Houston (3-4) hosts Denver (6-2) in a pivotal Week 9 showdown where defenses steal the spotlight and playoff stakes flare. Just last week, the Texans shut down the 49ers 26-15 at home — a statement win that snapped several losing riddles, including Stroud’s rough luck versus elite opponents. Denver, meanwhile, is surging, riding a five-game win streak powered by Bo Nix’s evolving maturation and a pass rush that has tormented opposing offenses all season. On paper, this game is razor-thin. Denver opened as a 1.5-point favorite, but sharp bettors have nudged the line toward Houston at home. The over/under sits around 39.5 — a number that reflects how both defenses have bottlenecks on offense and feed off mistakes. Houston's unit leads the league in yards and points allowed; Stroud’s task will be magnified if Nico Collins or Christian Kirk don’t suit up. The Broncos, with a top-five pass defense and a sack machine up front, will try to turn Houston’s inconsistencies into turnovers. The betting angles are clear: expect a low total, tight ball control, and special teams or a failed fourth down to swing this one. Texans have been solid covering at home in low-score games; Denver is on a roll SU but less reliable ATS. If Denver wins, they cement their spot as AFC West contenders and raise questions about Houston’s ceiling when the lights come on. If Houston holds serve, they’ll grab belief, leverage home field, and make a bold statement in their quest to defend the AFC South. There’s more than pride on the line — this one could be defining.