Career game from Texans WR Noah Brown earned top PFF grade

Houston Texans receiver Noah Brown picked up recognition from Pro Football Focus for his career game in Week 9.

While the Week 9 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers did well to add more verses to the ballad of C.J. Stroud, the 39-37 thriller was also very productive for Houston Texans receivers.

According to Lauren Gray from Pro Football Focus, Noah Brown was the highest graded receiver on the Texans in their comeback against the Bucs.

Houston won a hard-fought battle against Tampa Bay to improve to 4-4 on the season. C.J. Stroud set a rookie passing record with 470 yards, and three Texans finished with 100-yard receiving games. Brown led the way with a career-high 153 receiving yards. All of his first down gains came in the second half, including three explosive gains for 134 yards. Brown recorded 106 yards from 20-plus yards downfield (second) and 148 total yards in the second half (first). He also finished with a perfect target rating for the week.

What helped Brown post career numbers was a 75-yard catch wherein rookie Tank Dell sprung a block that allowed Brown to continue streaking down the left sideline. The one-play, 75-yard touchdown drive with 12:32 to go in the third quarter pulled Houston within four, 20-16.

On the season, Brown has caught 14 passes for 267 yards and a touchdown through four games, one of which he has started.

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Houston Texans QB C.J. Stroud named AFC Offensive Player of the Week after Bucs comeback

Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud earned AFC Offensive Player of the Week honors following the 39-37 comeback against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud earned well deserved attention following the team’s 39-37 comeback win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The NFL announced Wednesday Stroud as the AFC Offensive Player of the Week. The No. 2 overall pick went 30-of-42 for 470 yards and five touchdowns, including a 15-yard touchdown pass to receiver Tank Dell with 48 seconds left to seal the victory.

Coach DeMeco Ryans told reporters Nov. 6 that the rookie is earning the trust of his teammates continually. Nevertheless, although Stroud displays otherwise veteran qualities, there is still a higher ceiling for the former Ohio State product.

“I think trust is earned, and C.J. has earned that trust by showing it on the practice field, proving it to his teammates,” Ryans said. “You build that trust over time, and C.J. has built that trust amongst his teammates, amongst the coaching staff that we can put a little bit more on him. He’s still a rookie, still has things to learn and things to grow from each and every week, but he’s doing a really good job of just growing throughout the year. So, I’m pleased with that growth process.”

The Texans get back in action Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals for a 12:00 p.m. Central Time kickoff from Paycor Stadium.

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Houston Texans’ win over Bucs had cinematic qualities

The Houston Texans’ 39-37 thriller over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers had the elements of a cinematic masterpiece.

The Houston Texans won a thrilling contest on Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 39-37 that brought their record to 4-4 and put rookie coach DeMeco Ryans firmly in position to make a playoff push over the next two months.

The win has brought visibility to a previously hapless Houston franchise, nearly guaranteed quarterback C.J. Stroud the Offensive Rookie of the Year award and changed the conversation on the place of the Texans franchise overnight. It was a nearly perfect win for Houston in both composition in outcome.

In fact, it was nearly story book perfect.

If the idea of a Texans Cinematic Universe was previously a term used to mock a franchise that deluded itself into bad decisions, Sunday’s victory was one where the NFL script writers decided that Houston deserved a win of nearly unrealistic proportions.

To begin, the protagonist, or hero, emerged in an absolutely triumphant fashion. Stroud, the newest franchise quarterback for Houston, not only delivered a performance worthy of the mantle but gave one of the greatest quarterback performances in team history. He threw for 470 yards and five touchdowns while completing 30 of 42 attempts including a dazzling game-winning drive with under 50 seconds to play.

Houston’s franchise player made a definitive statement that he was capable of serving that role and could be the caliber of player to carry the Texans back into relevancy. The hero of the story if there ever was one.

Next, the group assembled. Whether it’s the Fellowship of the Ring or the Avengers, there’s a point in every good story where the team assembles around their protagonist. Houston’s surrounding offensive cast had no problem doing that on Sunday.

