Possibilities brighten after defense shines
Similar stinginess against Bills could pad win streak to 3
The Texans played their best defensive game of the season in Sunday’s 19-16 overtime victory over the Dallas Cowboys.
If they continue to produce that kind of defensive performance, the Texans should be capable of defeating just about any team on their schedule.
Next up is Buffalo. The Bills are coming off a 13-12 upset of Tennessee. The Bills come to NRG Stadium as the lowestscoring team in the league and ranked 31st in offense, including 32nd in passing behind rookie quarterback Josh Allen.
Coach Bill O’Brien called it “good team defense” — stop the run, pressure the passer and play tight coverage — against the Cowboys.
What the Texans did best was to suffocate running back Ezekiel Elliott, the NFL’s leading rusher who was limited to 54 yards on 20 carries. His 2.7-yard average was a shocking drop from the 5.8 average he brought into NRG Stadium.
“Elliott’s a great player, and I thought our guys played good team defense,” O’Brien said.
“Eleven guys to the ball, setting the edge, building a wall inside (and) good tackling.”
O’Brien praised the linemen and linebackers for their performance and offered some insight into the play of a secondary that had been shredded in the previous two games by the Giants’ Eli Manning and the Colts’ Andrew Luck.
“Our secondary is playing better and better as they get used to playing with each other,” he said. “Their communication is better, and I thought they made more plays on the ball.”
Playing cornerback for the Texans is like traveling into the Bermuda Triangle — you go in and disappear.
After a big buildup, Kayvon Webster suffered a severe thigh injury almost as soon as he stepped on the field for the first time. He followed Kevin Johnson and Aaron Colvin to injured reserve.
How does a defense survive the loss of three cornerbacks, including two starters, in the first five games?
“We’ve got a lot of guys that are versatile guys back there,” O’Brien said.
That versatility includes safety Kareem Jackson returning to corner on occasion. He’s off to a splendid start and can play inside or outside.
The four-best defensive backs are Jackson, Johnathan Joseph, Tyrann Mathieu and rookie Justin Reid.
“There’s a lot of possibilities,” O’Brien said when asked about moving Jackson back to corner. “You’d really like to try to keep him at safety because he’s had a good year there, but he’ll do whatever’s best for the team.”
Mathieu also played corner and covered slot receivers at Arizona. Reid, who got his first interception against the Cowboys, is fast and talented enough to cover wideouts if necessary.
Veteran Shareece Wright, signed early in the season, has been a valuable addition who’s getting a lot of playing time.
Defensive backs rely so heavily on the pass rush, and the Texans have been getting better pressure from J.J. Watt and Jadeveon Clowney, their best pass rushers.
Against Dallas, once the Texans contained Elliott, they got after quarterback Dak Prescott, who threw for 208 yards and one touchdown. He was intercepted by Jackson and Reid, and his rating was 66.5.
Over the last three quarters and overtime, Prescott threw for 111 yards, including 44 to Tavon Austin on a mad scramble. The Texans’ defensive backs made a lot of terrific plays against a group of receivers sorely lacking in talent. Big plays by the secondary were a welcome sight for defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel.
Pressure up front helped give the secondary a helping hand. Watt recorded his sixth sack and barely missed another. Clowney, credited with one-half sack he shared with Benardrick McKinney, got his hands on Prescott two more times for what could have been sacks.
Now the defense is preparing for Buffalo and Allen, the first of three rookies the Texans likely will face in the regular season. Cleveland’s Baker Mayfield and the New York Jets’ Sam Darnold will follow Allen.
Allen completed 10 passes for 82 yards and ran for a touchdown in the Bills’ victory over the Titans. In what was supposed to be a rebuilding year, the Bills are 2-3, same as the Texans.
Second-year coach Sean McDermott returned to oldfashioned football against the Titans with a run-first philosophy. LeSean McCoy was the primary beneficiary with 24 carries for 85 yards. The Bills ran 43 times for 144 yards and controlled the clock.
For the second game in a row, the Texans’ mission will be to shut down the run and get after the quarterback. They’ll try to contain McCoy and confuse Allen — disrupt his timing with his receivers and force him to make mistakes the defense hopes will result in turnovers.
Allen has the kind of strong arm that would make Justin Verlander blush. He’s tough and fearless, but he’s a work in progress trying to figure out the NFL. He’s also a talented runner who’s not afraid to tuck it and take off, and the Texans will beware of his mobility and the damage it can cause.
The Bills average only 12.6 points, but the Texans showed against the Titans and Giants they’re capable of blowing games they should win.
But if the Texans’ defense can shut down the Cowboys’ offense, they should be able to dominate the Bills’, increase their winning streak to three and go to Jacksonville with a 3-3 record.