(SportsRadio 610) - Once again, the Texans showed they like living on the edge.
And they’re driving their fans to the edge of insanity.
For the eighth game in a row, a Texans’ game was decided in the last 30 seconds, most recently Sunday’s victory over Denver at NRG Stadium, where safety Jimmie Ward intercepted quarterback Russell Wilson with 9 seconds remaining. Ward made a leaping interception in the back of the end zone, wrestling the ball away from tight end Adam Trautman to preserve a 22-17 victory.
“I think that's why they have that red zone channel – it comes down to that last moment every single week,” coach DeMeco Ryans said. “Every game seems like it's within (one) score.”
Although the Texans were excited to win, their celebration was tempered because they lost rookie receiver Tank Dell when he suffered a season-ending fractured fibula that’ll require surgery. He was injured blocking in a scrum that helped Dameon Pierce score on a 3-yard touchdown run up the middle.
“It really hurts losing Tank,” Ryans said. “No one replaces Tank. Everybody around him has to step up and do their part – be their best in whatever role, whatever area, we ask them to. It takes everyone. When you lose a guy who brings that emotional lift to your team, it's going to take everyone to dig a little deeper and do a little better.”
Even without Dell, Noah Brown or Robert Woods catching a pass – not to mention Dalton Schultz being inactive because of a hamstring injury – C.J. Stroud still threw for 274 yards and a touchdown. He didn’t have an interception and closed with a 106.1 rating.
The Stroud-Nico Collins collaboration was one for the ages. Collins had catches of 59, 52 and 39 yards. He finished with nine receptions for 191 yards and a touchdown.
“Nico shows up every week,” Ryans sad. “I tell Nico, ‘You're a big-time playmaker – believe it. Go put it on display every week,’ and he continues to show up for us. Big-time deep threat.”
Dell is one of the many starters the Texans have lost this season because of injuries, but the team is still thriving because of players like Collins, which is a testament to excellent coaching and the resiliency of the players.
The Texans increased their record to 7-5. They remained in a second-place tie with Indianapolis in the AFC South, trailing Jacksonville. The Texans ended the Broncos’ five-game winning streak and left them with a 6-6 record.
The Texans have five games left – at Jets, at Titans, Browns, Titans, at Colts. That last games in Indianapolis could have playoff implications.
The Texans benefited Sunday from four players who excelled – Stroud, Collins, defensive end Will Anderson Jr. and cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. All were outstanding and essential to the victory.
Anderson and Stingley ignited a defense that allowed 282 yards, including 118 rushing, no third down conversions on 13 tries, sacked Wilson three times and intercepted him three times.
Anderson was magnificent with two sacks, two tackles for loss four hits on the quarterback, eight pressures, five tackles, one tipped pass that resulted in a Stingley interception and a tipped punt that traveled 22 yards.
“He wreaked havoc today,” Ryans said. “That's what we envisioned when we selected Will, and to see him show up in a big-time game (and) really being an impact player – that’s who Will is.”
Since he returned from injured reserve three games ago, Stingley has four interceptions, including two Sunday – both exceptional catches.
“To see Stingley show up for the third consecutive week is big time,” Ryans said. “We continue to see his growth and his playmaking ability. He's an impact player.”
Stingley tormented Wilson, who entered the game with 20 touchdown passes, four interceptions and a 4-0 record against the Texans. He now has 21 touchdowns, seven interceptions and a 4-1 record against the Texans.
Denver came in with a league-best 22 takeaways and left with the same number. The Texans elevated their turnover differential to plus-7.
The Texans made enough mistakes to allow the Broncos to stay within striking distance. In the first half, Stroud took them to Denver’s 11, 20 and 20 without scoring a touchdown, instead settling for three Matt Ammendola field goals.
There were a lot of impact plays that impressed the coaches and players. For instance, running back Dare Ogunbowale fell on a fumble that could have changed the complexion of the game. Stroud threw an incredible pass – a perfect floater running to his left to tight end Brevin Jordan for a 14-yard gain – and Jonathan Greenard chasing Wilson and putting a lot of pressure on him to set up Ward’s game-saving interception.
“What a play by Jimmie,” Ryans said. “First it starts with J.G. (Greenard) and his pressure on Russell. Then Jimmie had to go up and secure the ball. Once he (Wilson) let it go, I saw Jimmie was underneath, and he went up with both hands and pulled it down. It was a big-time play.”
Ward, who followed Ryans from the 49ers, returned to the lineup after missing three games with a hamstring injury.
“It's great having Jimmie back, and you see his impact on our team,” Ryans said. “I’m super-excited for our guys. We talked about how we had to strain. We knew it was going to be a tough battle, and we fought to the end. We had opportunities to make plays, and guys stepped up.”
Guys on both sides of the ball and special teams. It’s the kind of complementary football that’s earning the surprising Texans a lot of well-deserved compliments around the NFL.
John McClain can be heard Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday on SportsRadio 610 and Monday, Thursday and Sunday on Texans Radio, also on SportsRadio 610. He writes five columns a week and does three Houtopia Football Podcasts for SportsRadio610.com.