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Houston Texans: Can the defense play better in ’21 compared to ’20?

The defense of the Houston Texans last season was very tough to watch with injuries, suspensions and poor play overall hampering the win-loss total of the team. A big reason for the 4-12 finish was how the defense kept allowing the opponent to score points.

Houston allowed the most rushing yards in ’20 (2,564) and were 24th in passing yards allowed (4104), plus were last in the NFL in interceptions with just three on the season, which is tough to believe, but it is true.

Looking back at the passing defense of ’20, Houston allowed 8.0 yards per completion and 30 passing touchdowns, which was the same number  as the Minnesota Vikings. For comparison, the Detroit Lions allowed the most passing touchdowns at 38.

Though the passing defense wasn’t what could be described as great, the rushing defense was on a whole different level, because it cost the Houston Texans a lot of games.

Besides allowing the most rushing yards last season, the Texans defense allowed the most yards per carry (5.2) and 24 rushing scores, which only one team allowed more, that being the Lions at 27.

Let’s just say this, the rush defense of the Texans has to improve, and with a new 4-3 defensive base in the Tampa 2 under defensive coordinator Lovie Smith, and some new faces on the defense, the Texans will try something different in ’21, because what happened in ’20 didn’t work at all.