Bijani: Observations & game-changing plays from Texans' 22-17 win over the Broncos

(SportsRadio 610) - The Texans' playoff hopes are still very much alive thanks to another grind-it-out victory over the Denver Broncos.

Sunday afternoon’s 22-17 win marked the their eighth consecutive game that’s been decided in the final two minutes and they improved to 5-3 during that stretch (7-5 on the season).

Entering week 14, the Texans are one of four 7-5 teams within the AFC and the only one currently on the outside looking in at the playoff picture. The journey is nearing its end and if the previous two months are any indicator, it’ll be a wild finish.

Below is a look at some of the biggest plays that impacted the outcome of the game on Sunday:

It's scary for the rest of the league.

Will Anderson Jr. got off to a fast Sunday afternoon. Within the first two defensive series, Anderson had recorded his fourth sack of the season, hit Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson twice and tipped a punt which set the Texans up with great field position, which the offense turned into three points.

The rookie edge rusher finished with five tackles, including two for loss, two sacks, eight pressures, four quarterback hits and a pass deflection that led to a Derek Stingley Jr. interception.

The way he affected the game on Sunday was reminiscent of Texans legend J.J. Watt. He’s got a long way to go, but the former Alabama standout is rounding into form and starting to see results in the stat sheet.

Over his last five games, Anderson has compiled four sacks, five tackles for loss, nine QB hits and 20 pressures.

This was one of my favorite plays he made Sunday. This dude is an absolute DAWG.

Derek Stingley Jr. recorded four pass deflections and two interceptions in Sunday's victory. It was the third consecutive game Stingley recorded an interception. He has four during that stretch, including eight pass deflections.

On a second-and-six from the Broncos' 36-yard line, Wilson tried to link-up with receiver Courtland Sutton on a deep ball down the right sideline.

Stingley, playing the deep-third in coverage, allowed Sutton to keep inside leverage after the double-move, almost baiting Sutton into thinking he’d be home free. Stingley swooped in and plucked the ball out of the air.

It was probably the smoothest pick I’d ever seen in-person.

In just his second game back with the Texans, Desmond King II continues to make a significant impact on the defense.

Last week against the Jaguars, during his only snap, King made a touchdown saving tackle near the goal line before halftime.

On Sunday afternoon, making his first start of the season, King led the Texans in tackles with nine, including one for a loss.

King also forced a fumble and returned it for a touchdown, but the refs botched the call. I’m including it anyway, because King made a badass play.

The Texans' fourth-year defensive end recorded one sack, two quarterback hits and one tackle for loss in Sunday’s win.

Greenard, who’s been a consistent, disruptive force this season, got to Wilson in the third quarter for a seven-yard loss, which forced a punt. It was Greenard’s eighth sack of the season, tying his career-high.

The Texans have been one of the best offenses in dialing up explosive plays through the air this season. Heading into Sunday's game, the Texans ranked 10th in the NFL with 27 plays that went for at least 20 yards in the air.

Against the Broncos, they hit on five more plays that went for at least 24 yards, including two that went for more than 50 yards, both to Nico Collins.

CJ Stroud completed 16-of-27 passes for 274 yards and one touchdown. For the season, Stroud has thrown for 3,540 yards, 20 touchdowns and only five interceptions.

Tight end Brevin Jordan, getting his first significant playing time of the season with Dalton Schultz out due to a hamstring injury, caught three of his four targets, including two passes that both went for at least 24 yards.

Jordan finished with three catches for 64 yards.

Nico Collins had the game of his NFL life. The third-year receiver hauled in nine of his 12 targets for 191 yards and a touchdown.

The dude has been an absolute machine in this offense and should certainly begin to command at least a little more respect in coming weeks with Tank Dell out for the remainder of the season.

Despite the Texans incurring numerous injuries on the offensive line and routinely missing key pieces on defense this season, the loss of Tank Dell is easily the biggest gut-punch the team has taken thus far.

Dell fractured his left fibula while blocking down on a three-yard touchdown run by Dameon Pierce, late in the first quarter.

In 10 games this season, the explosive rookie was all but assured to eclipse one-thousand receiving yards, but finishes with 47 receptions and 709 yards, including seven touchdowns.

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Texans rookie WR Tank Dell carted off field against Broncos with fractured fibula

I had to save the best for last. Jimmie Ward was terrific on Sunday. His presence in the secondary has a similar effect what Stroud does offensively. If he’s healthy and can play, he’s going to make plays that make a difference.

Ward, playing in his first game back since injuring his hamstring a month ago, finished with six tackles, a pass deflection and the game-saving interception with 16 seconds left in the ballgame.

However, as clutch as that interception was, Ward came up with a touchdown saving tackle earlier in the possession when he brought down Broncos receiver Courtland Sutton, who looked to be off to the races after hauling in a 32-yard pass from Wilson.

Denzel Perryman was giving chase and there’s no telling if he’d have caught up to Sutton.

Similarly, who knows what transpires in the waning seconds of the games final play, if not for Jonathan Greenard forcing Wilson out of the pocket.

I’m going to go out on a limb and assume that Broncos third-string tight end Lucas Krull, was not the first option on that third-and-goal pass attempt.