When the Texans played the Jets in Week 11, they were ranked 31st in total defense and 32nd in pass defense. These were two statistics that would prove fateful as Mark Sanchez drove the Jets down the field in the final minute, culminating in a Santonio Holmes touchdown with 10 seconds left to give New York a 30-27 victory.
Houston finished 6-10 and went into the offseason looking to make changes to the defense. They would go across state lines by signing former Cowboys head coach Wade Phillips as coordinator. They also signed talented cornerback Jonathan Joseph from Cincinnati and brought in safety Daneal Manning from Chicago and All-Pro defensive end Mario Williams was moved from to outside linebacker in Houston’s new 3-4 alignment.
Houston’s strength lies in their offense which finished third in total yards. Signed as an undrafted free agent, running back Arian Foster would go from the practice squad to the Pro Bowl leading the NFL in rushing yards. In addition to a great running game, the Texans boasted the fourth best passing offense in football. Matt Schaub threw for over 4000 yards, 1200 of which went to Andre Johnson.
For the game tonight, head coach Gary Kubiak said the starters on defense would play only 10-12 plays. Also, look for running backs Derrick Ward and Chris Ogbonnaya to get the carries on offense as the rest of Houston’s running backs are battling injuries.
Two years ago, Houston finished 9-7 and was seen by many to be a team on the rise. They regressed last season and are looking to bounce back this year but their schedule presents a tough challenge. Three of their first four games are against teams with prolific passing attacks: Indianapolis, New Orleans and Pittsburgh. These games will be a barometer as to how improved the defense, especially the pass defense, really is.
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