Texans’ Zach Cunningham is the inside linebacker that can do it all

Houston Texans defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel likes what he has seen from inside linebacker Zach Cunningham in his third NFL season.

Inside linebacker Zach Cunningham doesn’t just lead the Houston Texans with 128 tackles, but he is the top tackler in the AFC.

The third-year defender from Vanderbilt has grown since the Texans selected him in the second round of the 2017 NFL draft. With two games left in the regular season, defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel can properly evaluate that growth.

“He has really good ability, he has instincts, he has a knack for knowing when to go behind the block, when to go over top of the block and when to take on the block,” Crennel told reporters Wednesday. “He can do all of those very well and has been doing it very well, and that gets him to the football.”

With the way some 3-4 inside linebackers play, they are forced to take on a blocker and free up others to make plays, kind of like an extension of the interior line play. However, according to Crennel, Cunningham can do it all.

“Zach has the ability to do it all,” said Crennel. “Then, what that does is that causes the lineman who’s blocking him some indecision. ‘Is this guy going to go behind me, is he going to go over the top or is he going to hit me in the earhole?’

“You don’t know which one you’re going to get, but Zach has that instinct to make the right move.”

In addition to his 128 tackles, Cunningham has collected 2.0 sacks, seven tackles for loss, three quarterback hits, two fumble recoveries, and a pass breakup in his 14 starts.

On Tuesday evening, Cunningham was named a Pro Bowl alternate. Certainly Cunningham, along with the rest of the Texans, are hoping to use Sunday, Jan. 26, 2020 as a prep day for Super Bowl LIV in Miami Gardens, Fla., rather than play in the NFL’s all-star game.

Throwback Thursday: Texans beat Bucs in 2011, but lose Matt Schaub

The last time the Houston Texans faced the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on the road, they lost their starting quarterback.

Being in different conferences, the Houston Texans and Tampa Bay Buccaneers rarely get a chance to play. The last time they did so was in 2015, and the Texans vanquished the Bucs and rookie quarterback Jameis Winston 19-9 for Houston’s first win of the season in Week 3.

The Texans have not traveled to Tampa to face the Buccaneers since 2011. On that Nov. 13 for Week 10, Houston picked up their seventh win of the season as part of a 10-6 campaign that delivered the Texans their first AFC South crown and postseason berth.

In a blacked-out bout in the Bay, the Texans beat the Buccaneers handily, winning 37-9 in a game that was never in doubt.

Houston scored on long drives, with Arian Foster, Ben Tate and Derrick Ward each scoring rushing touchdowns. The Texans’ first three scoring drives spanned 80, 80 and 90 yards.

The Texans’ then-No. 1 ranked defense looked the part. In turn, promising young quarterback Josh Freeman did not. He threw three interceptions, recording a measly 33.7 passer rating in the process. A rushing attack led by LaGarrette Blount could not get anything going.

By all means, the Texans dominated the Bucs. They won the battles of first downs (21 to 12), total yards (420 to 231), turnovers (four to zero) and time of possession (35:06 to 24:54).

However, they lost.

In the win, the Texans witnessed the collapse of a promising season. Their quarterback, Matt Schaub, suffered a Lisfranc injury when the massive Albert Haynesworth landed on his foot, breaking it in the process.

Schaub’s season was done. Matt Leinart replaced him. The Texans sunk into oblivion. Haynesworth, meanwhile, failed to show remorse.

“You know me, I love to hit Schaub,” Haynesworth said, via The Tennessean.

Schaub had one good season after the injury. However, that 2011 season that showed a hint of promise for a Super Bowl ended in Tampa Bay.

On Saturday, the Texans are looking to prop-up this year’s Super Bowl run. Again, it will run through Tampa Bay. Luckily, Haynesworth does not reside on the opposite sideline.

Texans LT Laremy Tunsil accomplishes childhood goal with Pro Bowl selection

Houston Texans left tackle Laremy Tunsil accomplished a goal from his childhood when he made the 2020 NFL Pro Bowl on Tuesday evening.

Laremy Tunsil can take out a Sharpie, fly to Lake City, Fla. and cross out a life-long goal on a list that remains pasted on the wall of his parents’ house.

