LINEBACKERS

Zach Cunningham and Tyrell Adams were tackling machines, but they should have been considering how much opponents ran on the Texans, who finished with the NFL’s worst run defense, surrendering 160.3 yards a game. The linebackers missed a lot of tackles. They made a lot of hits down the field rather than in the backfield. The Texans allowed four teams to rush for at least 230 yards. Tennessee running back Derrick Henry overpowered the defense for 200-yard games two times, topped by Sunday’s 250-yard performance that put him in the record books. The outside linebackers also played a big part in the defensive failures. Whitney Mercilus had perhaps the worst season of his career. Jacob Martin didn’t take a step up like the coaches wanted him to. Rookie Jonathan Greenard made a few plays and provided some promise for the new coaching staff.

This group needs a lot of help.

Grade: F