HOUSTON — The AFC South holds arguably two of the most explosive running backs in the NFL, featuring Derrick Henry and Jonathan Taylor.
Sunday afternoon, the Houston Texans will welcome one of the two backs to NRG Stadium, with Taylor and the 6-6 Indianapolis Colts coming to town for a Week 12 divisional match.
Earlier in the season, Taylor demolished the Texans’ run defense en route to a 31-3 Colts’ victory. He had one of his most impressive games of the season, rushing for 145 yards on 14 attempts to go along with two touchdowns.
The Texans’ struggles against Taylor was one of several games where Houston’s run defense was nonexistent. And coming into Sunday’s game, the Texans have given up an average of 135.6 rushing yards — second-most in the NFL.
“We saw a stat this morning where if Taylor rushes for 100 yards, the Colts have won every game,” Texans’ coach David Culley said during a virtual press conference via Zoom on Wednesday. “When he doesn’t rush for 100 or more yards, the Colts have lost every game. This guy is playing very well right now, as well as their whole offense. The whole team is doing a very good job right now.”
According to Culley, the best way for the Texans to defend Taylor is to have better gap control. In their first meeting of the season, the Texans’ defensive scheme limited Taylor to seven yards in the first half before Houston’s defense fell apart.
Following the halftime break, the 22-year-old running back rushed for 138 yards and scored a pair of touchdowns.
The Texans’ defensive game plan fell apart at the 2:16 mark of the third quarter when Taylor recorded his longest run of the season amidst an 83-yard touchdown.
“The offensive line had something to do with Taylor’s success,” Culley said. “They blocked the play very well. We had a guy out of the gap, and when you do, a player like Taylor will make you pay. He has done a great job all season.
“That is why it is so important for us to play gap control. We have to stay consistent in what we are doing, and we have to make their offense go the long way.”
With a total of 1,205 yards through the first 12 games of the season, Taylor is currently leading the NFL in rushing, while averaging 100 yards per game.
Second behind Taylor is Henry with 937 yards, despite missing the previous four games due to a foot injury.