Texans’ defensive grades from 23-20 win over the Buccaneers

The Houston Texans defense turned in an opportunistic performance against the Tamp Bay Buccaneers Saturday afternoon in a 23-20 win in Week 16.

special teams

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Kicker Ka’imi Fairbain connected on field goals of 32, 25, and 37. On a fourth-and-7 from the Tampa Bay 36 late in the first quarter, Fairbairn, rather than attempting a 54-yard field goal, punted a ball 26 yards to pin the Buccaneers inside their own 10-yard line. Fairbairn also connected on both of his extra points.

Bryan Anger had five punts on the afternoon and averaged 48.2 yards with his longest going for 55 yards. Three of Angers’ punts landed inside the 20-yard line.

DeAndre Carter had just one return of any kind — a punt return — and it went for 10 yards. Carter had another opportunity at a punt return go out of bounds, and all five of the Bucs’ kickoffs went for touchbacks.

Dare Ogunbowale had five kickoff returns for 74 yards with the longest going for 18. Only one of Fairbairn’s kickoffs were touchbacks.

The Bucs’ punt return game had a chance at two of Anger’s punts, but they went for a total of three return yards.

Defensive end Angelo Blackson did it again: he blocked a field goal. In doing so, he is the only player this season to have multiple field goal blocks, and he is the first Texans player since J.J. Watt in 2013 to have multiple field goal blocks in the same season.

Grade: A