Bucky Brooks
Who's the Guy?
C.J. Stroud is beginning to look like the franchise quarterback who took the league by storm as a young starter. The third-year pro is coming off a near-perfect performance against the Arizona Cardinals, showcasing his pinpoint accuracy and impeccable timing. With four touchdowns and zero interceptions over his past two games, Stroud is beginning to find the range as a fearless gunslinger from the pocket.
Know His Name
Will Anderson Jr. is a disruptive force at the point of attack. The 2023 Defensive Rookie of the Year continues to improve as a pass rusher and playmaker off the edge, with his relentlessness, physicality and explosiveness overwhelming blockers. As the Texans' designated playmaker on the frontline, Anderson will move around to create and exploit favorable matchups at the line. With few blockers capable of handling his Tasmanian devil-like energy and effort, the Raiders must pay close attention to his whereabouts at all times.
Don't Sleep On
Danielle Hunter has quietly amassed 111.5 career sacks over a 10-year career. The veteran leads the Texans with 12 this season, exhibiting his trademark quickness and burst off the edge. As the complementary pass rusher opposite Anderson, Hunter feasts on one-on-one matchups in pass protection. With opponents unable to double-team each of the Texans' top pass rushers, the 10th-year pro will have plenty of chances to wreak havoc off the edges.
Under Pressure
Derek Stingley Jr. is viewed as one of the league's premier cover corners. Measuring 6-foot-1, 195 pounds, he possesses the size, length and leaping ability to suffocate wideouts on the perimeter with his sticky playing style. Additionally, he is a ball-hawking defender with outstanding instincts and ball skills. Given his 14 career interceptions, including three this season, the Raiders must be careful throwing the ball in his area.
Matchup to Watch
Azeez Al-Shaair vs. Ashton Jeanty
The Texans' ultra-aggressive linebacker acts as the designated enforcer for one of the league's most physical teams. Al-Shaair sets the tone with his big hits on running backs and wide receivers on the perimeter. As a sideline-to-sideline playmaker with outstanding speed, quickness and burst, the veteran possesses the tools and traits to shadow Jeanty all over the field.
Defensive Scheme
The Texans are simplistic in their approach, but overwhelm opponents with their passion, pursuit and physicality. Head Coach DeMeco Ryans has injected his fiery personality into a talented group that wants to turn every contest into a street fight. The Texans' aggressive style will only test the courage and discipline of the Raiders, but it will test the execution of a unit that has struggled under duress.
Offensive Scheme
The Texans want to feature a balanced attack with a 55:45 pass-to-run ratio. However, injuries to their offensive line have prevented them from consistently generating positive rushing yardage. Although Woody Marks and Jawhar Jordan have started to find their groove, the Texans will live or die with CJ Stroud throwing to a talented cast of pass catchers. If the Raiders are unable to slow down Nico Collins, Dalton Schultz, Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel, the Texans will move up and down the field utilizing an efficient passing game to move the chains.
