Houston Texans inside linebacker Tyrell Adams knows the defense still has to prioritize stopping the run as the gear up for the Detroit Lions Thursday at 11:30 a.m. CT at Ford Field.
The Lions’ run game average 95.4 yards per game, the fourth-fewest in the NFL, and also is tied for the eighth-lowest yards per carry at 4.0.
However, the run game is where the Texans’ defense has proven to be the most vulnerable in 2020 with 159.3 rushing yards per game surrendered, the most in the NFL. Houston has also struggled to stop rushing attacks per play with 5.1 yards per carry given up, also the most in the league.
Even though the Lions aren’t that formidable on the ground, Adams is emphasizing the Texans have to bottled up their run game to effectively pressure quarterback Matthew Stafford.
“Once you kind of shut down the run, you know they’re going to go to the pass,” Adams said. “I’ve got faith in the guys behind us, the back end, to kind of do their job how they did this past week. I think we’re up for the challenge and not to really worry about what’s going to happen.”
Stafford is tied with Patrick Mahomes and Drew Lock for the sixth-most yards per completion in the league at 11.9. However, he is susceptible to the pass rush with 27 sacks taken, tied with Matt Ryan for the fifth-most in the league.
“We’re just going to prepare this week and go out there and put our best foot forward,” said Adams.
The Texans are 3-7 on the year and looking for their first winning streak of the season. Detroit is 4-6 and still has a chance to sneak into the playoffs if things go their way starting on Thanksgiving.