The Houston Texans are trying to rise to the top of the AFC and the top of the NFL. They are oh so close, but to claim that title, they will need to beat the Detroit Lions, one of the best teams in the entire NFL, and an offense that seems unstoppable, with a nice defense to help, too. The Texans will be down a bit with injuries, but so will the Lions. So, this is a big game for Houston.
The Texans have a great coaching staff in place to prepare them for anything. This Lions team is good, and there may even be some players that the average fan, or any fan, really knows about. They are deep, too. So, to get a better feel for the Lions and how their season is going, I spoke with A to Z Sports’ Mike Payton who covers the Lions.
4 burning questions for the Texans vs. Lions SNF matchup
The Lions are one of the best teams in the league, yet it still feels like QB Jared Goff isn’t getting the recognition he deserves. What do you think he is doing that has elevated his game so much?
Confidence and trust have always been a big thing for Goff. He lost it at the end of his run with the Rams, but it’s never been higher than it is right now. He trusts all his guys and he has a ton of confidence. The game has really slowed down for him and it shows.
If the Texans’ defense was to make any noise in this game, what area do you think that would come in?
Honestly, I’m not sure. This offense has been tough to stop. I’d say the best way to stop it is to do what Tampa did and try to make them one-dimensional.
Since Hutchinson has been out, how has the defensive line played, and do you think this is a good get-right game for them?
It’s not been great. The Lions are sorely missing Hutchinson’s constant pressures that he was bringing. They’ve been piecing things together for the last few weeks and it’s not been good enough. Za’Darius Smith was a much-needed add.
Who is one player that you think Texans fans may not know about that they need to for this game specifically?
Trevor Nowaske has been really fun to watch in the last few weeks. He’s the Lions’ new SAM linebacker who took over for the injured Derrick Barnes. He’s managed to get some big stops as well as putting up two sacks and an interception in the two-and-half games he’s been a starter.
The Houston Texans need this win. After this game, they are set to take on the Dallas Cowboys in a Lone Star showdown. Then they will face some tough divisional opponents in the Tennessee Titans and Jacksonville Jaguars.