A loss to the Carolina Panthers was a reality check for DeMeco Ryans' unit. It caused fans to overreact. We expect the Houston Texans to redeem themselves at home against the Tampa Buccaneers. A win will require a total team effort.
Here are a few missions for Houston to accomplish on Sunday.
Houston Texans Mission #3: Matt Burke's secondary must limit big plays
Baker Mayfield is making the most of his rebirth. A one-year deal with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers gave the former first-round pick a chance to save his career. He's led Dave Canales' offense well halfway through the season. Mayfield ranks 13th in touchdowns (10) and 16th in completions (158). His receivers are elite and are hungry for another championship. Chris Godwin ties 20th in receptions (38) and 19th in receiving grade (79.7). His teammate Mike Evans ranks fifth in touchdown receptions (5) - making the duo a threat for opposing secondaries.
Limiting passing yards will assist Matt Burke's group on Sunday afternoon. His secondary is becoming one of the league's best. Steven Nelson is the highlight of the developing group. He leads Houston's secondary in coverage rating (79.8) and interceptions (3). Shaquille Griffin, Grayson Arnold, and Christian Harris have taken Burke's secondary to new heights. Houston ranks sixth in coverage rating (81.5) and needs to perform well to secure a win.
Houston Texans Mission #2: Bobby Slowik must incorporate RBs in the offensive scheme
Finding open running lanes at the line of scrimmage is an issue for Houston. They feed their rushers often, but it results in wasted downs. Dameon Pierce is 10th in rushing attempts (109) but 27th in rushing yards. Andrew Beck (53.9) is the second-highest-graded tailback on Bobby Slowik's depth chart. He's had four carries this year but is tied for first among his teammates in rushing touchdowns (1).
DeMeco Ryans' group is third in the AFC South (4-3) with little time to reconstruct the offensive playbook. Defenses respect Slowik's passing schemes but welcome an unproductive ground attack. Incorporating running backs in Houston's passing scheme could equate to more yards at the line of scrimmage. Pierce and Singletary average more than five yards per reception. They've combined for 13 receptions and 114 receiving yards. Screens and quick passes will keep defensive lineman on their toes. More reps for shifty tailbacks will keep the Buccaneers' defense busy. They rank 27th in overall grading (54.8) heading into Week 9.
Houston Texans Mission #1: C.J Stroud must find the endzone
Inconsistencies on offense cost the Texans last Sunday. Ejiro Evero's defense played well against a developing rookie quarterback. They limited big plays and forced receivers to earn yards after the catch. Fans witnessed C.J. Stroud struggle on the field for the first time this season. He took accountability in a post-game press conference and is ready for this week's challenge.
Last weekend's scoring drought was the first of the campaign. Bobby Slowik's rookie quarterback is developing faster than expected. It's given his offense confidence as they approach the midseason mark. This season, Stroud ranks 13th in passing yards (1,800) and ties with Lamar Jackson and Geno Smith in touchdown passes (9). His performance against the winless Panthers was not enough to earn a victory. The first-round pick completed 66 percent of his passes and averaged 5.8 yards per attempt. He failed to throw a touchdown pass for the first time in his career. Stroud must find the endzone against a mid-tier secondary (65.9).
Defeating the Buccaneers will help the Texans later down the line. It's a step in the right direction for a franchise with post-season aspirations. DeMeco Ryans and his staff must work diligently on Sunday's game plan. Fans expect we win in Week 9, not a repeat of last weekend.
All statistics courtesy of www.pff.com