Nico Collins, Tank Dell, Dalton Schultz, and Noah Brown all caught touchdowns through the contest, with the latter three going over 100 receiving yards. The chemistry with Dell was apparent, as Stroud often looked at No. 3 on pivotal third downs and even the game winning touchdown.

“Tank, unbelievable explosive play there to their sideline, and then for those two to connect again with the touchdown,” Ryans said after the game. “That connection and that bond that I think Tank and C.J. have, it’s real. You see it off the field, on the field.”

Stroud himself was quick to credit his supporting cast for helping to bevy him to his historic performance.

“It’s just a matter of us being able to — all 11 — play together, protect, give ourselves time to make those plays,” Stroud said after the game. “And the receivers, when their number is called, it’s time for them to step up and make the play, and that’s what they did.”

Stroud had an appreciation for the way his cast of pass-catchers were able to deliver when called upon.

Said Stroud: “When their number was called today, they made big-time plays, whether it’s the catch and run aspect of it or being able to complete deep shots down the field.”

Of course, the win couldn’t have been truly cinematic without some shred of doubt thrown at the hero. That came in a definitive way when kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn was forced to exit the game with a quad injury. It not only hampered Houston’s ability to score in increments of seven, but it also meant they were unable to kick field goals for most of the game.

That was until, of course, they did.

Dare Ogunbowale, the team’s fourth string running back and largely a special teams ace, stepped up to kick a 29-yard field goal attempt and miraculously converted. It was the first non-kicker field goal since Wes Welker in 2004 and the kind of twist that nobody could have ever expected in Houston’s winning game script.

Ryans didn’t hold back from giving Ogunbowale his due credit.

“Dare, he stepped up big time for us,” said Ryans. “For him to be able to kick off as many times as he did, create some touchbacks, but also for him to kick the field goal. We were confident he could make it from there, and he proved us right. Credit to Dare.”

Ryans finished with emphatically stating that, “He’s truly the player of the game.”

It was an unbelievable twist that nobody would have believed if they’d been told before the game. The kind of team performance and in-game storylines that only happens in movies. Where does the piece of near cinema leave the Texans?

It looks like they may just have the cast to be a successful franchise, not the film kind but the organization type that thrives in the NFL. Stroud as the protagonist, with a team of unlikely heroes and some Ryans magic assisting in the perfect moments.

Fans can watch the sequel on Sunday at 12:00 p.m. Central Time when Houston goes on the road for Week 10 to face the Cincinnati Bengals. They may just need more movie magic.

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DeMeco Ryans not bothered by Texans fans leaving early against the Bucs

Houston Texans coach DeMeco Ryans was not bothered when fans hit the exits prior to their 39-37 comeback against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 9.

Not everyone who paid for a ticket at NRG Stadium saw C.J. Stroud lead the Houston Texans to a fascinating 39-37 comeback against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

When Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield hit tight end Cade Otton for a 14-yard touchdown to pull ahead 37-33 with 49 seconds left, some faint-hearted Houston fans hit the exits.

Coach DeMeco Ryans told reporters Nov. 6 that he was not bothered by any signs of unfaithfulness by a fraction of the fan base.

“It doesn’t mean anything to me,” said Ryans. “If people want to be here, they’ll show up. And if you want to stay through the entire game, you’ll stay. We just go play our game. We’ll play until the clock says 0:00.”

One can’t particularly blame the fans for leaving early. The Texans had lost Week 5 against the Atlanta Falcons and Week 8 against the Carolina Panthers in similar fashion, albeit with walk-off field goals. The fans should have at least stayed as Stroud and the offense had one final shot, an opportunity not afforded to the Texans in the other two losses.

Nevertheless Ryans values the adoration from Clutch City sports fans.

Said Ryans: “We love our fans for showing up and being loud. I think that’s where our fans really affected the game yesterday for us. Caused some penalties for them on offense, caused some timeouts to be called, so our fans matter. They affect the game. They’re in the stands and they’re loud, it affects the game. But we’re going to play until the clock says 0:00 no matter who is in the stands.”

Houston won’t have the benefit of the home crowd as the Texans go on the road to face the Cincinnati Bengals Sunday at 12:00 p.m. Central Time at Paycor Stadium.