The Houston Texans left tackle earned his first Pro Bowl nod on Tuesday. In doing so, he accomplished one of the goals he had as a child,

“It’s been a goal since I was a kid, man, to be in the Pro Bowl, and I achieved it,” Tunsil said on Wednesday. “There’s always more goals to be achieved, and I want to be in as many Pro Bowls as I can, so I’ve got to keep putting the hard work in and keep going.”

In middle school — specifically seventh grade — Tunsil wrote down a list of goals that he wanted to accomplish in his football career, which included making the Pro Bowl, being drafted and earning a scholarship to play.

“I wrote down all my goals and I put on a sheet of paper and I glued it on my wall back in my hometown,” Tunsil said. “It’s still there. I should take a picture of it.”

It didn’t take long for Tunsil to accomplish many of his goals. A left tackle protigé coming into his Ole Miss career, the 25-year-old transitioned smoothly to the NFL

Following a season of playing left guard for the Miami Dolphins, Tunsil moved full-time to left tackle in 2017, where flourished. For two seasons, he gave South Beach consistent play at the position. The Texans noticed by deciding to mortgage their future in a trade to acquire him.

In Houston, Tunsil is now recognized as one of the NFL’s best with the Pro Bowl honor. Now, he’s making sure this isn’t the last time he accomplishes a long-standing goal.

“I want to be able to go to as many Pro Bowls as I can,” Tunsil concluded, “so I can’t be just stuck on this one.”

Texans win and they’re in: NFL playoffs scenarios for Week 16

The Houston Texans are in the playoffs if they beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. See the other NFL playoffs scenarios for Week 16.

In the penultimate week of the regular season, there are playoff scenarios aplenty. The fun part for the Houston Texans is that they are a part of the conversion as opposed to being apart from it.

houston texans

texans-get-run-game-going-again — Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

The Texans are in the playoffs by virtue of winning the AFC South if they beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Saturday at 12:00 p.m. CT at Raymond James Stadium.

Another scenario has the Texans winning the division if they tie with the Buccaneers and the Tennessee Titans tie with the New Orleans Saints on Sunday at Nissan Stadium.

Another scenario has the Texans winning the division if they lose and the Titans also lose.

The Texans can get a playoff berth, but not necessarily win the division, if they tie and the Steelers tie, or if the Steelers just flat out lose.

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If you’re in the red, you’ll see the Ravens vs Browns on CBS in Week 16

The Baltimore Ravens can be seen nearly everywhere this week as they take on the Cleveland Browns on CBS.

The Baltimore Ravens have a lot to fight for this week as they take on the Cleveland Browns. They can clinch the top seed in the AFC playoff picture, granting them a first-round bye and home-field advantage throughout the postseason. Plus they can enact a little revenge on the last team to beat them this season, offering up a slice of humble pie to a division rival.

Combine the intrigue of the matchup with the electric Lamar Jackson and you have the perfect recipe for a must-watch game. It’s why you’ll be able to watch the Ravens take on the Browns nearly everywhere in the country, according to 506sports.

If you’re in the red, you’ll see the Ravens play in Week 16.

NFL Week 16 broadcast map:

█ Baltimore @ Cleveland

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5 bold predictions for Ravens vs. Browns in Week 16

It’s the most important game of the season for the Baltimore Ravens. In Week 16 against the Cleveland Browns, the Ravens can clinch the No. 1 seed, which will come with a first-round bye and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. As a rematch …

As a rematch of Week 4 — the last loss Baltimore had this season — it’s not going to be an automatic win. But the writers here at Ravens Wire believes Baltimore will still do plenty of big and bold things this week.

Take a look at our bold predictions for Week 16 when the Ravens take on the Browns.

Matthew Stevens:

The Ravens lose

This is all about bold predictions and what’s more bold for a team that has destroyed quality opponents than losing to a 6-8 team? But there’s a real reason to be concerned about this week, even if losing is considered shocking to some.

As we saw in Week 4, Cleveland has the defensive talent to limit Baltimore’s offense a little bit. And if the Browns can get out of their own way, their offense could arguably be one of the best in the league with deep talent at all the skill positions. They have all the right parts to deal the Ravens their first loss in 11 weeks but it’ll take Cleveland playing angry, physical and efficient football for all 60 minutes — something they haven’t done very often this season.

