The Houston Texans are preparing to host the dangerous Denver Broncos this Sunday at 1 p.m. ET on CBS. They understand that they face a daunting task in doing so: the NFL’s best pass-rushing squad. Led by Vance Joseph’s defensive mind, the Broncos have earned a fearsome reputation for pressure and chaos on the quarterback. This season, they have one of the best pressure rates in the league at 45.9%.
Broncos’ defensive strategy, which utilizes good masking to create unblocked pressures, making it difficult for opposing offenses to time up and locate these players. When they’re sending a five-man rush, their pressure rate jumps all the way up to 51.8% — good for second in the league. Even with four defenders, they manage to compile an astounding 42% pressure rate. This percentage ranks as the highest in the league.
The Ravens’ O-line is facing the team in the league that gets after QB’s the most. As they enter Week 9, they’re currently sitting fifth in the league in scoring defense (18.9 points per game) and fifth in total yards allowed (281.4/ ypg). Joseph’s defensive unit has been terrific in generating unblocked pressures, ranking second in the NFL in this regard.
Joseph’s knowledge of offensive protections, particularly his ability to identify weak points, has been a critical factor in the Broncos’ success this season. He was with the Texans in the role from 2011-2013. At the time, he was on the coaching staff with Texans linebacker DeMeco Ryans.
Jonathon Cooper has been one of the brightest surprises on this defense, as he’s tied for seventh in the league with six sacks on the year. In tandem with him, teammate Boogie Allen leads all of college football in quarterback hits, doubling up on the harassment that offensive signal-callers must endure.
Despite the brutal matchups, the Texans put on a hugely impressive performance vs the San Francisco 49ers. They went on to win 26-15! The offensive line played a pivotal role in that win, successfully paving lanes in the run game and protecting quarterback C.J. Stroud. In fact, Stroud faced just a 21.4% pressure rate during that game, his lowest of the year.
Texans players know that technique is key to having any success going up against a defense as stout as Denver’s. Offensive lineman Aireontae Ersery said, “At the end of the day it’s all about technique,” pointing to their emphasis on the basics. One area of focus for Mayfield was avoiding self-inflicted gunshot wounds in pass pro. He even added, “A lot of the sacks that Bonitto gets are not because of some great move, it’s because the tackle messes himself up. We don’t hurt ourselves. We’ll be good.
Head Coach DeMeco Ryans acknowledged the challenge presented by the Broncos’ defensive front, noting that they must “really strain to get them blocked up front — knowing that they’re a really solid group and really solid on the inside as well.” This sentiment was echoed by Stroud, who remarked on the resilience of Denver’s defense: “[Denver] does a good job of playing relentless. They don’t give up. They play really tough.”
To ensure success against this fierce pass rush, Texans players are focused on maintaining clear communication and executing their assignments effectively. Tytus Howard emphasized the importance of teamwork: “Everybody on the same page should be good. Just stay inside out on pass [protection]. Take care of the five guys on the line.”
Ryans reiterated the need for his team to stick to their fundamentals: “We just have to play our technique. Don’t overthink it, just play our technique.”
The Texans are in preparation mode for their upcoming showdown with the Broncos. They’re not lacking confidence heading into this week’s test against what many perceive to be the league’s most intimidating defense. Their recent winning streak and dedication to precision will be key elements as they charge towards another superb victory this Sunday.
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