The Houston Texans defense was going against a Tampa Bay Buccaneers offense captained by quarterback Jameis Winston that would be feast and famine, not one or the other. Because of how wide open Winston is, second in the NFL with 30 touchdown passes and first in the NFL in interceptions entering Week 16, the Texans were going to get their opportunities.
defensive line
The pass rush wasn’t as prolific as the defensive line didn’t sack Winston. Outside linebacker Whitney Mercilus managed 2.0 while nose tackle Brandon Dunn notched 1.0 himself. The run game also got going with 106 yards and a touchdown produced on 21 carries. Defensive tackle D.J. Reader had three tackles and a quarterback hit. Rookie defensive end Charles Omenihu had an illegal chop block on Justin Reid’s interception return that would have given Houston back-to-back pick-sixes to start the game. Angelo Blackson added three tackles, and Omenihu managed a pass breakup.
Grade: B
linebackers
The linebacking corps was playing without a Pro Bowler in inside linebacker Benardrick McKinney, which meant they would have a vulnerability in the middle. However, Peter Kalambayi had a solid performance with two tackles. Zach Cunningham played like his Pro Bowl alternate self with a team-high six tackles and a pass breakup. Mercilus added 2.0 sacks along with four tackles, two quarterback hits, and a tackle for loss. Brennan Scarlett added a pass breakup. Tyrell Adams had a forced fumble along with five tackles.
Grade: B+
cornerbacks
The cornerbacks got beat on some of Winston’s throws. After all, he couldn’t have thrown for 335 yards if someone wasn’t getting beat, nor could Breshad Perriman not led the game with seven catches for 102 yards. However, the corners took advantage of Winston’s chancy passes. Roby’s pick-six to open the game was a big confidence boost and set the tone on defense, even though Winston did recover and kept driving the ball downfield. Johnathan Joseph added an interception to take the franchise lead with 17. Gareon Conley added two pass breakups, and Vernon Hargreaves in his return to Tampa added a tackle for loss among his three tackles.
Grade: A
safeties
The safeties did a good job of capitalizing on Winston’s mistakes, but they had a few of their own as tight ends O.J. Howard, Codey McElroy, and Cameron Brate produced three catches for 46 yards, one catch for 30 yards, and two for 11 yards respectively. Still, Justin Reid was able to come up with an interception on the Buccaneers’ second drive of the game that resulted in three points for Houston, and Jahleel Addae added an interception on the Bucs’ second to last drive of the game. Tashaun Gipson had five tackles.
Grade: A
special teams
Kicker Ka’imi Fairbain connected on field goals of 32, 25, and 37. On a fourth-and-7 from the Tampa Bay 36 late in the first quarter, Fairbairn, rather than attempting a 54-yard field goal, punted a ball 26 yards to pin the Buccaneers inside their own 10-yard line. Fairbairn also connected on both of his extra points.
Bryan Anger had five punts on the afternoon and averaged 48.2 yards with his longest going for 55 yards. Three of Angers’ punts landed inside the 20-yard line.
DeAndre Carter had just one return of any kind — a punt return — and it went for 10 yards. Carter had another opportunity at a punt return go out of bounds, and all five of the Bucs’ kickoffs went for touchbacks.
Dare Ogunbowale had five kickoff returns for 74 yards with the longest going for 18. Only one of Fairbairn’s kickoffs were touchbacks.
The Bucs’ punt return game had a chance at two of Anger’s punts, but they went for a total of three return yards.
Defensive end Angelo Blackson did it again: he blocked a field goal. In doing so, he is the only player this season to have multiple field goal blocks, and he is the first Texans player since J.J. Watt in 2013 to have multiple field goal blocks in the same season.