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Twitter reacts to the Chargers beating the Jets 27-6 on Monday Night Football

The Los Angeles Chargers grounded the New York Jets 27-6. Here are some of the best tweets from the game.

If anyone had to pick the putrid quarterback on Monday Night Football between the Los Angeles Chargers and New York Jets, smart money would say Zach Wilson.

Try Justin Herbert.

The Chargers’ signal caller went 16-of-30 for 136 yards and a 65.4 passer rating. In fact, Wilson “outplayed” Herbert going 33-of-49 for 263 yards and an 80.6 rating.

However, the Chargers were able to keep the Jets out of the end zone, and it was reflected in the 27-6 final.

Twitter was quick to fire off opinions surrounding the horrendous offensive performance. Here are some of the best tweets to emerge from the Monday nighter.

Texans QB C.J. Stroud plays the game fearlessly

Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud demonstrated against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 9 that he plays fearlessly.

Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud provided commentators with a buffet of positive traits following his five-touchdown performance in the 39-37 comeback against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 9.

According to Derrik Klassen from The 33rd Team, one of the traits that Stroud was able to showcase was playing the game fearlessly.

It’s not just Stroud’s control that pops off the screen in these moments, though. It’s his aggression — his fearlessness. Stroud is unafraid to rip it down the field and into tight windows. Stroud believes he can make any throw in the world, and he plays with the preparation and arm talent to back it up. 

The whole game is a testament to that, but no moment encapsulates it more than Stroud’s second-to-last throw on the game-winning drive. When the Texans needed him most, Stroud stepped up to the plate without fear.

Here’s the situation: second-and-10, 16 seconds left, down four points. That’s a death sentence for most rookie quarterbacks, but Stroud didn’t flinch. Stroud saw the Buccaneers’ Cover 2 shell and knew precisely how to attack it. After opening the play with his eyes to the right, Stroud snapped back to the left side and threw a dart to Dell on a deep corner route into the Cover 2 “honey hole.” 

No hesitation, no second-guessing. Just grip it and rip it to make one of the toughest throws an NFL quarterback can make in a high-pressure moment. That is big-boy quarterbacking at its finest.

Typically younger quarterbacks must graduate from hesitancy to confidence when firing the ball quickly, or standing up against blitzes and pass rushing. Stroud has demonstrated a completion of this task, which gives the Texans an assortment of play-calls going forward.

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Texans RB Dare Ogunbowale earns special teams praise from NBC Sports

Houston Texans running back Dare Ogunbowale picked up special teams praise from NBC Sports’ Peter King.

The Houston Texans were fortunate to have Dare Ogunbowale active for the third time in 2023.

The reserve running back provided the Texans’ with a much-needed 29-yard field goal throughout Houston’s thrilling 39-37 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Sunday at NRG Stadium. Ogunbowale also handled kickoff duties in place of an injured Ka’imi Fairbairn.

According to Peter King from NBC Sports, Ogunbowale was his pick for one of two special teams players of the week.

Dare Ogunbowale, running back/kicker, Houston. For the first time in 19 years, an NFL player who is not a kicker made a field goal in a game. After Houston kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn suffered a quad injury in the first half against Tampa, Ogunbowale took over kicking duties and booted a 29-yard field goal in a 39-37 win for the Texans. Also notable: His kickoff with seconds to go, after the Texans took the 39-37 lead, made it to the end zone and handed the Bucs a very long field with six seconds to go. “Dare is our player of the game,” Houston coach DeMeco Ryans said.

Although in preseason, the last time a non-kicker handled such duties for Houston was in the 2021 exhibition finale against the Bucs at NRG Stadium. Safety Justin Reid kicked in place of Fairbairn, who sustained an injury pregame warmups.

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‘Cool Breeze’ C.J. Stroud chilled Bucs on Texans’ game-winning drive

C.J. Stroud was cool and collected on the Houston Texans’ final drive against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 9.

HOUSTON — There is always time to talk with your best friend, even with 46 seconds left in the game trailing 37-33 at home.