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Texans OC Tim Kelly thinks Deshaun Watson, DeAndre Hopkins perform on every stage

Houston Texans QB Deshaun Watson and WR DeAndre Hopkins are always performing at a high level, regardless of how many eyeballs are watching.

Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson and receiver DeAndre Hopkins have been stellar in all four of the team’s nationally televised games this season, posting a 3-1 record.

Watson has collected passer ratings of 114.3, 120.4, 104.6, and 140.7 in bouts with the New Orleans Saints in Week 1 on Monday Night Football, the Jacksonville Jaguars in London in Week 9, the Indianapolis Colts in Week 12 on Thursday Night Football, and the New England Patriots on Sunday Night Football in Week 13.

Week 16’s Saturday encounter with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers is part of a nationally televised triple-header on NFL Network, which can only mean the tandem is set to have another explosive game. However, offensive coordinator Tim Kelly believes the two Pro Bowler perform at a high level regardless of the television audience.

“I think they’re good together in every game they play,” Kelly told reporters Wednesday. “They’re two great players that work hard to be on the same page and are able to go out there and make plays consistently.”

Hopkins caught eight passes for 111 yards and two touchdowns in Week 1, eight passes for 48 yards and a score in Week 9, six catches for 94 yards and two scores in Week 12, and five catches for 64 yards in Week 13, including a 6-yard touchdown pass to Watson.

Still, Kelly thinks every game matters to Hopkins and Watson; they don’t mean any more or any less.

Said Kelly: “I think every game they come out there and it’s the most important thing in the world for them to go out there and play well and win. I think those two guys are two of the more competitive players that I’ve ever been around and they come out and they fight to the very end.”

Watson, Hopkins, and the rest of the Texans will be fighting to the last whistle against the Buccaneers. A win over the 7-7 NFC South club will deliver Houston their sixth AFC South title in franchise history, and the second-most in the history of the division behind the Indianapolis Colts’ seven. More importantly, it will get the Texans in the tournament where anything can happen.

Start/bench list: Week 16

It’s title time! Utilize our Start/Bench list for setting your fantasy lineups in Week 16.

Player analysis and projections can be found in our Start/Bench Tool customized to your myHuddle league scoring and rosters.

All player listings by groups are in no particular order.

