HOUSTON (AP) – Asked how to explain Houston’s urgency to someone who had never seen the Texans play before, coach DeMeco Ryans took a few seconds before coming up with an answer.
“It’s like four Tasmanian devils who just smash everything in front of them. That’s how I look at our boys,” said Ryans. “They’re fast. They’re physical. The way they get off the ball, the way they wrap the pocket, it’s very dangerous.”
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After a strong performance in defeating the Steelers in the wild card round, the Texans look to make this a formidable four to lead them again when they visit the Patriots on Sunday, where a win would put them in the AFC Championship for the first time in franchise history.
The starting defensive line features first-team AP All-Pro defensive end Will Anderson Jr. and the second team with Danielle Hunter and Sheldon Rankins and Tommy Togiai.
The Texans led the NFL in yards allowed during the regular season and were second to the Seahawks in points. They continued that success in their first playoff game, allowing just 175 yards in a 30-6 victory over Pittsburgh.
Houston sacked Aaron Rodgers four times and hit him 12 more Monday night forcing two fumbles. They scored two defensive touchdowns against the Steelers, one of which came on an Anderson sack of Rodgers that Rankins returned 33 yards for a score. It was the fourth touchdown of the season for Houston’s defense, another example of how good this team has been.
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Working together
Anderson and Hunter are the team’s undisputed stars after combining for 27 sacks in the regular season. But defensive line coach Rod Wright said what the Texans are doing doesn’t work unless everyone does their job.
“We say four equals one,” said Wright. “Everything we do we do together. That’s to respect our guys. We know we’re going to get the quarterback out if we run as one. But if a guy wins, but the other guy doesn’t complete him, the quarterback will get out, especially the quarterback like we’re playing on Sunday.”
Hunter said playing with that mindset makes the game more fun.
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“Guys get out there and the big thing is just being comfortable,” he said. “You don’t have to worry about other people’s work, just do your part. When you’re out there, there’s no feeling that you’re better than yourself and everyone’s doing their part. It just flows.”
Houston’s pass rush sped up and harassed the 42-year-old Rodgers during Monday’s win. They know they will have a different challenge against the Patriots with 23-year-old Drake Maye on the way, who has 450 yards rushing this season.
But no matter who they face, Wright’s message this week is that you don’t win at this level by changing things, but by continuing to do what you set out to do.
“So we just focus on the things we’re already doing and we’re locked in,” he said. “Not the appearance, being us, but the discipline and the strategy and the execution must be there.”
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A four-person chase
Houston’s front four has been so successful against the run this season that the Texans rarely blink. Of their 47 sacks in the regular season, only 2½ came from someone other than a defensive lineman. By contrast, the Broncos, who led the NFL with 68 sacks in the regular season, got 43 of those on defense.
“Why are we able to chase four guys and play the way we play? It’s not because I’m a great coach,” Ryans said with a laugh. “It’s because we have really good players up front. This game will always talk about the players and those guys. They set the table for us, for our whole team.”
While there are many good rushers in the league, the Texans are unique in that they have not one elite rusher, but two. Anderson and Hunter were the only two players on the team to both have at least 10 sacks in the regular season.
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Patriots coach Mike Vrabel has been criticized for two.
“I don’t think it’s one move,” he said. “It’s talent, height, effort. If they get blocked, they don’t stay blocked for long. They can make different moves on the edge. They play hard against the run. It’s not just that if you run the ball they make plays. So, two really good bookends.”
Bookends can cause headaches for offensive coordinators.
“I would think it’s difficult because sometimes you can pick up one guy and let the ball sit alone. That’s not really the case here,” Wright said. “I don’t think anyone likes their one-on-one with a guy like Will or a guy like Danielle, you have to pick your poison. And I think it’s everybody’s problem.”
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Always reading
Anderson has spoken repeatedly about how much Hunter has helped his development since joining the team last season after spending his first nine years in Minnesota. Hunter doesn’t talk much, but Anderson, a third-year senior, said seeing the 31-year-old’s daily routine has taught him a lot.
“This guy doesn’t give up, he’s got 100 career sacks, a Pro Bowl, an All-Pro … and he’s doing the little things,” Anderson said. “And I think that’s what makes him so great.”
Although Hunter has played the role of teacher in her relationship with 24-year-old Anderson, she admits she’s learned a thing or two from her young partner.
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“The biggest thing I’ve learned from Will is how relentless he is. That’s something we can all learn from,” Hunter said. “He just keeps his car, it goes on and on and on and I’ve been in the league for 11 years, it motivates me sometimes, like the fourth quarter of the game, Will goes and I have to go on.”
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AP Sportswriter Kyle Hightower contributed to this story.
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