Before C.J. Stroud joined the Houston Texans’ huddle to mount a game-winning drive over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the rookie quarterback visited with defensive end Jonathan Greenard.

“They had scored, gave us 46 seconds left, and he [Greenard] was walking off the field,” said Stroud during his postgame press conference. “Every time I walk off the field and I’m not feeling the best, I know the look, and he had that look. I made him stop, made him look me in my eyes, and I said, ‘Hey, bro, I’ve got you.’

“They’ve done that for me when my head was down; they went and got a stop and gave us the ball back, and we either did something with it or we didn’t. This time, I wanted to let him know just like you’re here for me, I’m here for you.”

Those words of affirmation from Stroud were reciprocal, as Greenard made a similar positive statement after the Texans lost their season opener to the Baltimore Ravens. Before Stroud headed to the podium after the game, Greenard, a four-year veteran, told Stroud, “Keep your head up because we are going to need you to be you as the season goes on.”

As Stroud headed toward the huddle with the fans in the background screaming in anticipation of what was about to happen, one person in the stands just watched and smiled because she already knew what was happening. Kimberly Stroud, C.J.’s mother, has witnessed similar situations that her son has been in, with his team counting on him to lead the way.

Whether in person or watching it on television, she knows that the No. 2 overall pick has always been a leader and does not fold under pressure.

“When he was playing in Junior All-American when he was younger, his nickname was, ‘Cool Breeze,’” said Mrs. Stroud about her son’s demeanor. “He is always cool. He will have emotions before the game, but during the game, he plays with a different attitude. He is a natural-born leader.”

The Texans got a glimpse of what Stroud was capable of in late-game situations in a Week 5 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons. Trailing 18-12 in the fourth quarter, the former two-time Heisman Trophy Finalist put together an 11-play, 75-yard drive that ended with an 18-yard touchdown pass to tight end Dalton Schultz. The defense could not stop the Falcons offense as they drove the field to kick a 37-yard field goal as time expired.

This time around, Stroud would not be denied the moment he was destined to have. His team needed it, but most importantly, the fans in attendance needed it to help restore faith in the organization. So, as he broke the huddle, Stroud let faith take its course. Six plays, 75 yards later, he found wide receiver Tank Dell for the lead-changing touchdown.

“Honestly, I was just trying to stay cool, calm, and collected, one play at a time,” Stroud said about his touchdown drive. “I told those boys up front, ‘Y’all, give me just a little time, I’m going to make them pay.’ I know they didn’t just give me a little time; they gave me a lot of time, so that helped a lot. I just told them, ‘We’re going to go win this game. I don’t know if y’all believe it or not, but I know I believe it, and I know if you look at me in my eyes, y’all can tell.’ We went out there, and we did it, and by the glory of God, now we’re 4-4.

Stroud finished the game 30-of-42 for 470 passing yards and five touchdowns. His passing yards set the new NFL record for rookie passing yards, surpassing the previous record set by Marc Bulger (453) in 2002. They were also the most passing yards in franchise history through four quarters and the third-most in a game, trailing only Matt Schaub, who threw for 527 and 497 in two overtime victories.

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Ravens defense flawless in 37-3 win over Seahawks

With the week 9 victory included, the Baltimore Ravens now rank a No.1 in defensive points allowed per game at 13.8.

Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Mike MacDonald nullified the Seattle Seahawks pass game Sunday afternoon. With a plethora of dynamic pass rush schemes, quarterback Geno Smith was sacked four times and completed just 13 passes.

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND – NOVEMBER 05: Geno Smith #7 of the Seattle Seahawks is tackled in the game against the Seattle Seahawks during the first half at M&T Bank Stadium on November 05, 2023 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

Moreover, the Ravens defense surrendered not one single touchdown in week 9. Outside linebacker Kyle Van Noy featured on a few sacks and a strip sack fumble that deflated what little morale the Seahawks were trying to conjure.

With the week 9 victory included, the Baltimore Ravens now rank a No.1 in defensive points allowed per game  at 13.8.  MacDonald has been consistent all year when he gets help from the Ravens running game and his defense is able to get some rest.