Texans defense bounces back in 20-13 win over the Saints

HOUSTON — One week after looking absolutely lost at times during the 21-19 loss to the Atlanta Falcons, the Houston Texans defense bounced back to help defeat the New Orleans Saints by a score of 20-13 at NRG Stadium.

Although the defense allowed Derek Carr to finish the game with 353 yards passing, it was not an efficient game for him as he looked sluggish running the offense at times due to the amount of pressure the Texans put on him throughout the game.

“It was on us,” said defensive end Jonathan Greenard. “The offense went out and put points on the board early, and we came out a little sluggish, which going forward we know we can’t do that. We bounced back and made up for that. There is a lot of things that we need to clean up, but it is good to go in the bye week with a win.”

Along with Greenard (7), Will Anderson Jr. (7) and Jerry Hughes (7) were credited with 26 pressures, tied for the third most by any team this season, according to NFL’s Next Gen stats. The linebacker group also held their own against Saints running back Alvin Kamara, who has seen his production increase since his return from his three-game suspension to start the year. He was held to 104 yards from scrimmage and was blanketed all day by Blake Cashman. The fifth-year veteran finished the game with a combined 15 tackles (nine solo).

“[Blake] Cashman has done a great job for us,” said Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans. “He had a lot of tackles today, flying around all over the field. Really great in the passing game. He’s done a really good job showing up and making big-time plays for us when we need it most. I’m proud of ‘Cash’ [Blake Cashman] and his development. What he provides is confidence. When we’re out there in passing situations, we know he plays really well in coverage. He’s done a great job of tackling and just playing sideline to sideline.”

From his first press conference when he was hired by the Texans earlier this year, Ryans, the former defensive coordinator for the San Francisco 49ers, has preached unity and communication on the defensive side of the ball. Through the first five weeks, it has been an up-and-down battle to get all the defenders on the same page, and throughout the game on Sunday, it looked as if players were a half-step off from each other until the Saints’ final three offensive possessions of the game.

“I think the main difference from last week to this week was the communication was on point,” said Texans CB Shaquill Griffin after the game. “We didn’t have no panic. #Texans #Sarge @TheTexansWire pic.twitter.com/1G7jgGSIvu

— #SARGE (@BigSargeSportz) October 16, 2023

Houston held a slim seven-point lead in the fourth quarter, which may have seemed like a minor obstacle for New Orleans to overcome with their number of offensive weapons. The Texans held them out of the end zone late in the third quarter as the Saints came away with no points after a missed field 29-yard field goal by kicker Blake Grupe.

On their next drive, New Orleans got inside the red zone but turned the ball over on downs after cornerback Shaquill Griffin and Cashman stopped Kamara on 4th and four from the 15-yard line. They threatened to tie the game up on their final possession, reaching the Texans 24-yard line, but cornerback Steven Nelson ended their hopes with an interception

“I think the main difference from last week to this week was the communication was on point,” said Griffin after the game. “We didn’t have no panic. No panic in our blood this whole game, and everybody was talking. It wasn’t just the D-line [Defensive Lineman], it wasn’t just the linebackers, it was everybody as a whole. I even seen coach trying to get an extra call. So, the communication was key, and when you have that, it makes the game so much easier, and it worked out just right.”

Houston heads into the bye week at 3-3, which matches their win total from the 2022 regular season.