Texans vs. Patriots Notebook: DeMeco's Defense Shines, Stroud Struggles

Thursday night proved to be insightful for DeMeco Ryans and the Houston Texans in their preseason debut. Here's what we learned in their win vs. the New England Patriots.

With a 20-9 smooth-sailing victory over the New England Patriots Thursday night in Foxborough, the Houston Texans have officially made their introductory statement. 

Yes, the weight of a preseason contest isn't nearly the same as a regular-season game. But for the Texans, who have waited since the NFL draft to show off some of their stars and roster additions, every game matters. 

That means that Thursday's contest, as well as the other two to follow before the regular season kicks off, will be important to coach DeMeco Ryans' squad — especially in their first season under the former defensive coordinator. 

So, following Houston's "first game" of this season, here's what we learned (and still have yet to learn): 

1. DeMeco's Defense is Legit

While most of the Texans-Patriots spotlight was focused on rookie C.J. Stroud and his NFL debut, anybody who sat and paid attention to the game saw that it was Houston's defense that earned the young team a victory. 

Apart from a last-minute score that produced just six points after a failed 2-point conversion, the Texans kept the Patriots completely at bay. New England was held to just 180 total yards — not crossing the century mark either rushing or passing. Though they didn't force any turnovers, they didn't need to. Ryans' defensive unit did its job and passed the torch to the offense. 

Henry To'oTo'o had himself a night, recording a team-high five total tackles while three other Houston defenders — headlined by Denzel Perryman, who recorded one of the Texans' three sacks — followed suit with four each, making for a generally well-rounded effort. 

Defense swarming with 3 TFL and a sack so far 🤘 pic.twitter.com/Pxvu8JnggU

— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) August 10, 2023

Thursday was a strong example of what having a defensive-minded coach can look like, and though it's way-too-early to make any definitive statements, Houston fans could begin to get used to a San Francisco 49ers-type defense in the coming years, especially with the amount of youth that side of the ball features.

2. C.J. Stroud Has Already Begun His Learning Curve

It's a good thing that the Texans defense showed exactly what it was capable of for all four quarters. Had it not, any Houston fans present in Foxboro most likely would have had a rough night on their way out of the stadium. 

Once again, it is just the preseason. Any and all definitive statements should be taken with a grain of salt, but Stroud didn't exactly have the debut he'd likely imagined. After appearing for just two offensive possessions at the beginning of the game, Stroud headed to the bench with an interception to his name and a passer rating of 17.7 — not great for any rookie looking to dazzle spectators. 

Stroud's lone pick didn't make matters any better, especially given that he only threw four total passes, but that was likely due to the pressure he was facing, both literally and figuratively.

#Texans rookie CJ Stroud throws an interception in his opening drive to #Patriots CB Jalen Mills

A bit of a forced throw there.pic.twitter.com/XmN5Bei7mx

— JPAFootball (@jasrifootball) August 10, 2023

Coming into an NFL game with expectations of taking a team to the next level isn't a walk in the park, and Stroud was a big example of that. Even though he didn't perform as well as anyone on the Texans sideline hoped, it's not likely a sign of what's to come.

It'll take time for the rookie to get acclimated to the faster-paced NFL, but if the Texans liked what they saw from Stroud throughout the combine process, there's certainly reason to believe that his performance will only improve from here.

3. Juice Scruggs Is Primed for a Rude NFL Awakening

Losing two offensive line starters prior to the beginning of the regular season isn't an ideal situation for any NFL team to be in, especially when both the likely starting quarterback and one of two first-option running backs are in their first two seasons.

Scott Quessenberry was the first to be ruled out for Houston, tearing both his ACL and MCL during team practice, effectively ending his season before it even began, while Tytus Howard suffered a hand injury that is set to keep him "out for a while."

So, where does that leave the Texans? The answer is with Juice Scruggs — Houston's No. 62 overall pick. 

Scruggs, while he has been getting reps in practice for weeks leading up to the Texans' preseason debut, hasn't experienced the pressure of an NFL game, until Thursday. After both Quessenberry and Howard went down with an injury, Scruggs was thrown into the starting position alongside some of Houston's other young stars. 

The lack of offensive line experience altogether kept all three quarterbacks on their toes throughout the night, but despite the lack of success for Stroud, the protection was enough to give Houston the edge. Scruggs played a large role in that. 

In the time he spent blocking up front, he looked settled in and as relaxed as he could be, which says a lot given the intensity of his position. He proved himself capable of adjusting to bigger responsibilities, which overall will be beneficial for his development. That's entirely good news, especially since the Texans rookie will likely be getting his number called upon much more frequently in the coming weeks. 

That doesn't make the job any less jarring, however. Scruggs is in for a long journey.

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