Texans have the matchup advantage over potential DPOY
Saturday will be the first time since 2019 that the Houston Texans have been in the playoffs, but it feels like it has been ages. The last few seasons have had a lot of downs. Usually, this is the part where I say ups and downs, but it just mainly downs in this case. The […]
Saturday will be the first time since 2019 that the Houston Texans have been in the playoffs, but it feels like it has been ages. The last few seasons have had a lot of downs. Usually, this is the part where I say ups and downs, but it just mainly downs in this case. The Texans have been a laughing stock, and all of that ended this season. In some ways, they became the team everyone wanted to cheer for.
Saturday will also be one of the most important games in the franchise's history. Yes, just one year into the true rebuild, or retool, whatever you would like to call it – with a rookie quarterback, rookie head coach, and a rookie offensive coordinator. Now, losing this game won't be the end of anything, but it's the beginning of the future for the Texans.
In order to win that game, though, they have to beat one of the hottest teams in the league right now, the Cleveland Browns, who have maybe the best defense in all of football. And on that defense is Myles Garrett, who could win the Defensive Player of the Year Award.
"Myles [Garrett] is one of the top rushers, top defensive ends in this league," head coach DeMeco Ryans said in Week 16. "Everybody understands that he is one of the best players. Each and every year that he's been in the league, he's a problem. We have our hands full, for sure… Myles is an exceptional talent – truly generational talent who's done great things in the league."
Garrett is near the top of the league in quick pressures (54) and average time to pressure (2.32 seconds), according to Next Gen Stats. So, it's safe to say that Garrett will be on the gameplan for the Texans, and in that gameplan should be for quarterback C.J. Stroud to get rid of the ball quickly. If you hold it too long, it could be a sack.
Not to mention, he will disguise his rushes just about as good as anyone.
"You have to be aware of where he is at all times," Ryans continued. "Everyone understands where he is on the edge, and you try to handle him with two [offensive linemen] at times, but then he lines up over the center. When you have a player who can move around like that and be effective when he moves around, it's tough. That's probably why he's one of the top five in the league in sacks, tackles for loss – he's a disruptive player – and he's done it for a long time."
Garrett has 15 sacks in the year and can get them from either side of the defensive line or even over the middle. He is elite. There is a reason he is up for the Defensive Player of the Year award.
But, I must add, if there was an award for the best offensive lineman, the Texans have a guy who may have that award in his trophy case a few different times. I'd like to say a secret weapon, but Laremy Tunsil isn't much of a secret; everyone knows how good he is. However, it feels like no national media is talking about the fact that Tunsil has the matchup advantage over Garrett and has dominated the matchup dating back to 2018.
Tunsil is that good, and the Texans will need him on Saturday.
"It helps having Laremy [Tunsil]. It helps, because Laremy has done a good job throughout his entire career of being able to block some of the best pass rushers in the league," Ryans said that same week. "But, you can't move Laremy around. [laughs] Can't match him up with Myles [Garrett] all the time. Everybody will have their opportunity, and everybody just has to do their best. Stand up, do their best, and it's all about our operation, as well. Making sure not just offensive line, tight ends, running backs, quarterbacks, receivers, making sure we're operating on time, we're efficient with our offense – and that helps, as well."
When these two teams played in Week 16, Garret had just three tackles and two of them were for a loss of yards. Those two tackles for loss did not come against Laremy Tunsil, who has, yes, you read that right, dominated the matchup dating back to 2018.
According to Next Gen Stats, Tunsil has allowed just one pressure in 40 matchups against Garrett dating back to 2018, which is the lowest pressure rate (2.5%) allowed to the potential DPOY over that time frame in a minimum of 40 matchups.
There is a reason Tunsil gets paid the big bucks – he shuts down the other guy who gets paid the big bucks. I think that's a huge reason they move Garrett around off of Tunsil at times and likely will on Saturday. This matchup will be a fun one to watch, but it's one that the Texans are hoping history repeats itself.
Texans sign LT Laremy Tunsil to another historic contract
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