In the Houston Texans’ 24-21 win over the Tennessee Titans Sunday afternoon at Nissan Stadium, the team captured early momentum in the second quarter on a big defensive play.
Quarterback Ryan Tannehill dropped back and targeted Anthony Firkser on a pick route. Texans safety Justin Reid read the play and exploded like a rocket launcher into the tight end’s chest. The ball popped out, finding itself in outside linebacker Whitney Mercilus’ outreached arms.
Mercilus took the ball 84 yards down the field. Two plays later, the Texans scored the first touchdown of the game; the offense and Mercilus can thank Reid for making the play.
He knew what he was doing.
“When we saw the formation we lined up well,” Reid said postgame. “We saw that play in film, and the coaches did a great job of preparing us. I didn’t want to guess it so I played my rules, but when I saw the way he (Firkser) skipped off the line of scrimmage I knew he was running a little rub route.
“So I was going to meet him at the point at the goal line and I knew it was either going to be him or me, and I know he’s not going to score on me. I put my shoulder on the ball and ended up popping it up.”
Reid won’t get credited with the interception. Mercilus now has two on the season. However, he was clearly the catalyst to the success of — or lack thereof, if you’re reading in Nashville. However, his focus isn’t on the statistic; it’s the momentum gained.
“The awareness by Whitney Mercilus to be there, catch the ball, and take it I don’t know how many yards,” Reid said. “It was a turning point in the game and really gave the team a lot of juice and momentum.”
The juice and momentum led to a victory that now, paired with a win over the final two weeks, will deliver the Texans their second consecutive AFC South title and sixth in franchise history.
