Texans aggressive defense feasts against Titans

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – In a joyful mood as gospel music lent a triumphant sound inside a victorious locker room, Texans safety Jalen Pitre kept asking a playful, curious question.

The Stafford graduate wanted to know what the Texans’ defensive line has been eating.

Whatever meal the linemen consumed before kickoff Sunday, it must have given them a lot of energy because the front four feasted on Tennessee Titans rookie quarterback Will Levis. Levis didn’t finish the game due to a leg injury as an aggressive defense recorded a season-high seven sacks to go with a dozen tackles for losses and 11 quarterback hits overall during a 19-16 overtime victory.

“Whatever they ate today, they need to let me know,” Pitre said. “Whatever they did last night, they need to let me know because they was balling. They made my job real easy. I’m thankful for those guys. I owe them guys. They did their thing today. They ate. They was out there looking like they was starving. They showed out.”

Beyond what they did to Levis, including veteran cornerback Steven Nelson intercepting him on a pass intended for former Texans All-Pro wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins, they completely stonewalled a running back who normally dominates the Texans. Derrick Henry, one of the best and biggest running backs in the league, had nowhere to go as he was repeatedly tackled behind the line of scrimmage. He rushed for nine yards on 16 runs, an average of 0.6 yards per carry. He had just 10 overall yards from scrimmage.

“It was tough sledding,” said Henry after his string of 200-yard rushing games against the Texans came to a screeching halt. “They were the better team on each side of the ball today. They did a great job. They had a great plan. They stopped the run effectively, and we didn’t do well enough on our side.”

The Titans finished with just 204 yards of total offense, averaging a paltry 3.2 yards per play as they went 5 fot 15 on third downs and rushed for just 66 yards on 30 carries.

“Defense played great today, got after the quarterback, kept down the explosive plays, held them in the run game,” Ryans said. “All day, the defense was playing really good football. Nelson showed up big time with the interception and the pass breakup there in overtime. Play after play, our defense stood up and made a play.

“Stingley played well for us, Christian Harris had a really good game. He was playing physical, flying around. Desmond King played really well for us. Just everybody, did a really good job. We’re really proud of the D-line because that’s where it starts, the way they were able to get pressure on Levis. It was awesome defense by everybody.

Although the Texans were playing without rookie defensive end Will Anderson Jr. due to a high-ankle sprain, linebacker and leading tackler Blake Cashman because of a strained hamstring and other key players, including rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud, it didn’t matter.

The Texans, led by defensive end Jonathan Greenard’s 2 1/2 sacks and defensive tackle Maliek Collins’ 1 1/2 sacks along with nickel Desmond King’s team-high 11 tackles and middle linebacker Denzel Perryman’s 10 tackles, cut the Titans off nearly completely.

“We have a deep group,” Ryans said. “One thing we talk about, one thing we preach is it doesn’t matter who’s out there. Of course, we miss C.J., we miss Will, we miss Blake. A lot of guys were out, and our guys didn’t blink, it didn’t matter. Whoever steps on that field we expect our guys to give their best, and that’s what they did today.”

Hopkins was coming off a prolific game in a win over the Miami Dolphins.

Against Nelson and cornerback Derek Stingley Jr., he had a quiet game with two catches for 21 yards despite being targeted a team-high nine times. Nelson leapt high into the air and intercepted a pass intended for Hopkins despite wearing a cast on his cracked wrist.

“I read the quarterback’s eyes,” Nelson said. “I kind of knew what the main option was. I came off it and made a play. We worked really hard during the week to limit explosive days. I think we all did a good job. The defensive line did a hell of a job to limit Derrick Henry and get after the quarterback.”

Manufacturing an epic comeback after falling behind 13-0 as quarterback Case Keenum threw an early interception returned for a touchdown, the defense combined with a Keenum touchdown pass, 121 rushing yards from running back Devin ‘Motor’ Singletary, eight catches and a score by wide receiver Noah Brown and four field goals, including a 54-yard game-winner by kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn was enough to pull out the win and improve to 8-6 overall.

“Love those guys,” Singletary said of the defense. “The D-line was hunting, the DBs was locking up. When we needed them most, they just kept showing up.”

Regardless of who was on the field, the Texans’ defense made a lot of plays.

King had a sack in overtime.

Starting in place of Anderson, former Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Derek Barnett had a sack and two quarterback hits. When safety and team captain Jimmie Ward left the game with a concussion, Adrian Amos and DeAndre Houston-Carson filled in capably.

“The show must go on whenever we’re getting dubs like this, but we always thinking about those guys,” Greenard said. “I mean, they did a lot for us to get us to this point. We just had to basically carry the torch for them and let them know that it’s all right and we still got their back.”

Told about Pitre’s question, Greenard laughed. His first answer was the Texans are dining on opportunities with no chip blocking leading to him “licking my chops because I could finally get a true rush.”

The Texans completely overwhelmed the Titans’ offensive line.

It was a total mismatch.

And Greenard is now up to a career-high 12 1/2 sacks in the final year of his rookie contract.

“Listen, we will revisit this at end of the season when we tally them all up,” Greenard said. “I’m just continuously going to continue to work, get the opps, and continue to work on my craft, so that way I can just continue to work on myself and be whatever, no matter who you put in front of me. I’m going to continue to do what I do. Obviously we’re going to continue to strive for them dubs and the sacks, and the stats and numbers will come.”

Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com