The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Houston Texans meet Sunday in NFL action from NRG Stadium. Tampa Bay is sitting at 3-4 on the year so far. The Buccaneers took a loss to the Bills last Thursday in their most recent appearance. As for Houston, they fell to 3-4 with a close loss to the Panthers on Sunday. Check back all season long for free NFL picks at Sports Chat Place.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers 

The Buccaneers started out pretty well this year on a 3-1 run. Tampa Bay has since lost three straight however, scoring 18 or fewer points in each defeat. With just one rushing touchdown so far, the Buccaneers are at the bottom of the pile (tied) in that metric. The good news is that Tampa Bay has been effective in the passing game with 10 touchdowns through the air. 

In their latest defeat last Thursday versus the Bills, Tampa Bay was down 24-10 heading into the fourth quarter during an eventual 24-18 result. QB Baker Mayfield finished with 237 yards and two passing scores. Rachaad White added 39 yards off nine carries and also led the receivers on 70 yards from seven catches. 

Tampa Bay Buccaneers Team Facts

• The Buccaneers have lost each of their last six games against AFC opponents.
• The Buccaneers have failed to cover the spread in each of their last 10 road games following a road loss.
• The Buccaneers have lost the first half in each of their last seven games as road underdogs against AFC opponents.
• The Buccaneers have scored the first touchdown in seven of their last nine Sunday games as road underdogs.
• The Buccaneers have lost the first quarter in each of their last six road games in November.

Houston Texans 

Over on the Texans’ side, they started out at 2-2 this year and have since lost two of there games (with both losses coming by just two points each). Houston’s offensive production has been pretty lopsided as well, with 10 passing scores to just three rushing touchdowns. Defensively the Texans have given up eight rush touchdowns to just five pass scores. 

Houston took on the Panthers in their last game on Sunday. The Texans were up 13-12 going into the fourth quarter but eventually lost 15-13 in a tough result. CJ Stroud finished with 140 yards on 16-of-24 passing, and Dameon Pierce led the rush with 46 yards on 12 carries. Noah Brown added 57 yards off three receptions. 

Houston Texans Team Facts

• The Texans have lost each of their last eight home games against teams that held a losing record.
• The Texans have failed to cover the spread in each of their last six Sunday games as favorites.
• The Texans have lost the first half in each of their last five home games against teams that held a losing record.
• The Texans have scored the first touchdown in four of their last five games.
• The Texans have lost the first quarter in six of their last seven games as home favorites.

Matchup/League Facts

• The Texans rank 1st in the NFL in Q2 opponent points per game this season (3.3).
• The Texans rank T1st in the NFL in Q2 win percentage this season (85.7).
• The Buccaneers rank 32nd in the NFL in average punt return this season (5.1 yards).
• The Buccaneers rank 32nd in the NFL in punt return yards per game this season (6.6).

ANDREW’S FREE PICK 

I’ll probably lean toward Houston at home here, but I’m not going near it. Neither team is playing all that well right now, but the good news is that it should be a competitive game. The Texans really should have beaten the Panthers last weekend after giving up just 224 yards (180 passing) and 5-of-14 on third-down tries. Houston suffered through 10 penalties for 70 yards and went just 5-of-12 on their own third-down conversions, though. The Texans have scored 20 or fewer points in three straight games. 

As for Tampa Bay, they gave up 427 yards and 25 first downs to the Bills in a sloppy game last weekend (20 total penalties). The Buccaneers have scored 18 or fewer points in each of their last three games, so something has to give in this weekend’s matchup. I like Houston a little better at NRG Stadium but you could make a case either way.