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Texans vs. Saints: 5 Players to watch in Week 1

By Stephen Forsha

LANDOVER, MD - NOVEMBER 18: Brennan Scarlett #57 of the Houston Texans reacts after intercepting a pass in the second quarter of the game against the Washington Redskins at FedExField on November 18, 2018 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
LANDOVER, MD - NOVEMBER 18: Brennan Scarlett #57 of the Houston Texans reacts after intercepting a pass in the second quarter of the game against the Washington Redskins at FedExField on November 18, 2018 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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MIAMI, FL – SEPTEMBER 09: Laremy Tunsil #78 of the Miami Dolphins warms up before the game against the Tennessee Titans at Hard Rock Stadium on September 9, 2018 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL – SEPTEMBER 09: Laremy Tunsil #78 of the Miami Dolphins warms up before the game against the Tennessee Titans at Hard Rock Stadium on September 9, 2018 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images) /

4. Laremy Tunsil, LT, Texans

The Houston Texans traded away big-time future draft choices to protect their franchise right now. In return for the unknown players who will be selected with those first-and-second round picks, the Texans know who they have in left tackle Laremy Tunsil, and that is a very good thing to know.

The Texans have an outstanding player to protect the blind side of franchise quarterback Deshaun Watson this season, and with Tunsil added to the offensive line, he automatically upgrades the unit, which was one of the worst in the NFL last season.

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Tunsil will most likely be battling defensive end Marcus Davenport, the most on Monday night. He’ll also at times be taking on Saints nose tackle Malcom Brown, defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins, defense end Cameron Jordan, plus linebackers Demario Davis, Alex Anzalone, and A.J. Klein as they are the front seven of the Saints for Week 1.

In ’18 Watson and the offensive line were responsible for 62 sacks being recorded in the regular season, and three more times in the playoffs. That has hopefully changed now, as Tunsil is one of the better young left tackles in all of the NFL, something the Texans haven’t had since Duane Brown was with the team.

Tunsil allowed just one sack last season and in 15 games was penalized just seven times. Tunsil was the best addition the Texans made all offseason, so now will be the time to watch to see if the left tackle continues to play at a high level and keep defenders out of the backfield.

If the Texans want to win in Week 1 against the Saints, Tunsil is going to have to play at a very high level, as the rest of the offensive line still has questions that need to be answered.

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