With their two final opponents already eliminated from the playoffs,
Week 16 will be the Las Vegas Raiders’ final opportunity to play spoiler this season. The
Houston Texans are locked into tight battles for the AFC South title and the conference’s final wild card spot, trailing the Jacksonville Jaguars by one game and holding a one-game advantage over the Indianapolis Colts.
To preview the contest for Raider Nation, Silver and Black Pride reached out to our friends at Battle Red Blog, and Scott Barzilla was kind enough to answer a few questions about the Texans.
Q: The Texans started the season slowly, losing the first three games of the year. However, they enter the weekend on a six-game winning streak. What’s been the difference between the first half of the season and the second half?
A: The biggest difference has been on the offensive end. Even in the first three games, the defense held their opponent to under 20 points in all three games. That streak has obviously continued throughout the season. So, the key to winning is for the offense to find a way to 20 points, and they have done that throughout the streak. The 20 points given up to the Cardinals were the second-most points given up during the streak. Don’t let the 40 points from last week fool you. This is still a defense-first team, and that will be the key again on Sunday.
Q: On a similar note, it feels like CJ Stroud has been up and down since his rookie season, from an outside perspective. What’s been the difference between Stroud’s strong performances and when he struggles?
A: I think the easy answer is the offensive line, but I think it runs a lot deeper than that. The bigger key is that the kind of offense they want to run is not the kind of offense they ran in year one or that he ran in college. He is growing within the new offense, and you can see individual games where it looks better than it did before.
When you look at their schedule this year, you can see how the level of defense they played dictates how well they perform. When they have played top ten defenses, they usually end up struggling, and that is particularly true when those defenses have strong pass rushes. They succeed against weaker defenses. That seems overly simplistic, but for those on the outside looking in, it can look like he is wildly inconsistent.
Q: Houston’s defense has arguably the best edge-rush duo in the NFL with Danielle Hunter and Will Anderson Jr. How do those two complement each other? Do you have any suggestions for slowing them down?
A: They are very similar in that they have relentless motors, so they are never out of a play. Anderson in particular, has grown a lot in his third year, so he is able to win at the line of scrimmage in a variety of ways. I think Hunter has been good for him the last two years because they are very similar in how they play.
In terms of how to beat them, I would try prayer. Seriously, you cannot afford to get caught in a bunch of third-and-longs. That is a recipe for disaster. So, if you can run the ball and stay ahead of the chains, then you can utilize a quicker passing game. If you can get the ball out quickly, you can neutralize that pass rush.
Q: In the secondary, I think most people know about Derek Stingley Jr., but the Texans’ defense has talent on the backend beyond the 2024 First-Team All-Pro. Who would you say is the team’s second-most important defensive back?
A: The Texans have four defenders with multiple interceptions. Jalen Pitre is top top-rated safety in the NFL according to PFF and should be a lock for the Pro Bowl. Kamari Lassiter may not be a lock, but he has four interceptions on the season and has been playing better than Stingley so far on the season. Calen Bullock is not quite as strong as the other three defenders, but he has been opportunistic on the back end.
If I had to pick one to brag on out of those three, it would be Lassiter. Having Lassiter and Stingley on the outside allows the Texans to play man or zone with equal effectiveness. That obviously opens up the pass rush, which you have already mentioned.
Q: I know the Texans are gearing up for a playoff run, but Raider Nation is already looking at the future. So, can you give us a few key impending free agents that the organization will have to make hard decisions on this offseason? What needs do you anticipate the team having?
A: I don’t think the Texans will be losing any important players that are currently a part of the core, but they likely will be saying goodbye to Joe Mixon, and Nick Chubb is here on a one-year contract. So, the running back room will be a position of note in the draft and free agency. Woody Marks has been good, but he needs a running mate to complement him. Jawhar Jordan had over 100 yards last week, so it will be interesting to see if he can be a secondary threat in the backfield.
The majority of the attention will be on the offensive line. They need to figure out whether they have any long-term pieces on the line outside of Tytus Howard. Aireontae Ersery has played all season at left tackle, but the reviews have been mixed. Ed Ingram might be a long-term fixture at right guard. Outside of those three, they will likely be looking to upgrade.
On defense, they are pretty well set, but I imagine DeMeco Ryans would love reinforcements anyway.
) (@Jared_NFLDraft) 
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