness, leaving his status versus the Colts on Sunday hazy.
Chris Conley (WR)	Ques Sun	Illness - 01 / 12 / 21	0-2	0-2	+ -
Conley is ailing from an illness, and it is unclear if he will be available on Sunday versus the Colts.
Brandin Cooks (WR)	Prob Sun	Illness - 01 / 12 / 21	0-2	0-2	+ -
Cooks is ailing from an illness, and his status for Sunday's showdown against the Colts is probable.
Jonathan Greenard (DL)	Ques Sun	Foot - 01 / 12 / 21	0-2	0-2	+ -
Greenard is dealing with a foot injury, and it has yet to be decided if he will battle the Colts on Sunday.
David Johnson (RB)	Ques Sun	Illness - 01 / 12 / 21	0-2	0-2	+ -
Johnson sat out the last game with an illness and a thigh injury. It remains to be seen if he will take the field Sunday versus the Seahawks.
Jacob Martin (DL)	Prob Sun	Shin - 01 / 12 / 21	0-2	0-2	+ -
Martin is hobbled by a shin injury, but it is likely that he will partake in Sunday's showdown against the Colts.
Justin McCray (OL)	Ques Sun	Concussion - 01 / 12 / 21	0-2	0-2	+ -
McCray was held out of the previous game due to a concussion, and it is uncertain if he will line up on Sunday versus the Seahawks.
Cole Toner (OL)	Ques Sun	Illness - 01 / 12 / 21	0-2	0-2	+ -
Toner is bothered by an illness, and it has yet to be established if he will be in Sunday's contest against the Colts.