3 reasons the Carolina Panthers should beat the Texans in Week 3
By Luke Tucker
Davis Mills will be making his first career start against the Carolina Panthers
When word got out that Deshaun Watson asked for a trade this offseason, most people around the NFL assumed that meant a full-scale rebuild was in the works in Houston. That may or may not be the case, but if it is, Tyrod Taylor didn’t get the memo.
Signed in free agency as a veteran option amidst the Watson saga, Taylor played well through the first six quarters of the season. He led the Texans past the Jaguars and to a tie at halftime against the high-powered Browns before suffering his injury.
Over that span, he completed 71 percent of his passes and accounted for four total touchdowns. He made a Houston team that was supposed to be horrible look decent.
Following Taylor’s injury, rookie Davis Mills stepped in against Cleveland, and the results weren’t pretty.
Mills completed just eight of 18 passes and threw an interception on his second drive. He did follow that up with a touchdown pass on the next possession though, capped off with a successful extra-point by none other than Joey Slye – who later missed a 41-yard field goal.
Still, Mills struggled throughout his NFL debut, and facing the league’s top-ranked defense in the Carolina Panthers isn’t likely to make his first start much easier.
The Panthers have been hounding the opposing quarterback in their first two games, recording 10 sacks and 21 quarterback hits already. All while giving up the fewest points and yards in the league.
It could be a long night for Mills and the Houston offense. Especially if Carolina can continue to generate pressure the way they did against the Jets and Saints.
Look for Phil Snow’s talented young unit to give the rookie a rude welcome to professional football and to continue to gel together.