The Houston Texans and Arizona Cardinals are two teams on different paths, with the Texans currently in the seventh position in the AFC playoffs and still have a shot to win their division.
While, the Cardinals have been eliminated from playoff contention since Week 10.
Still, Houston cannot overlook Arizona when they visit NRG Stadium on Sunday, as the Texans look to extend their winning streak (five games) and add to the Cardinals’ losing streak, which is currently at five games.
“Arizona is a good team,” said Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans about the Cardinals. “Good quarterback, Jacoby Brissett, has been around for a while in the league. They like to throw the football around. Their defense poses many challenges. I talk about things that we have to improve upon when it comes to really executing when we’re going up against different pressures, different looks.
“We’re going to see that versus this team. Then, defensively, we’re going to see some challenges in a passing game that we have to step up and try to attack the football and try to put some of those challenges out. Our next opponent presents a different set of challenges, but we’re always up for those challenges.”
Arizona (3-10), which ranks 15th in the league in total offense (335.5 yards) and 20th in points per game (21.7), also knows that Houston can create problems for their offense with the chaos and confusion it can generate on defense.
The Texans have not allowed over 200 yards passing in a game since Week 4 against the Jacksonville Jaguars, when quarterback Trevor Lawrence had 205 for the game. Over the last three games, Houston has shut down some of the NFL’s better quarterbacks, including Josh Allen (Buffalo Bills), Daniel Jones (Indianapolis Colts), and Patrick Mahomes (Kansas City Chiefs).
“They’re obviously a really good defense,” said Cardinals quarterback Jacoby Brissett. “They have Pro Bowl (and/or) All-Pro players at all three levels and coached really well. We have our work cut off for us.”
Reporters also asked Brissett about the edge rushing duo of Danielle Hunter and Will Anderson Jr., who have double digits in sacks this season and can generate a tremendous amount of pressure from their defensive end positions.
“You have to have a plan for both of them, and it’s hard to put two on each of them every snap,” Brissett said. “There’s no doubt about it. You run out of numbers. We just have to do a good job with those guys. It’s a big-time challenge, there’s no doubt.
“Our offense knows that. I talked about it today, but we have to use all the tools that we can to help negate some of those guys (and) their production. We just have to be aware of the game-changing plays that they make when they show up, (know) why they show up, and try to negate some of those.”
What makes the Texans’ defense so special is that they are very supportive of each other and cheer each other on to make the big plays needed to get the ball back in the hands of quarterback C.J. Stroud.
Their unselfishness stems from the bond and brotherhood they have built over the past two seasons as they continue to grow and develop under the leadership of Ryans and defensive coordinator Matt Burke.
“Everything they are doing now, we have been seeing since OTAs,” said Texans wide receiver Nico Collins exclusively to Big Sarge Media.
Stroud echoed those comments during his weekly press conference when asked about his teammates on defense.
“Nothing really surprises me too much,” Stroud said. “I’ve seen them make plays on plays on plays. I think it’s the communication, the instincts they play with, and the chemistry. They’ve been playing together for two years now with [LB] Azeez [Al-Shaair] at the MIKE and [LB] Henry [To’oTo’o] at the WILL. It starts with those two guys communicating, and then you’ve got [S] ‘CB’ [Calen Bullock], [CB] Kamari [Lassiter], [S] Myles [Bryant] out there on the back end flying around, and then letting the dogs hunt up front.
“It can get suffocating as a quarterback dealing with all the coverages, all the different leverages, and them playing the coverage the right way. Then you’ve got them rushing the passer relentlessly and never stopping. That stuff, after a while, can get on your nerves a little bit and you just get frustrated. But I think they’ve done a great job and I’m glad I’m on this team.”