Key: Upgrade / Downgrade

QUARTERBACKS			RUNNING BACKS			WIDE RECEIVERS
Player	Opp		Player	Opp		Player	Opp
BEST BETS			BEST BETS			BEST BETS
Drew Brees	@TEN		Joe Mixon	@MIA		DeAndre Hopkins	@TB
Lamar Jackson	@CLE		Chris Carson	ARI		Courtland Sutton	DET
Deshaun Watson	@TB		C. McCaffrey	@IND		Michael Thomas	@TEN
GREAT STARTS			GREAT STARTS			GREAT STARTS
Jameis Winston	HOU		Marlon Mack	CAR		Tyreek Hill	@CHI
Ryan Tannehill	NO		Saquon Barkley	@WAS		Terry McLaurin	NYG
Drew Lock	DET		Nick Chubb	BAL		Will Fuller V	@TB
SOLID STARTERS			M. Gordon III	OAK		Davante Adams	@MIN
Jared Goff	@SF		Ezekiel Elliott	@PHI		Julio Jones	JAC
Russell Wilson	ARI		Raheem Mostert	LAR		Breshad Perriman	HOU
Kirk Cousins	GB		SOLID STARTERS			SOLID STARTERS
Patrick Mahomes	@CHI		Kareem Hunt	BAL		DJ Moore	@IND
Dak Prescott	@PHI		Alvin Kamara	@TEN		Christian Kirk	@SEA
Philip Rivers	OAK		Le’Veon Bell	PIT		James Washington	@NYJ
FRINGE FANTASY PLAYS			Austin Ekeler	OAK		Julian Edelman	BUF
Baker Mayfield	BAL		Derrick Henry	NO		Golden Tate	@WAS
G. Minshew II	@ATL		Dalvin Cook	GB		Stefon Diggs	GB
Matt Ryan	JAC		Tarik Cohen	KC		Adam Thielen	GB
Jacoby Brissett	CAR		Latavius Murray	@TEN		Keenan Allen	OAK
Sam Darnold	PIT		D. Washington	@LAC		DK Metcalf	ARI
Kyler Murray	@SEA		Todd Gurley II	@SF		A.J. Brown	NO
Carson Wentz	DAL		L. Fournette	@ATL		Robert Woods	@SF
Aaron Rodgers	@MIN		Kenyan Drake	@SEA		Darius Slayton	@WAS
M. Trubisky	KC		James White	BUF		Diontae Johnson	@NYJ
SIT ‘EM IF YOU GOT ‘EM			Phillip Lindsay	DET		Tyler Boyd	@MIA
R. Fitzpatrick	CIN		Miles Sanders	DAL		Cooper Kupp	@SF
Andy Dalton	@MIA		Aaron Jones	@MIN		Tyler Lockett	ARI
Jimmy Garoppolo	LAR		Adrian Peterson	NYG		Mike Williams	OAK
Tom Brady	BUF		Mark Ingram II	@CLE		Jarvis Landry	BAL
David Blough	@DEN		FRINGE FANTASY PLAYS			Amari Cooper	@PHI
Devlin Hodges	@NYJ		Chris Thompson	NYG		Jamison Crowder	PIT
Will Grier	@IND		Duke Johnson Jr.	@TB		Robby Anderson	PIT
Derek Carr	@LAC		David Montgomery	KC		DeVante Parker	CIN
Josh Allen	@NE		Devonta Freeman	JAC		A. Robinson II	KC
Dwayne Haskins	NYG		Ronald Jones II	HOU		FRINGE FANTASY PLAYS
Daniel Jones	@WAS		Boston Scott	DAL		Kelvin Harmon	NYG
Eli Manning	@WAS		Sony Michel	BUF		Brandin Cooks	@SF
TIGHT ENDS			LeSean McCoy	@CHI		Tre’Quan Smith	@TEN
TIGHT ENDS			D. Singletary	@NE		Deebo Samuel	LAR
Player	Opp		James Conner	@NYJ		Curtis Samuel	@IND
BEST BETS			Patrick Laird	CIN		John Ross	@MIA
Travis Kelce	@CHI		SIT ‘EM IF YOU GOT ‘EM			Willie Snead IV	@CLE
George Kittle	LAR		Peyton Barber	HOU		Tyrell Williams	@LAC
GREAT STARTS			Gus Edwards	@CLE		Cole Beasley	@NE
Zach Ertz	DAL		Mike Boone	GB		Justin Watson	HOU
Jared Cook	@TEN		Jordan Howard	DAL		Dede Westbrook	@ATL
SOLID STARTERS			Bo Scarbrough	@DEN		Zach Pascal	CAR
Mark Andrews	@CLE		Jaylen Samuels	@NYJ		Marquise Brown	@CLE
Kaden Smith	@WAS		Nyheim Hines	CAR		L. Fitzgerald	@SEA
Darren Waller	@LAC		Wes Hills	@DEN		Danny Amendola	@DEN
Tyler Higbee	@SF		Carlos Hyde	@TB		Emmanuel Sanders	LAR
Noah Fant	DET		David Johnson	@SEA		Sterling Shepard	@WAS
Jacob Hollister	ARI		Matt Breida	LAR		Kenny Stills	@TB
O.J. Howard	HOU		Darwin Thompson	@CHI		O. Beckham Jr.	BAL
FRINGE FANTASY PLAYS			Frank Gore	@NE		Chris Conley	@ATL
Hunter Henry	OAK		Qadree Ollison	JAC		Corey Davis	NO
Dallas Goedert	DAL		DEFENSIVE TEAMS			Michael Gallup	@PHI
Jason Witten	@PHI		DEFENSIVE TEAMS			Anthony Miller	KC
Jonnu Smith	NO		Team	Opp		Kenny Golladay	@DEN
Kyle Rudolph	GB		BEST BETS			T.Y. Hilton	CAR
SIT ‘EM IF YOU GOT ‘EM			Broncos	DET		SIT ‘EM IF YOU GOT ‘EM
Greg Olsen	@IND	Patriots	BUF	Ishmael Hyman	HOU
Jimmy Graham	@MIN	GREAT STARTS		John Brown	@NE
Mike Gesicki	CIN	Colts	CAR	Chris Godwin	HOU
Dawson Knox	@NE	Texans	@TB	J. Smith-Schuster	@NYJ
Darren Fells	@TB	Seahawks	ARI	DJ Chark Jr.	@ATL
Jack Doyle	CAR	SOLID STARTERS		J. Arcega-Whiteside	DAL
Gerald Everett	@SF	Steelers	@NYJ	Josh Reynolds	@SF
		Redskins	NYG	Greg Ward	DAL
		Falcons	JAC	Russell Gage	JAC
		Bills	@NE	Steven Sims Jr.	NYG
		Ravens	@CLE	Mecole Hardman	@CHI
		Chiefs	@CHI	Albert Wilson	CIN
		49ers	LAR	Marcus Johnson	CAR
		Rams	@SF	Randall Cobb	@PHI
		FRINGE FANTASY PLAYS		Sammy Watkins	@CHI
		Saints	@TEN	Allen Lazard	@MIN
		Cowboys	@PHI	Adam Humphries	NO
		Chargers	OAK
		Packers	@MIN
		Vikings	GB
		SIT ‘EM IF YOU GOT ‘EM
		Jaguars	@ATL
		Browns	BAL
		Bengals	@MIA
		Dolphins	CIN
		Buccaneers	HOU
		Panthers	@IND
		Titans	NO
		Lions	@DEN
		Bears	KC
		Cardinals	@SEA
		Eagles	DAL
		Raiders	@LAC
		Jets	PIT
		Giants	@WAS

