Houston Texans cornerback Bradley Roby is chomping at the bit to take on New Orleans Saints receiver Michael Thomas when the two sides square off Sept. 9 at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on Monday Night Football.
Roby and Thomas have a history together as they both played college football at Ohio State. Roby was a first-round pick for the Denver Broncos in 2014, and Thomas a second-round selection for the Saints on Nov. 13, 2016.
The two faced each other once already in the NFL as the Broncos bested the Saints 25-23. Thomas caught four passes for 40 yards and lost two fumbles. Roby had two combined tackles, two pass breakups, and forced one of those Thomas fumbles.
“I’m looking forward to the second time,” Roby told reporters Thursday. “What do I see in him? He’s a big target, great hands, great size, has a great relationship with [quarterback] Drew (Brees) and he’s very successful.”
Thomas produced 125 catches for 1,405 yards and nine touchdowns last season, and it helped him earn a five-year, $100 million contract in the preseason.
Houston faces the Saints in the raucous confines of the Mercedes-Benz Superdome, where Roby and the Broncos beat Thomas and the Saints in 2016.
“I love big-time games, especially night games,” Roby said. “A couple years ago I had an interception in our night game opener. I look to have a couple of big plays this game as well.”
The Texans will need Roby and the defense to slow down the high powered Saints offense, which produced 504 points in the NFL last year, the third-most across the league.
