Opposing Viewpoint: 5 Questions (and Answers) About Texans

[Viktor]

The Vikings offense finally got going in Week 3, as both Dalvin Cook and Justin Jefferson had career games. What did the Texans defense say this week about going up against that double threat?


DS: Bill O'Brien and J.J. Watt both had high praise for Dalvin Cook for his speed, quickness and excellent vision. The Texans have struggled against the run, and Cook will be a main focus for the defense. Watt said that facing Cook would be "a challenge that we look forward to accepting." Defensive Coordinator Anthony Weaver said the priority this week is to limit Cook's rushing yardage and to combat big-play threats like Jefferson and Adam Thielen.


"It's a very, very difficult challenge," O'Brien said. 'We're going to have to do a good job of fundamental football. Setting the edge, playing good gap control and then tackling. If he gets into the secondary or gets around the edge, he's got great speed, so you're going to have an issue. We have to do a great job."


Obviously, the Texans have never faced rookie Justin Jefferson, but he's definitely gaining attention with that breakout game against Tennessee. O'Brien and the Texans do have some familiarity with his style, having studied him during the draft process.


"Definitely studied him a lot," O'Brien said. "He's an excellent player. He's having a really good rookie year. Him and Adam Thielen – those are two really, really good players. Thielen being a veteran receiver and just a very productive receiver and then Justin's come in as a rookie – to play receiver like that as a rookie is really, really difficult. He's doing a great job and he's going to be hard to handle."


And finally, Bill O'Brien was hired in 2014, the same season Mike Zimmer. They will coach their 100*th*regular-season games with their teams on Sunday. After winning four division titles in six seasons, including 2018 after an 0-3 start, how is he trying to rally this year's team?


DS: Well, no two seasons are alike, but O'Brien has been asked about that other 0-3 start (the Texans went on to win nine games in a row and made NFL history as just one of a handful of teams to overcome 0-3 to make the playoffs) back in 2018. It's not the same team, O'Brien notes. The Texans certainly know that every season is different, and you can't rely on a nine-game win streak to turn things around. However, they know they have the talent but they need to play with consistency and just work. O'Brien's philosophy after a loss is to just get back to work, clean up the mistakes and have a solid week of preparation and practice. Offensive Coordinator Tim Kelly wants to achieve more balance between the run and pass, and Defensive Coordinator Anthony Weaver is dedicated to stopping the run and forcing turnovers. The seasons may be different, but the philosophy in 2018 and in 2020 is the same, just take it one day, one week, one game at a time, stacking good days every day. It's been a strange offseason, but the Texans have shown improvement each week. They just need to put it all together for a full 60 minutes.