The Denver Broncos are not sneaking up on any opponents. So, it is not surprising to hear C.J. Stroud of the Houston Texans, Denver’s Week 9 opponent, speaking candidly about the challenges that the Broncos present for opposing offenses like his.
Stroud and the Texans have won three of their last four outings, and they were a playoff team last season.
The Broncos present a formidable test, but they will need their vaunted pass rush to show up.
C.J. Stroud Praises Broncos Pass Rush Before Texans Game
GettyNik Bonitto #15 and Jonathon Cooper #0 of the Denver Broncos celebrate after a sack against the Los Angeles Chargers.
Stroud met with the media on Wednesday after the Texans’ first practice of Week 9 as they prepare for the Broncos.
The Broncos lead the NFL in sacks this season, and Stroud had been sacked multiple times in every game this season before last week. Similarly, the Broncos have recorded multiple sacks in every game but Week 2.
Stroud is aware that outside linebackers Nik Bonitto and Johnathon Cooper can wreck games.
“They have a really good rush. Starts on their edge with Bonitto and Coop. They do a good job playing relentless, and just – they don’t give up. They play really tough, and the interior, they have really good interior guys as well. So, they’re really good line,” Stroud told reporters on October 29.
“Playing hard right back [is how the Texans slow the pass rush]. Scheme, trying to do some things to help our guys up front. So, yeah. I think it’ll be a good matchup.”
Stroud has completed 66.8% of his passes for 1,623 yards, 11 touchdowns, and 5 interceptions this season. It will be up to those interior linemen – namely starters John Franklin-Myers and Zach Allen and top backup Malcolm Roach – to flush Stroud toward Bonitto and Cooper.
Texans HC DeMeco Ryans Praises Broncos
GettyNik Bonitto #15 of the Denver Broncos celebrates a sack against the Tennessee Titans.
Stroud was not alone in his high praise for the Broncos. Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans echoed his quarterback’s sentiments about Bonitto and Cooper, as well as the Broncos’ interior defensive linemen.
Ryans also put the onus on the Texans’ offensive line to keep the Broncos at bay.
“The Broncos rush group is a really good group. All five guys they have are really good on the edges. I say Bonitto is a really good speed rusher,” Ryans told reporters on Wednesday. “There’s not many guys like that in the league who have the explosiveness and the first-step quickness that he has, which has allowed him to get a few sacks.
“It’s going to take a ton of effort, ton of work to get it done. But we just have to play our technique. Don’t overthink it. Just play our technique. Really strain to get them blocked up front, knowing that they’re a really solid group, and really solid in the inside as well. They’ll play a five down front. It’s just everybody across the board is going to have to win their one-on-one matchup.”
Despite being the road team, the Broncos are 1.5-point favorites against the Texans as of October 30, per Vegas Insider.
That is notable since the Broncos will be without All-Pro cornerback Pat Surtain II for this contest and several more. The Broncos will get linebacker Dre Greenlaw back from a one-game suspension, though, which should help muddy the waters for Stroud on medium passes.
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