(SportsRadio 610) - When the Texans play the Colts on Saturday night, there could be more at stake than clinching a playoff berth and possibly winning the AFC South title.
Although the coaches and players will be focused on winning and reaching postseason for the first time since 2019, the game at Lucas Oil Stadium is the Texans' first chance to showcase the team before a primetime television audience, and they get to do it on ESPN and ABC.
Next week, a committee votes on awards for the Associated Press. Quarterback C.J. Stroud is the frontrunner for Offensive Rookie of the Year. End Will Anderson Jr. is second for Defensive Rookie of the Year. DeMeco Ryans and Nick Caserio are legitimate candidates for Coach of the Year and Executive of the Year.
None care about the awards in comparison to beating the Colts and finding out Sunday if they're division champions or a wild card team -- depending on what happens to Jacksonville at Tennessee -- but it would be a testimonial to the draft and a successful season if the Texans can sweep the rookie awards as the Jets did last year with receiver Garrett Wilson and cornerback Sauce Gardner.
Stroud has an 8-6 record as a starter. He has 3,844 yards, 21 touchdown passes, five interceptions and a 99.0 rating. He's trying to hold off the Rams' surging receiver, Puka Nacua (101 catches, 1,145 yards, five touchdowns).
Anderson (6-3 ½, 260) is closing on Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter, the early favorite because Philadelphia was almost unbeatable with a 10-1 start before losing four of its last five. During that five-game stretch, the Eagles have surrendered 31 points a game, and Carter and the defensive line haven't been as dominant.
Anderson has a sprained ankle that allowed him to play only 12 snaps in Sunday's 26-3 victory over the Titans, but the damage he did was astonishing. Despite playing so few snaps, Anderson had two sacks and six pressures.
"I thought that was awesome," defensive coordinator Matt Burke said. "It was a hard week for him. He was in some pain. We wanted to limit the spots we were putting him in to do that. I think it's a testament to his preparation, his toughness – everything he went through during the week to get to that spot. We, obviously, feel strongly about Will as a player, so when he has those (opportunities) to rush and do those things, we've seen a lot of success from him."
If Anderson can produce that kind of performance on national television – with a lot of AP voters watching – it could move him closer to Carter and possibly overtake the Eagles' tackle in the voting. Imagine the exposure it would bring to the Texans if they could have the offensive and defensive rookies of the year.
In his weekly media session, Burke was asked to make a case for Anderson to be voted Defensive Rookie of the Year.
"Besides the stats -- the sacks and pressures and everything (like) the run numbers – he's a complete player," Burke said. "It's about who he is as a person and how he's approached being part of this team, being a leader. I couldn't think of a better person to represent all the ideals we're trying to build here as an organization, as a team. He embodies all of that. You want to talk about a complete package -- character, work ethic, toughness. All the things he brings to the team are just immeasurable."
With one game left in the season, it's interesting to see how Anderson compares to Carter, who's had the advantage of playing for a 2022 Super Bowl team on a lot of nationally televised games.
Anderson has seven sacks. Against the Titans, he broke the team record of six that was shared by Whitney Mercilus and Brooks Reed. According to Pro Football Focus, Anderson's overall grade is 83.0, including 80.1 against the run and 77.3 rushing the passer. Carter's overall grade is 86.2, including 65.2 against the run and 84.3 rushing the passer.
Anderson has 70 pressures, third behind Dallas' Micah Parsons and Las Vegas' Maxx Crosby. He has 18 pressures in his last three games. He also has 36 hurries, according to PFF. Anderson has helped the Texans come within one sack against Indianapolis of breaking the team record of 45 shared with the 2015 team.
Now, let's look at Carter's PFF grades: 86.2 overall, including 65.2 against the run and 84.3 rushing the passer. Carter has 44 pressures and 33 hurries. He has six sacks. C
Carter has six sacks. He graded in the 90s in two of his first three games but has been as high as 80.0 once in his last eight games. He's been 80-plus four times, including three in his first seven games.
By comparison, Anderson has graded 80-plus four times and has reached 80 in two of his last three, including a season-high 92.1 in Sunday's victory over Tennessee. For what it's worth, Anderson has been more impressive – statistically, at least -- during the stretch drive than Carter has been. That doesn't mean he'll win the award, but he's got a chance against the Colts to enhance his chances.
Burke and DeMeco Ryans don't know how many snaps Anderson will play at Indianapolis, but they know they'll get the very best of what he has to offer.
"Will's a tough player," Ryans said. "He's a competitor, an impact player. When he hasn't been there, we've missed him. He's a guy you have to try to hold back from not going on the field, and that's the mindset you want from all your players. He has that relentless mindset that he's going to be out there no matter what, and he's going to find a way to help us win games. Love Will for his mindset, love him for his toughness and just his will to win. I'm really proud of the season he's having."
Whenever Anderson is asked about his terrific rookie season, he's quick to credit his coaches and teammates, which is another reason they respect him so much.
"None of this happens without those guys in the (defensive line) room," Anderson said. "God has brought me a lot of great men in that room, and they've been really supportive of me, helping me along the way. When I'm down, they pick me right back up. I've got to give credit to (tackles). Without them, we don't eat on the edge. It's all of us working together and rushing as one. We've been doing a good job of that lately. That's one of the main goals we (have) as a line. Nobody's going to rush selfishly – play for each other and have fun."
Even though the Texans are playing their most important game of the season against the Colts, they're trying hard to approach it like any other.
"Coach (Ryans) always talks to us about staying on edge, never being comfortable (and) never being satisfied," Anderson said. "I think that's what makes this team so full of grit and hunger. Coach talks about emptying the tank -- everybody flying around and having fun. You have a bunch of guys on the same page (with the) same mentality. It's like everybody enjoys being around each other. A lot of great personalities, a lot of great players, and I've been blessed to be a part of all this history that's taking place here."
And maybe that history will include a victory on Saturday and awards for offensive rookie, defensive rookie, head coach and executive of the year.
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.
