Texans vs Dolphins Week 9 Picks and Preview: Which Team Will End Its 7-Game Losing Skid?

(Photo : Jason Miller/Getty Images) CLEVELAND, OHIO - Quarterback Tyrod Taylor (#5) of the Houston Texans runs the ball for a touchdown during the first half in the game against the Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium on September 19, 2021 in Cleveland, Ohio.

The Houston Texans and Miami Dolphins look to end their respective seven-game losing skids when they square off in Week 9. Here's a breakdown of this Texans vs Dolphins game to see who has the edge in this AFC clash.

Houston Texans installed as +6.5 underdogs

The losses are piling up for the woeful Texans. Houston crashed to its seventh consecutive defeat on Sunday, absorbing an embarrassing 38-22 loss at the hands of the Los Angeles Rams. The Rams ran roughshod over the Texans, outscoring them 38-0 through the first three quarters.

The Texans made the game respectable in the end, with Rams coach Sean McVay opting to bench some of his starters, including veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford. In this contest, the Texans had no answer for Stafford, with the former Lions QB throwing for 305 yards and three touchdowns.

They will look to get their season back on track when they face the Miami Dolphins. The Texans will fancy their chances in Week 9 as the Dolphins have struggled at home this season, losing all three of their games at Hard Rock Stadium.

The good news for Houston is that Tyrod Taylor will make his much-anticipated return against Miami. The Texans struggled without Taylor under center, going 0-6 with Davis Mills as their starting quarterback.

Houston's offense was flowing before Taylor's hamstring injury, with the Texans outscoring their opponents 51-35 in the first six quarters of the season. The Texans have been outscored 206-68 in the past 26 quarters without Taylor.

Miami Dolphins enter Week 9 as -6.5 favorites

Miami's losing woes show no sign of abating as the Dolphins stumbled to their seventh consecutive defeat with a 26-11 loss to the Buffalo Bills. Buffalo blew the game wide open in the second half, outscoring Miami 23-8 to turn a 3-3 score at halftime into a convincing 15-point win in the end.

The last time the Dolphins lost seven games in a row was back in 2019, when they started the season 0-7. The Dolphins will be desperate to avoid setting the longest skid in franchise history in Week 9 when they host the Houston Texans. The Dolphins will feel confident of their chances in this game as the Texans are still winless on the road this season.

The Dolphins have some injury concerns, though, ahead of the Week 9 clash with DeVante Parker set to miss the game against the Texans. The star wide receiver was placed on the injured reserve after suffering a setback with his hamstring injury in practice on Thursday.

Parker was starting to find his groove, catching a season-high eight passes for 85 yards in the Week 8 loss to the Buffalo Bills. He has 25 catches for 327 yards and a touchdown this season. Miami is thin at the wide receiver position at the moment, with Will Fuller V still sidelined with a broken finger.