CHARLOTTE – The Panthers return from the bye week to host the Texans.
Carolina (0-6, 0-2 NFC South) hosts the Houston Texans (3-3, 1-1 AFC South) at Bank of America Stadium on Sunday for a 1 p.m. game. The matchup will be televised on FOX.
The Panthers are 4-2 all-time against the Texans, including a 1-1 record at home. The Panthers won their last matchup against Houston, 24-9, on the road in 2021. More on the series history can be found here.
Here's what to know about the Texans:
Coming off a win over the Saints, bye week
Like the Panthers, the Texans are coming off a Week 7 bye week before this Sunday's matchup. Houston went into its weekend off with a win over New Orleans, 20-13, in Week 6.
The Texans were outgained by the Saints on offense by a sizable margin, putting up 297 yards of total offense to New Orleans' 430, and won after a game-ending interception crushed a late New Orleans rally.
Houston linebacker Blake Cashman pressured Derek Carr as he threw an interception to cornerback Steven Nelson, giving Nelson his third on the season and sealing the Texans' third win.
Rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud, selected second overall by Houston in this year's draft, threw for 199 yards and two touchdowns in the win. It was his least productive day of the season in terms of yardage and completion percentage (13-of-27, 48.1 percent), and he threw his first career interception – though it didn't end in a turnover as wide receiver Nico Collins punched the ball out from New Orleans linebacker Zack Baun, and offensive lineman Tytus Howard recovered it. The ensuing drive resulted in a Houston touchdown.
"With C.J., it's the same, it's resiliency," head coach DeMeco Ryans said in an article posted to the team's website. "Even though he throws his first interception of his career - and I mean can't say enough about Nico (Collins) first, and his effort, his mindset to go and get the ball back in that situation - and the resiliency of our offense just to, no matter what happened, bad things happen, but you don't let that affect the next play. They went down and drove on them and scored right there. I think that was the turning point of the game for us and on offense."
Stroud leading the offense
Stroud has gotten off to a strong start in his first year, leading the NFL's 12th-most productive offense (2,084 yards through six games) and fourth-most productive passing offense, with 1,551 passing yards. He has thrown nine touchdowns and just one interception – the one against New Orleans that didn't result in a turnover – and has completed 59.6 percent of his passes this season.
Collins is Stroud's leading target, with 547 yards on 29 catches with three touchdowns. Wide receiver Robert Woods and tight end Dalton Schultz have both totaled more than 200 yards this year, as Schultz has also caught three touchdowns this year.
Wide receiver Tank Dell is set to return in Week 8, according to the team's website, after he missed Week 6 while in concussion protocol. He's returning to practice this week, which is positive news for Houston, as his 324 receiving yards rank second on the team.
The Texans haven't found as much success in the run game, ranked 25th in the league. Running back Dameon Pierce has 281 rushing yards with two touchdowns this season, followed by Devin Singletary with 153 yards.
A look at the defense
The Texans have held their opponents to the eighth-fewest points in the league (18.8 per game) but fall to 25th in yardage (354 yards per game), as they're around the middle of the league in rushing defense and toward the bottom half in passing defense.
Linebacker Henry To'oTo'o leads the team in tackles with 45, Nelson leads in interceptions with three, defensive end Jonathan Greenard's 3.5 sacks lead the team, and eight players have forced one fumble, the most on the team.
Among the more intriguing players to watch on the Texans' defense is rookie defensive end Will Anderson, the former Alabama player drafted third overall (just behind Stroud) in this year's draft. He has put up 24 tackles with eight quarterback hits in his first six NFL games.
Carolina is 3-2 all-time against the Texans.
Carolina Panthers defensive tackle Terrell McClain (97) against the Houston Texans in the first quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 18, 2011, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Carolina Panthers tight end Richie Brockel (47) rushes for a seven-yard touchdown as Houston Texans strong safety Glover Quin (29) defends in the second quarter of an NFL football game on Sunday, Dec. 18, 2011, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton (1) flips into the endzone for a touchdown during an NFL football game against the Houston Texans at Bank of America Stadium on Sunday, September 20, 2015 in Charlotte. The Panthers defeated the Texans 24-17. (Perry Knotts via AP)
Houston Texans tight end Joel Dreessen (85) cannot quite get to the ball as Carolina Panthers strong safety Jordan Pugh (29) defends during the third quarter of an NFL football game on Sunday, Dec. 18, 2011, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton (1) against the Houston Texans in the second quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 18, 2011, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Carolina Panthers tight end Richie Brockel (47) celebrates a touchdown against the Houston Texans as Texans fans look on in the second quarter of an NFL football game on Sunday, Dec. 18, 2011, in Houston. (AP Photo/Dave Einsel)
Carolina Panthers running back Jonathan Stewart (28) is tackled by Houston Texans strong safety Glover Quin (29) in the second quarter of an NFL football game on Sunday, Dec. 18, 2011, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Carolina Panthers wide receiver Steve Smith (89) makes a touchdown catch with Houston Texans defender Jamie Sharper (55) in pursuit, during the first quarter, Sunday, Nov. 2, 2003, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Carolina Panthers wide receiver Steve Smith (89) catches a pass against the Houston Texans in the second quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 18, 2011, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Houston Texans quarterback Ryan Mallett (15) scrambles with the ball under pressure from Carolina Panthers defensive end Charles Johnson (95) during an NFL football game at Bank of America Stadium on Sunday, September 20, 2015 in Charlotte. The Panthers defeated the Texans 24-17. (Perry Knotts via AP)
Carolina Panthers' Steve Smith (89) slips past Houston Texans' Von Hutchins, bottom, for a touchdown in the first quarter of a NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Sept. 16, 2007. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)
Houston Texans wide receiver Bryant Johnson, center, and Carolina Panthers Captain Munnerlyn (41) and Jordan Senn in the first quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 18, 2011, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Carolina Panthers' DeAngelo Williams (34) runs past Houston Texans' Jamar Fletcher (21)in an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Sept. 16, 2007. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)
Houston Texans' Ron Dayne (36) runs past Carolina Panthers' Deke Cooper (35) in an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Sept. 16, 2007. (AP Photo/Rick Havner)
Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton (1) looks to throw the ball downfield during an NFL football game against the Houston Texans at Bank of America Stadium on Sunday, September 20, 2015 in Charlotte. The Panthers defeated the Texans 24-17. (Perry Knotts via AP)
Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt (99) works against Carolina Panthers tight end Greg Olsen (88) during an NFL football game at Bank of America Stadium on Sunday, September 20, 2015 in Charlotte. The Panthers defeated the Texans 24-17. (Perry Knotts via AP)
Carolina Panthers' Steve Smith (89) breaks the tackle of several Houston Texans players for a 74-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter of the Panthers' 34-21 loss to the Texans in an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Sept. 16, 2007. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)
Houston Texans' Andre Johnson (80) runs past Carolina Panthers' Dan Morgan (55) for a 31 yard touchdown in the first quarter of a NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Sept. 16, 2007. (AP Photo/Rick Havner)
Houston Texans' Owen Daniels, right, loses the ball as he is hit by Carolina Panthers' Deke Cooper (35) and Chris Harris, top, in the first quarter of a NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Sept. 16, 2007. The Panthers recovered the ball. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)
Carolina Panthers tight end Jermaine Wiggins (84) fails to catch a pass in the end zone as Houston Texans Jamie Sharper (55) defends in the third quarter Sunday, Nov. 2, 2003, in Houston. The Texans won 14-10. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
