Dare any of us say this … the Houston Texans can win back-to-back games for the first time this season? Coming off their second win of the 2021 season last Sunday with an upset against the Tennessee Titans, next on the schedule are the New York Jets.
The Jets are just as bad at football this season as the Texans, with both teams being 2-8 overall, and just like the Texans, they have a win against the Titans as well. The Jets have also defeated the Cincinnati Bengals, a game where New York was not the favorite going into the game.
After last week’s win over the Titans, the momentum the Texans have has to stay on the right track because they have an opportunity to gain another win, and their first consecutive wins since last season when around this same time frame Houston defeated the New England Patriots and the Detroit Lions, with the latter win coming on Thanksgiving.
Last week, the Toro Times wrote the Texans needed to stop “sack machine” Harold Landry III to have a chance to win the game. In the Week 11 win over the Titans, it was the Houston offense who held not only Landry, but the entire Titans defense, sackless in Nashville.
Texans must put pressure on the Jets quarterback to win in Week 12
What will the Texans have to do to gain a win against the Jets at NRG Stadium this Sunday?
They must get pressure on the quarterback, and this week that means the Jets quarterback will be Zack Wilson, who is retuning from a knee injury that cost him four games. Wilson has been sacked 19 times in ’21, and the Jets offense has allowed 27 sacks entering this game.
The problem with this scenario is the Texans defense has had their share of struggles too, collecting 27 sacks this season, with Jonathan Greenard leading the team with seven. Greenard has missed the past two games (not playing since Nov. 7 against Miami) and is questionable for this Sunday.
Next in sacks is Jacob Martin with three, though two of his sacks have been in the past two Texans games. The Texans as a team also have 47 QB hits this season, and Greenard is the leader in that category with nine.
Houston’s pass rush is the most important part of their success for this Sunday. If they can gain a couple sacks, and just cause some havoc to a rookie quarterback returning from missing a month of football, there is a good chance that could lead to a third win for the season, which a month ago seemed impossible.