Burning Questions | Previewing Jets-Texans on ‘Thursday Night Football’

The strength of the Texans’ defense this season has been the pass rush, No. 3 in sacks and No. 8 in pressure rate over the first 8 games. How do you expect the Houston defense to attack this Jets offense led by Aaron Rodgers and their handful of playmakers?

DD: I expect a frisky pass rush coupled with solid coverage from the secondary. Head Coach DeMeco Ryans has repeatedly stressed the importance of the Texans’ defense playing its game as opposed to focusing on who the quarterback is. In the last two home games, the defense held perennial MVP-candidate Josh Allen and last year’s fourth overall pick Anthony Richardson to 30 and 31 percent, respectively. Both attempted 30 or more passes, too.

JP: The Texans’ defense this season has been blitzing and playing sticky in coverage. Houston blitzes 28.2% of the time, the eighth highest in the NFL, and, according to Pro Football Focus, the Texans play man coverage on 36.2%of defensive snaps, up from 18.9% in HC DeMeco Ryans first season. And the formula is working, the Texans have allowed 22.3 points per game this season (21 PPG since Week 4).

The Jets have already played the Broncos and Vikings, the two teams with highest blitz rate in the NFL this season and should have some familiarity with Houston’s style. I expect the Jets to get the ball to Breece Hall early. Hall leads all tailbacks in receptions and is No. 8 in scrimmage yards. In their matchup versus Denver and Minnesota, the Jets were not able to establish the run. Getting the ground game going versus Houston could go a long way toward earning a win.