HOUSTON – Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud will break the huddle Saturday, walk to the line and scan a Los Angeles Chargers defense dotted with talent at all three levels.
Whether it’s veteran defensive ends Khalil Mack, Joey Bosa and Bud Dupree, sack leader Tuli Tuipulot or blitzing All-Pro safety Derwin James, the Chargers have manufactured a formidable group of pass rushers.
They rank sixth in the NFL with 46 sacks heading into an AFC wild-card round playoff game against the Texans at NRG Stadium.
The trenches is likely where this football game will be decided. And it’s up to a revamped Texans offensive line that allowed Stroud to be sacked 52 times to keep him standing and comfortable in the pocket.
That includes rookie right tackle Blake Fisher holding up as he contends with a variety of bull rushes, speed rushes and a more exotic repertoire of pass rushing moves.
“They’re all really solid players,” Fisher said. “But at the end of the day, I think it will still come down to what we do in the position we put ourselves in to be able to block them. It’s some really good players, it’s going to be a good matchup and it’s going to be a lot of fun out there. Getting the experience and the reps the past four weeks, it definitely has helped tremendously.
The Chargers defense, designed by defensive coordinator Jesse Minter, is built around squeezing the pocket and harassing the quarterback.
Although it’s been a quieter season for Mack and Bosa in terms of sack production with six sacks and five sacks, respectively, they have combined for 28 quarterback hits. Tuipulotu leads the team with 8 1/2 sacks. And James is tough to stop with his speed and instincts as a rusher who has racked up 5 1/2 sacks. Dupree has six sacks, one interception and one forced fumble
The Chargers lead the NFL in fewest points allowed and rank 11th in total defense, seventh against the pass.
And linebacker Daiyan Henley has 147 tackles, seven for losses and eight passes defensed as one of the top young players at his position.
“Derwin jumps off on film,” Stroud said. “I think he’s having almost his best year of his career rushing the quarterback, playing in nickel, safety, doing great in coverage. He’s definitely, I feel like, one of the best players on the team along with Bosa and Khalil Mack and Daiyan, who is one of my friends, is playing really well as well. And then they have a good back end, a good d-line as well. So, really just all around, they’re really good. But that’s what the playoffs are. It’s their best versus our best and got to do our best to handle what they’re going to do and play hard and try to execute every play as best as we can.”
The Texans have plugged in Juice Scruggs, previously the starting center and left guard, at right guard in place of an injured Shaq Mason, who’s out with a Grade 2 knee sprain. He’ll line up next to Fisher, center Jarrett Patterson, left guard Tytus Howard and Pro Bowl left tackle Laremy Tunsil.
Mack and Bosa have combined for 179 1/2 career sacks. They present a difficult challenge in protection.
“Their defensive line does a really good job of mixing guys in, different guys rushing,” Ryans said. “They do a really good job of sending a lot of different pressures, a lot of different guys in a lot of different spots. They have done a great job there to generate pressure.
“It may not even be a four-man rush but collectively all those guys have done a great job. You can throw Derwin in there as well as a rusher, he is one of the better blitzers in the league. He has done a really good job. They have a really good collection of talented guys who can get after the passer.”
It was a solid debut for Scruggs, previously at left offensive guard before he got hurt against the Jacksonville Jaguars, and at center to begin the season before issues with line stunts and blitzes led to another position change. Now, the former second-round draft pick from Penn State is adjusting on the fly as the Texans had a successful game in a 23-14 win over the Tennessee Titans to close out the regular season with no sacks on Stroud in one series as he completed every pass and had a touchdown to Nico Collins.
“Definitely a little different, but just trying to get comfortable,” Scruggs told KPRC 2. “I feel like we had a good game, good direction, getting ready for the real season: the playoffs.”
Heading into an AFC wild-card round playoff game Saturday against the Los Angeles Chargers at NRG Stadium, the Texans rushed for 207 yards on 29 carries with backup running back Dameon Pierce rushing for a career-high 178 yards, including a 92-yard touchdown run that’s the second-longest run in franchise history and the longest run of any back in the NFL this season.
And starting quarterback C.J. Stroud wasn’t sacked during his six throws, all completions, during a game-opening drive he capped with a touchdown pass to wide receiver Nico Collins. Backup quarterback Davis Mills was only sacked once.
“I think it was a smooth day,” Tunsil told KPRC 2. “We always have that next man up mentality and we have already gelled as a unit. It’s just plug and replace.”
How the Texans protected the quarterbacks and blocked for the running game can represent something of a blueprint in the postseason.
“That’s when real football starts,” Tunsil said. “Next game, next opponent, let’s get it. I think this is when we take the next step. We all knew it was in DP. We’re not surprised at all he had the performance he had. He’s well-respected.”
It’s an approach the Texans have been hoping for all season. This is how they hoped to play football, with physicality and a downhill running style.
“We’ve been wanting to do that all year,” Scruggs said. “Definitely good to go out like that. And shoutout to DP. It’s been a long season for him, but he just kept his head down and kept working. Definitely confidence to come out against a good front like that and be able to run the ball, definitely a confidence boost going into the playoffs. You’ve just got to keep building. That’s winning football right there.”
After arguably their best performance of the season, the Texans offensive line needs to play even better against the Chargers.
“They really have good players at every level of the defense,” Texans offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik said. “I know the ends in particular, they have four that are all really good. Obviously, Bosa and Khalil have been really good for a very long time. They have played a lot of football, and it shows on tape, constant pressure, constant impact in the run game and what they do to edges.
“Then, Derwin James and what they do with him and all different places he shows up om the field, he is on the line of scrimmage, he is in deep defense, he is active in the pass game. He is a really good blitzer. They do a great job moving him around and using his as a weapon in their defensive scheme. Then, making sure they can isolate their edge rushers and roll all four out there to create problems for you.”
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