WHEN THE BRONCOS PASS
Rookie Drew Lock, a secondround pick from Missouri, is starting his second consecutive game since being activated from injured reserve. He won his first start 23-20 over the Chargers, completing 18-of-28 (64.3 percent) for 134 yards and two touchdowns. He threw one interception and averaged 4.8 yards per attempt. His rating was 84.5. Lock got excellent protection. He wasn’t sacked or even knocked down. The bad news for Lock is the Texans are 11-1 against rookie quarterbacks with Romeo Crennel as their defensive coordinator, including 2-0 this season against Jacksonville’s Gardner Minshew III. Lock has a strong arm, good size (6-4, 228) and toughness. He ran three times for 15 yards against the Chargers. The Texans are vulnerable against the pass, ranking
28th (262.9-yard average). The Broncos are 31st in passing (187.4). Cornerback Bradley Roby, who’s coming off his best game of the season with an interception and sack in the victory over New England, is going against his former teammates. The cornerbacks have combined for only one interception. They have to double 6-4 receiver Courtland Sutton, who has 54 catches for 906 yards (16.8 average) and six touchdowns. Rookie tight end Noah Fant, a first-round pick, has 31 receptions for 379 yards and two touchdowns. The Texans have to beware of running backs Royce Freeman (34 catches) and Phillip Lindsay (31) as receivers.
Passing yards per game (NFL rank)
DEN OFF 187.4 (31st) HOU DEF 262.9 (28th)