Keke Coutee had over 100 yards receiving in his debut. Andy Lyons/Getty Images
It was one of the most impressive rookie debuts in Texans history. Fourth-round pick Keke Coutee hauled in 11 catches for 109 yards in his first NFL game action helping the Texans to avoid a massive collapse and steal a win from the Colts.
Coutee was often a favorite for quarterback Deshaun Watson as the slot wideout constantly found himself open. His biggest play came in overtime as he caught a pass and took it 19-yards to break the Texans out of their own territory. On the same drive, Coutee hauled in a 13-yard strike to get the Texans a first down.
Seven times the ball went to Coutee for 10-plus yards. He was also active in pre-snap motion as the Texans showed some creativity in their offense. Coutte also rushed the ball a few times as the team continued to find ways to get the rookie from Texas Tech involved.
Also, 92 of his 109 yards were after the catch as he showcased his catch and run ability he became infamous for in college. He had a couple of drops, one early, but was sure-handed for most of the game. Watson looked for him often targeting him more than than DeAndre Hopkins.
This is a huge development as Coutee looks every bit the slot presence the Texans have never possessed under Bill O'Brien. Watson clearly already trusts him and his ability to shake loose should only improve with experience.
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The Houston Texans have a big challenge in store as they look to start the season with a win against the Colts this Sunday. When these two teams met in Week 2 last year, the Colts dominated the Texans, despite losing their QB Anthony Richardson to a concussion after the first quarter.
Keeping Richardson contained on Sunday will go a long way in increasing the Texans' chances of coming home with a win. The Texans defense will have their hands full containing the Colts backs and tight ends in the passing game.
Scoring touchdowns with their wide receivers could prove difficult, as the Texans allowed the second-fewest TDs (10) to the receiver position in 2023.
Limiting running back Jonathan Taylor will also be a top priority. While the Texans had an elite defense against the run last season, they struggled with Taylor in Week 18 as he almost rushed for 200 yards.
Houston's D allowed only four carries to running backs in 2023 that went for 20 or more yards. Two of which were to Taylor in the final game of the regular season.
Finally, DeMeco Ryans and company have to find a way to get pressure on the QB. They only had one QB hit and zero sacks on Richardson and Garner Minshew the first time they faced off last year.
On offense, the Texans have two big x-factors to watch for on Sunday. The offensive line that suited up to play the Colts in Week 2 last season is completely different from this year.
The o-line was ravaged with injuries to start the 2023 campaign, so we expect a big jump in productivity in the trenches this year.
Another big addition in 2024 is the presence of running back Joe Mixon. The running game only produced 2 yards per rush in Week 2 against Indy last year, so there's clearly room for improvement.
Be sure to watch the video above for our in-depth preview of Texans-Colts!
And catch Texans on Tap (a Texans podcast) live on our SportsMapTexans YouTube channel following every game this season!