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The Houston Texans fell 24-9 to the Carolina Panthers on Thursday Night Football. Here are some takeaways from the Week 3 loss.
HOUSTON — The Houston Texans dropped their second consecutive game in a 24-9 loss to the Carolina Panthers, Thursday night, at NRG Stadium.
The Texans showed a lot of fight on both sides of the ball, but the plethora of injuries sustained the prior week was too much for Houston to overcome against Carolina.
As the Texans fall to 1-2 on the season, here are three takeaways from Houston’s 15-point defeat to the Panthers.
Houston Texans defensive end Whitney Mercilus was able to get a sack of Carolina Panthers quarterback Sam Darnold in Week 3.
Love. this. for. us 👏
📺 » @nflnetwork pic.twitter.com/n6jEhl96uW
— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) September 24, 2021
Houston Texans defensive end Whitney Mercilus was able to get his 56th career sack by dropping Carolina Panthers quarterback Sam Darnold Thursday night at NRG Stadium.
Mercilus knew that getting a sack of the former New York Jets 2018 first-round pick would be difficult given how successful Carolina’s offensive line has been through the first two games at keeping Darnold upright.
“We’ve got to be able to get back there, get him flustered,” said Mercilus. “We’ve got to try to get him to make some mistakes and all that, but also, we’ve got to be able to contain him in the pocket because he has deceptive speed, too. That will present a challenge for the D-line, and we’ll do our best.”
The Texans turned the Panthers three-and-out, and then gave the ball back to their offense, which scored a touchdown on the ensuing drive.
Houston Texans defensive end Whitney Mercilus believes that Jacob Martin could have an impact against the Carolina Panthers in Week 3.
Houston Texans defensive end Jacob Martin may be poised to have a breakout game against the Carolina Panthers Thursday night at NRG Stadium.
One person who would be willing to believe in Martin’s chances is none other than fellow defensive end Whitney Mercilus. The former 2012 first-round pick has seen Martin develop since his arrival at the end of the 2019 preseason as part of the Jadeveon Clowney with the Seattle Seahawks.
After 7.5 career sacks since, one of which came last week against the Cleveland Browns, Mercilus believes Martin’s quickness off the ball and ability to bend around tackles will help Houston pressure Carolina quarterback Sam Darnold.
“Jacob Martin, the guy gets off the ball like crazy,” Mercilus said. “He’s got good pass rush moves, he’s got an arsenal in his repertoire. He’s going to be able to get a couple sacks out there, I ain’t going to lie to you.”
The only multi-sack game in Martin’s career came on Dec. 1, 2019, against the New England Patriots. Martin was able to sack Tom Brady 1.5 times and add another tackle for loss and three quarterback hits.
As if Martin’s potential as a pass rusher isn’t evident enough, the Seahawks even tried to re-acquire him at the trade deadline last season.
Mercilus believes Martin can get the job done against Panthers tackles Cam Ervin and Taylor Moton.
Said Mercilus: “He’s got good bend, good hands, great get-off on the ball. It’s just getting him those one-on-ones. The whole D-line, get us some one-on-ones just to be able to get back there as fast as possible. Hopefully, we get a chance to get the quarterback to hold the ball a little bit and give him a chance.”
The Texans are tied for fifth-fewest sacks in the NFL currently with just three. A multi-sack performance from Martin might help them jump up in the rankings.
Houston Texans defensive end Whitney Mercilus says that the past two games have actually boosted the confidence of the defense.
There was a great deal of ambiguity that surrounded the Houston Texans entering 2021, and with uncertainty always comes negativity.
While the Texans say they have been tuning out the noise, even the lack of a frame of reference to past success can generate doubts.
Through the first two games of the regular season, the Texans have produced a 1-1 record, but there is much more to it defensively. Houston has generated five takeaways, more than half of what they did with nine through 16 games last season. The run defense is getting better at 4.6 yards per carry, tied with the Seattle Seahawks for the 10th-most in the NFL. Nevertheless, it is a decline from 5.2 last year, which was the worst in the league.
Defensive end Whitney Mercilus says that the defense has started to believe more in their abilities.
