Texans Player of the Game
Another round of Hopkins vs. Ramsey goes to the Texans WR
Dec 30, 2018, 2:59 pm
Nick Sharara ESPN 97.5
With many of the Jaguars key offensive players taking the day off the Texans defense had a field-day. The offense looked great whenever the ball was headed to DeAndre Hopkins who drew the toughest assignment of the day, squaring off yet again with one of the best cornerbacks in the game in Jalen Ramsey.
Hopkins dominated today. With Ramsey shadowing him most of the game the Texans star amassed 12 catches for 147 yards. He hauled in one long pass for 43 yards down the sidelines with Ramsey in near lockstep with him.
Texans head coach Bill O'Brien said they like to move Hopkins around a lot to make it hard for him to find. He gave credit to Ramsey and praised his mentality and approach to Hopkins and said he's aware fans love watching that matchup. He called Hopkins the ultimate professional.
Watson looked early and often for Hopkins. Screen passes early saw Hopkins shake loose and later Watson got rolling hitting his star wideout consistently in the middle of the field. Even with far less talent than he has ever played with at wideout Hopkins frequently was open for Watson to hit.
This will go down as Hopkins' best statistical season ever. He set career highs in receptions and yards. He also hauled in 11 touchdowns on the season. He has tied Andre Johnson's single season record for receptions as well.
"I think Andre was over there telling them not to throw it to me," Hopkins joked after the game. Johnson attended the post game press conference with Hopkins and said he was proud of Hopkins. He also said he would put Hopkins up against any wideout in football.
He did all of this with a rotating cast of wideouts playing with him and appearing almost every week on the injury report. He's the most dominant offensive players in Texans history and trails only J.J. Watt for displays of dominance in franchise history overall.
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The Houston Texans and Buffalo Bills both enter Week 5 with identical records, looking to continue their strong early-season performances. The Texans, led by breakout quarterback C.J. Stroud, come off a thrilling 24-20 win over Jacksonville, while the Bills are seeking to bounce back after a disappointing 35-10 loss to Baltimore.
Bet MGM NFL Odds: Bills favored by 1
Against the Spread: Buffalo 2-2, Houston 0-3-1
Series Record: Texans lead 6-5
Last Meeting: Bills defeated Texans 40-0 (Oct. 3, 2021)
Key matchups and players to watch
Texans WR Nico Collins:
Collins has been one of the most productive receivers in the NFL this season, leading the league with 489 receiving yards. Coming off a career-best performance with 12 catches for 151 yards and a touchdown against Jacksonville, Collins will be a key target for Stroud against Buffalo’s strong secondary.
Bills DE A.J. Epenesa:
With Von Miller suspended, Epenesa will be expected to step up as Buffalo’s primary pass rusher. Epenesa has one sack through four starts and needs to take on a larger role with the absence of Miller, who leads the NFL's active players in sacks.
Texans WR Stefon Diggs vs. Former Team:
Diggs, who was traded to the Texans in the offseason, will face his former team for the first time. He has been productive for Houston, logging 233 yards and two receiving touchdowns this season, as well as his first career rushing touchdown last week.
Key injuries
The Bills face multiple injury concerns, including linebacker Terrel Bernard, cornerback Taron Johnson, and safety Taylor Rapp, all of whom are questionable. Buffalo's leading receiver Khalil Shakir (ankle) has been ruled out. The Texans could see the return of WR Tank Dell after he missed last week, though RB Joe Mixon is not expected to play. LT Laremy Tunsil is questionable, which could impact their offensive game plan.
Update: Aaron Wilson has the latest on which Texans players are practicing on Friday.
#Texans Joe Mixon remains out of practice and not expected to play Sunday against #Bills Dameon Pierce returns, Tytus Howard sidelined @KPRC2 https://t.co/DR0IKzAC7C
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) October 4, 2024
Team stats and trends
Bills Offense:
Buffalo’s offense ranks second in scoring but has been inconsistent, as seen in their 10-point showing against the Ravens last week. Josh Allen, while turnover-prone in the past, is on a four-game streak without throwing an interception.
Texans Defense:
Houston’s defense has been a standout, ranking fifth overall and excelling against the pass, which could be key against the Bills' passing attack. However, their 40 penalties this season have been a major issue, and they'll need more discipline to keep pace with Buffalo.
Texans Offense:
Houston's passing game has been stellar, with Stroud leading the Texans to the 8th-best offense overall and the 3rd-ranked passing attack. This will be a critical factor against Buffalo’s defense, which ranks 6th against the pass.
Fantasy tip
Look for Nico Collins to continue his dominant streak as Stroud’s top target. Collins has over 80 receiving yards in six straight games, the longest active streak in the NFL.
Final thoughts
This matchup pits a strong Texans passing game against a resilient Bills defense. Buffalo holds the slight edge in the spread, and with both teams vying for a crucial win, this should be a hard-fought contest.
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ChatGPT contributed to this content.