The Baltimore Ravens get a near clone of themselves in Week 11 when they take on the Houston Texans. With a quarterback also in the discussion for the NFL’s MVP award, a tough rushing attack and a defense that has gotten the job done but hasn’t necessarily looked the greatest along the way, the Ravens are in for a taste of their own medicine.
To get a closer look at what Houston has going for them this season and where Baltimore might look to attack, I turned to Texans Wire managing editor Mark Lane.
1) Deshaun Watson has been having a great season but has also had a few mediocre games. How have opposing defenses been able to contain him in those efforts?
2) J.J. Watt is on injured reserve. How has Houston tried to replace his production on the field?
It’s just been one game since the loss of Watt to a torn pectoral. They have the capability to do so with outside linebacker Whitney Mercilus, who has 5.5 sacks on the season. Defensive tackle D.J. Reader, who is in a contract year, was playing with force prior to the injury to Watt. It will be interesting to see if he was merely benefiting from the presence Watt commanded, though coaches and Watt himself have been high on him for the past two seasons. Rookie defensive end Charles Omenihu, taken in the fifth-round from Texas, is an intriguing contributor with each of his two sacks coming with forced fumbles. Whereas Watt was a presence throughout the game, the Texans’ pass rush may benefit more from leads the offense can generate than just intrinsically providing a pass rush.
3) The Texans field the fourth-best rushing attack in the NFL with Carlos Hyde, Duke Johnson and Watson leading the way. How is Houston mixing up the run game to such great results?
The Texans have committed to Hyde being the feature back and have also decided to get Johnson involved in the action. Watson can provide read-option threats, especially in the red zone. What has helped is the offensive line’s cohesion is the best it has been since 2016. Furthermore, coach Bill O’Brien has always had a commitment to the run, even when it hasn’t been there. As a result, when the passing game is clicking, it opens up the run. Both have a success that is intertwined, but Hyde has done a fabulous job of stepping in for injured RB Lamar Miller, lost for the year with a torn ACL, and excelled at the feature back role.
4) The Texans’ pass defense ranks 29th but has had some positive games this season. What’s worked for them, and where have they faltered?
Houston is tied with Tampa Bay and Washington for the 10th-fewest sacks overall with just 21. They have not been able to get to the quarterback, and that is just with one game without J.J. Watt. Tight ends have not had success against them with 366 receiving yards by tight ends, the fifth-fewest in the league, and just two touchdown grabs allowed, tied for the fifth-fewest. That has been due to their safety tandem of Tashaun Gipson and Justin Reid. One could even throw in Jahleel Addae into the mix because he has done a great job in the rotation and filling in for Gipson when he has missed due to injury. The cornerback group has battled injuries since Week 6 with hamstring issues hitting Johnathan Joseph and Bradley Roby, a concussion knocking out Lonnie Johnson in Week 7, and that culminating in a trade for Gareon Conley with the Oakland Raiders. Some of the problems have been injury-related, and some of the problems have been personnel-related.
5) What’s your final score prediction, and which Houston players have the biggest positive and negative impacts on the outcome?
Watson is going to have the biggest positive offensive impact on the game. If the Ravens shut down WR DeAndre Hopkins or the secondary deletes TEs Jordan Akins and Darren Fells, Watson will find the open man or try to beat Baltimore with his legs.
O’Brien could have the biggest negative impact if he doesn’t get a flow for the game and feel for the play-calling.
Ravens 28, Texans 26
