The Houston Texans boast a strong defense, but the NFL’s rules are designed to encourage offense, and a capable quarterback like Los Angeles Chargers star Justin Herbert can take advantage of any scheme.
That is why Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans is not taking any chances ahead of their critical Week 17 showdown against their AFC rivals to the West.
The Texans are still fighting for their playoff lives.
DeMeco Ryans Puts Texans on Notice About Chargers’ Justin Herbert
GettyHouston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans looks on during a game against the Denver Broncos.
Ryans’ Texans have faced Herbert once before, defeating the Chargers 34-12 in the 2024 AFC Wildcard Playoffs.
This time, Herbert is leading an 11-4 team that has won its last four straight contests. Moreover, they have gotten healthier, with rookie first-round draft pick and running back Omarion Hampton returning to action. Ryans believes Herbert is “making really good decisions.”
The Texans’ seven-game win streak is also on the line in this game.
“Justin is making really good decisions with the football. He has that athletic ability to escape the pocket. He doesn’t–when you hear about Justin Herbert, you don’t hear a lot of people talk about that. But man, his ability to escape the A and B gaps is very similar to [Patrick] Momes in that way. And also, they have the zone-read element that, when it’s crunch time, and he needs to make a play, he’ll pull the ball and make plays for you,” Ryans said on “All-Access” on December 22.
“Really talented quarterback. One of the toughest guys I’ve seen in the pocket. I’ve shown clips of him throughout the season to our team, just of some of the decisions he made, how tough he is in the pocket. So, he’s an impressive young player who’s doing a really good job. They’re doing a good job of playing well around him.”
During the Chargers’ four-game win streak, Herbert has thrown for 800 yards, 6 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions. He also has 116 yards and 1 TD on 23 carries.
The passing numbers are modest, but Hampton’s presence is ominous for the Texans.
Omarion Hampton a ‘Challenge’ for Texans
GettyOmarion Hampton #8 of the Los Angeles Chargers runs out of the tunnel before a game against the Denver Broncos.
Hampton is a big, bruising back, as well as a capable pass-catcher. The Texans are also coming off a game in which Las Vegas Raiders rookie Ashton Jeanty had 188 yards from scrimmage and 2 TDs.
“We got another challenge this week,” Ryans said. “Hampton, another good physical young back who’s tough. He’s going to run the exact same way. So, we got to make sure that we’ll get our–we’ll see if we got it corrected. They’re gonna check us. They’re going to run the ball a lot. So, we’re gonna have our opportunities to show that we fixed our tackling, and we have to do it.”
Ryans praised Jeanty, but he also lamented the Texans’ inability to control the trenches on both sides of the ball, as Houston’s run game struggled in the contest.
Injuries played a significant part in both situations.
Texans-Chargers a Battle of Top-Flight Defenses
GettyKhalil Mack #52 of the Los Angeles Chargers in the tunnel before facing the Chicago Bears.
Ryans and the Texans enter most games knowing that they have the best defense on the field in any given week. They will once again enter the contest ranked ahead of their opponent, the Chargers, defensively.
However, the margin is far narrower than it has been for most of the season.
The Texans rank first overall and in scoring. The Chargers boast the No. 3 overall defense, ranking eighth in scoring.
Both teams are banged up along their offensive lines, which could spell big days for Texans’ pass rushers Danielle Hunter and Will Anderson Jr., and their Chargers counterparts, Khalil Mack and Tuli Tuipulotu.
That is, if Herbert and Texans QB C.J. Stroud do not take advantage of their athleticism.
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