“Confidence got boosted, especially because we know we’ve got a solid team around us,” Mercilus said. “If we just do our job, take care of the football, take away the football, things like that, play complementary football, as well, too, we’ve got a good chance as far as winning a lot of games if we just do that.”
In a manner of speaking, the Texans had a decent chance to start 2-0 when they played the Cleveland Browns in Week 2 on the road at FirstEnergy Stadium. If not for the rash of injuries throughout the game, one of which knocked out starting quarterback Tyrod Taylor with a hamstring injury, the Texans may have prevailed. The game was tied 14-14 at halftime when rookie Davis Mills had to spell Taylor for his first ever NFL action. Who knows what Mills could do with a whole week taking first-team snaps?
Mercilus believes the Texans will be able to find ways to win in 2021.
Said Mercilus: “I’m very confident in this team. I’m very confident in every player that we have. A lot of good guys who have seen a lot of football, played a lot of football in different places and seen a lot of things, experienced a lot of things, as well, too, that can really come together and create a ‘hellified’ culture here, and to go out there and win games on Sundays.”
Houston is looking for a game to win on Thursday night as they host the Carolina Panthers for Week 3 at NRG Stadium.
One matchup could decide Browns Vs Texans in Week 2:
When the Cleveland Browns face off against the Houston Texans in Week 2 of the 2021 NFL season, there is a chance for both teams to go against offseason expectations. The Texans were expected to be a disastrous failure while the Browns were expected to compete for the top spot in the AFC.
Both teams could still meet their offseason expectations but Week 2 could do a lot to set up the future. If Houston wins and Cleveland loses, those expectations will have to be reevaluated.
In order for the Browns to not let that happen, they must be able to protect quarterback Baker Mayfield and get the running game going. In their Week 1 victory, the Texans hit Trevor Lawrence four times, sacking him once. They also kept Jacksonville from getting their running game going, only allowing 76 yards on the ground.
As with most games, that shines the spotlight directly on the line of scrimmage. For the Browns, four-fifths of their offensive line is good to great. Normally, all five are noted as such but with Jedrick Wills questionable and his backup, Chris Hubbard, out, Cleveland has an area of concern against Houston.
For the Texans, Whitney Mercilus is the big name. He had the team’s only sack last week along with a tackle for loss. For his career, Mercilus has 113 quarterback hits, 69 tackles for loss and 55 sacks. His ability to impact the game from the edge has been consistent.
If Wills is significantly limited or the Browns have to start their third-string left tackle, James Hudson III is the expectation, Houston may be able to disrupt the home team’s game plan rushing and passing.
Whitney Mercilus versus whoever starts at left tackle could be the matchup that decides the Browns vs. Texans in Week 2.
Houston Texans defensive end Whitney Mercilus likes the new scheme as it has the opportunity to allow him to play faster.
Whitney Mercilus has had to do a lot of thinking in his nine previous seasons in the NFL.
The former outside linebacker in the Houston Texans’ 3-4 scheme would have to judge whether to drop back into coverage or come off the edge and rush the passer.
In new defensive coordinator Lovie Smith’s Tampa 2 scheme, Mercilus is still doing some thinking, but he is getting a little more clues from his teammates.
“It’s just keys,” Mercilus said. “You can read your own linebackers in this defense just because it’s so aggressive and how the linebackers are making their reads, you can actually get a read off them for your read, so you can read the offense and you can read your own players, so it just goes hand-in-hand and you have keys that let you play faster.”
The former 2012 first-round pick from Illinois had 7.5 sacks in 2019, but only 4.0 in 2020. Mercilus appeared to be done as a pass rusher, but he could get some new life in the Tampa 2, which asks edge defenders to get upfield to the quarterback.
Houston Texans defensive end Whitney Mercilus is adjusting going to a down lineman after playing standing up. How is the transition going?
The last time Whitney Mercilus played as a defensive end, he was playing in his final year for Illinois coach Ron Zook.
After nine seasons in the NFL as an outside linebacker, Mercilus will be going back to defensive end under new Houston Texans defensive coordinator Lovie Smith, who also was most recently the coach at Illinois.
