The Houston Texans are set to face the New York Jets on Sunday in a battle between the two top cornerbacks from the 2022 NFL Draft.

The Texans are red hot with their eyes primed for the playoffs and meanwhile the Jets are struggling to remain relevant without starting quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

However, this game will also have an interesting matchup between two of the league's best young defensive backs who won't even be facing against each other in Week 14.

In the 2022 NFL Draft, the Houston Texans selected LSU cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. with the third overall pick. One pick later, the New York Jets selected Cincinnati cornerback Sauce Gardner. Sunday will be the first matchup between the two teams since drafting their now top defensive players.

Gardner already got edge over Stingley during their rookie campaigns after winning the Defensive Rookie of the Year award. Gardner dominated the voting while Stingley was forced to miss the last eight games of the season.

However, in year two, the two stars are playing at a similar elite level. According to Pro Football Focus, Gardner has allowed a 90.4 passer rating in coverage while Stingley has allowed a 90.1 passer rating in coverage. Gardner is allowing a reception on 65.8 percent of his targets compared to Stingley's 57.1 percent.

The two play a slightly different style of defense from each other. Gardner has been known more as a lockdown defender while Stingley's ball skills have started to shine over the past three games.

Since Week 10, Stingley has four interceptions and eight pass deflections. In his entire career, Gardner has two interceptions and 27 pass deflections. In 28 games, Gardner has been targeted 111 times (3.96 targets per game) while Stingley has been targeted 70 times in 15 games (4.66 targets per game). 

Leading up to Sunday's game, Stingley praised the fellow second-year cornerback who's name he will always been linked to throughout their entire careers.

"He's got good footwork, route recognition and everything," Stingley said earlier this week. "I'll never be covering him in the game. I'm covering the receivers and he's on the sidelines and I'm on the sideline when he is."

Stingley will however still be tasked with guarding another 2022 Rookie of the Year in Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson. The Jets selected the Ohio State wide receiver with their extra first round pick at tenth overall. Wilson has caught 67 passes for 745 yards and three touchdowns from as many quarterbacks this season. 

Stingley has a deep history guarding the Jets young offensive playmaker and will now get to add an NFL matchup to the rivalry between the two.

"We went against each other a couple of times in high school and at the Nike Opening so I've seen him make plays," Stingley said. "He's been making plays since we were little, I'm excited to go out there and I'm sure he is too. It'll be exciting to go on Sunday."

Wilson will be getting some consistency back at quarterback with Zach Wilson returning as the team's starter. The Jets second overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft was benched in favor of quarterback Tim Boyle over the past two games but will get the nod to return to the starting lineup.

Only two of Wilson's seven career touchdowns has come from the Jets young quarterback, both of which came this season. In the first ten weeks with Wilson throwing the ball, Wilson had 57 receptions for 651 yards and the two scores. 

Every other wide receiver on the Jets roster had a combined 30 receptions for 389 yards and one touchdown in that span. Clearly, shutting down Wilson will be priority number one for Stingley and the Texans defense.

On the other side of the ball, Gardner will be tasked with defending the Texans top target in wide receiver Nico Collins. Collins ranks 10th in the NFL with 991 yards and has six touchdowns in 2023. The third-year wide receiver is nine yards away from his first career 1,000 yard receiving season.

The Jets second-year cornerback is ready for the challenge that lies ahead, just like he is each and every week he steps on the field.

"Every play I just feel like the ball is going to come," Gardner said on Friday. "The moment I get to thinking the ball isn't coming, that's when it comes. I could always make a highlight every single play."

Despite not truly playing against each other, Stingley or Gardner can still single-handedly affect the game on Sunday. It all depends on which star corner will make the big play when it matters most. It's set to be an exhilarating matchup.

Film Breakdown: The elite play of Derek Stingley Jr. is starting to shine

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