HOUSTON (AP) — Houston Texans coach DeMeco Ryans normally bristles at questions in regards to the previous, preferring as a substitute to look forward along with his crew.
This week he made an exception when requested about his recollections from the earlier time the Texans confronted Tampa Bay forward of their matchup Monday evening.
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In that 2023 sport, C.J. Stroud threw a career-high 5 landing passes with a rookie-record 470 yards to raise the Texans to the 39-37 win.
“It was an excellent sport, in all probability probably the most memorable video games of my head teaching profession,” Ryans stated. “It was simply unbelievable to have such back-and-forth play.”
Houston trailed with lower than a minute to go earlier than Stroud led a six-play, 75-yard drive capped by a 15-yard TD throw to Tank Dell, who was additionally a rookie, to finish the comeback.
“What a memorable play, one which all the time resonates in my thoughts, simply whenever you see rookies who made the performs they had been capable of make at the moment,” Ryans stated. “You knew we had one thing particular in these guys.”
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Stroud stated that sport was enjoyable as a result of “they only stored calling my quantity and I like that.” It additionally helped enhance his confidence in main the crew as a rookie.
“In 2023 that was a giant sport for me personally identical to combating again and seeing the desire to win that some guys we nonetheless have on the crew have,” he stated.
Buccaneers receiver Mike Evans, who grew up about an hour from the stadium in Galveston, Texas, stated that loss nonetheless stings.
“I’m seeing all of the (No.) 13 jerseys. I see a few of my household within the crowd,” Evans stated. “We’re about to win this sport after which it broke our coronary heart … it damage. That’s one of many worst losses I’ve had in my profession. Hopefully we are able to get some payback.”
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Dell stays out with a extreme knee damage he suffered final season, however Stroud has loads of different playmakers as he and the Texans look to bounce again after they failed to attain a landing in a season-opening 14-9 loss to the Rams final week.
Stroud was requested about staying optimistic regardless of the crew’s struggles final week.
“What are we gonna do? Sit round and cry about it,” he stated. “It’s the NFL. It’s a part of the sport. We performed actually unhealthy and we nonetheless had an opportunity to win. That reveals to our crew how gifted we’re and the way good we will be.”
Whereas Houston dropped an in depth sport final week, Baker Mayfield threw a 25-yard landing cross within the closing minute to assist the Buccaneers rally for a 23-20 victory over the Falcons in Week 1.
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Coach Todd Bowles beloved the resiliency his crew confirmed towards Atlanta.
“These guys didn’t blink whether or not it was penalties, a nasty play, or anything,” he stated. “That is the primary time they’ve performed that many performs in a ball sport with a restricted preseason so I knew there was going to be some fatigue within the second half, however mentally, they didn’t fall off. They believed in one another and that was the most important take out of the sport.”
Stopping the run
The Buccaneers picked up the place they left off final season once they completed fourth towards the run. Led by 347-pound nostril sort out Vita Vea, they held the Falcons to 69 yards on 24 carries, limiting Bijan Robinson to solely 24 yards.
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Bowles stated he switched up the defensive alignment from 3-4 to 4-3 at instances, shifting edge rusher Haason Reddick round to confuse Atlanta.
“We tried to run a little bit little bit of base that appeared like a nickel, a little bit nickel that appeared like base and transfer him round some so he wouldn’t be caught, and he may very well be an energetic participant,” Bowles stated.
The Bucs face one other problem towards Nick Chubb, who led Houston with 60 yards dashing within the opener.
Calling on Collins
The Texans want to get prime receiver Nico Collins going after he had simply three receptions for 25 yards within the opener.
“Throw it to Nico as many instances as we are able to, after all,” Ryans stated. “Everyone is aware of. That’s a query all people needs to reply. After all we wish to get the ball to Nico. He’s considered one of our greatest gamers.”
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Collins, who has had consecutive 1,000-yard seasons, has been nice at residence in his profession and 13 of his 15 touchdowns up to now two seasons have are available Houston.
Baker’s buddy
Veteran receiver Sterling Shepard doesn’t get a lot consideration as a result of Tampa Bay is loaded on the place. However with Chris Godwin and Jalen McMillan sidelined, Shepard is the third receiver together with Evans and rookie Emeka Egbuka. Mayfield trusts Shepard as a result of they’ve historical past. They performed collectively at Oklahoma in 2015 when Shepard had 86 receptions for 1,288 yards and 11 touchdowns. He caught three passes for 39 yards in Week 1 and heaped reward on his quarterback.
“He’s only a particular participant,” Shepard stated. “You discuss all these throws, however no one actually is aware of what that man has to undergo all through the week and all of the preparation that he goes by means of. He’s on his P’s and Q’s all day.”
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AP Professional Soccer Author Rob Maaddi in Tampa, Florida, contributed to this report.
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