How can the Texans take advantage of Buccaneers QB Jameis Winston’s penchant for picks?

Tampa Bay Buccaneers QB Jameis Winston leads the NFL in interceptions, and Houston Texans DC Romeo Crennel knows how to exploit that vulnerability.

Houston Texans defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel sees the whole package when looking at Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston.

The former 2015 first-round pick from Florida State has a penchant for a giveaway every game, as he leads the NFL with 24 interceptions. However, he did throw for 458 and 456 yards in his previous two outings.

“900 yards in two games is not bad,” Crennel told reporters Thursday. “Sometimes people can live with a pick or two if you can throw for 900 yards.”

Even if Buccaneers coach Bruce Arians and offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich can live with it, the fact is Winston’s play presents opportunities for defenses. With the Texans needing a win over Tampa Bay to clinch the AFC South, they will need to entice the Pro Bowler into throwing a few ill-advised passes.

“We look at it and see what we think the reason for the mishap is,” Crennel explained. “Sometimes, he and the receiver are not on the same page. He sees one thing, the receiver sees something else and then boom, the ball gets thrown and it gets intercepted. But generally, when he’s on the same page with the receiver, it’s a completion and so I don’t think that you can count on them not being on the same page.”

Winston could have to find a whole new book as top receivers Chris Godwin and Mike Evans were placed on injured reserve Wednesday. If Winston, who has thrown 10 interceptions over his last five games, is going to have the same issues with ball security, then the Texans defense will have to be on their game, especially given that they are tied for the fifth-fewest picks in the league with eight.

“You have to do your job, put yourself in position and then if it happens that you have the opportunity to make a play, you make a play,” said Crennel.

Texans’ Laremy Tunsil is everything you look for in a left tackle

Houston Texans left tackle Laremy Tunsil is everything you want in an offensive tackle, says offensive coordinator Tim Kelly.

In his fourth year in the NFL and his first with the Houston Texans, left tackle Laremy Tunsil made the Pro Bowl.

For offensive coordinator Tim Kelly, that should come as no surprise. Tunsil, who stands at 6-5, 315-pounds with 34-1/4-inch arms, is a prototype.

“He’s really athletic,” Kelly said on Wednesday. “He’s got great feet. He’s a physical player, and he’s got good length. He’s just really everything you’re looking for in a left tackle.”

To the rest of the NFL, Tunsil’s recognition as a Pro Bowler also doesn’t come as a surprise. Entering the NFL out of Ole Miss in 2016, he earned praise as the best overall prospect in his draft class.

A monumental blunder caused Tunsil to drop to the Miami Dolphins at No. 13, where he was considered a steal and instant franchise left tackle. For three years, he was just that, until the Texans came calling with a bundle that included two first-round picks.

The Dolphins struck a deal to send Tunsil to Houston and the rest is history. The 25-year-old is playing the part of one of the best in the NFL, carrying an outstanding 89.9 Pro Football Focus pass-blocking grade while also paving lanes for the NFL’s seventh-ranked rush offense.