For Mercilus, going from playing standing up pre-snap in the 3-4 defense to a three-point stance is taking some adjustment, even though it is technically familiar territory.
“Just putting my hand in the dirt honestly,” Mercilus told reporters when asked what the biggest adjustment was. “I can’t see nothing. When I was standing up, I could see everything, the formations, understand what’s coming my way. I see the down and distance. I understand what situation we’re in, things like that.”
As an outside linebacker, Mercilus provided the Texans with 345 combined tackles, 68 tackles for loss, 112 quarterback hits, 54.0 sacks, 13 forced fumbles, nine fumble recoveries, two interceptions, and seven pass breakups in 128 games, 100 of which he started.
Mercilus probably won’t get 128 games as a defensive end, but the former 2012 first-round pick is seeking to be just as effective. However, it comes with its own challenges.
Said Mercilus: “Now with my hand in the dirt, I’m kind of limited, so I’m depending on what the tackle is giving me, whether it’s the screen, a pass, a run, zone, things like that. My keys are different honestly. So, I’ve got to get my pre-snap reads down, put my hand in the dirt, and just rely on instincts. That’s it.”
Playing defensive end is more fun for Mercilus as there is one objective: get up field.
“Don’t think, just go,” Mercilus said. “You mess up, just mess up big honestly. If you’re going 100 miles per hour, you’re good.”
If the Texans can go 100 miles an hour towards opposing quarterbacks while stopping the run along the way, it will bode well as they seek to recover from a 4-12 record in 2020.
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Houston Texans defensive end Whitney Mercilus expressed his continued support for quarterback Deshaun Watson after day three of training camp.
Houston Texans defensive end Whitney Mercilus showed support for quarterback Deshaun Watson after the third day of training camp at Houston Methodist Training Center.
Mercilus was presented with the question of how the team is able to compartmentalize the complex situations with Watson and continue with their preparations for the 2021 season.
“With Deshaun, that’s my guy,” Mercilus said. “I love him to death. Hate what’s happened to him, and praying for him everyday honestly. And, man, you know, everything is going to sort itself out. God got it. I know that for a fact.”
Whitney Mercilus (@Merci380) on @deshaunwatson: “With Deshaun, that’s my guy, love him to death. Hate what’s happened to him. Praying for him every day, honestly. Everything is gonna sort itself out. God got it and I know that for a fact.” pic.twitter.com/1BRYi1Lmic
— Mark Berman (@MarkBermanFox26) July 30, 2021
The Texans are in the midst of cultivating their identity as they work through the first week of training camp. Watson was absent for the entire eight-week offseason program, including 10 organized team activities sessions, and his trade request from late January is still in effect.
Regardless of how the organization and Watson see one another, Watson and his current teammates still have a level of admiration and respect for each other.
With questions to answer about the roster come position battles, and here are eight worth watching on the Houston Texans.
The Houston Texans gear up for their 20th season in team history, and this season’s training camp figures to be one of the most competitive.
With holes to fill across the roster comes a bevy of competitors to fill those holes. General manager Nick Caserio has worked all offseason to assemble a roster that focuses on competition as the top priority. New coach David Culley’s job is to establish a culture that breeds such competition.
Here is a look at the eight position battles worth keeping an eye on as summertime winds down and the Texans get back to football.
The Houston Texans still have Whitney Mercilus coming off the edge. What can their 2012 first-round pick offer in a new defensive system?
With J.J. Watt no longer a member of the Houston Texans, Whitney Mercilus is now the longest-tenured player with the organization. But with the Texans on the verge of a rebuild, the 2021 season could be Mercilus’ final year in Houston.
Nevertheless the Texans aim to get the most out of Mercilus on the edge.
“Whitney has proven in his time in the NFL that he can win on the outside,” defensive coordinator Lovie Smith told reporters on June 8. “He’s in good shape right now. He’s going to play lighter than he played last year. That body type has had success in our system. We talked about a lot of the young players, but to have an older player that’s done it the right way and has been a great Texan, so I’m excited about him, too. He’s going to have a good year for us.”
After what could have been the worst season of his nine-year NFL career, Mercilus will likely have a bounce-back year with the Texans to advertise his talents to other teams around the league in 2021.
