Are the 0-3 Houston Texans already cooked? Plus, the emergence of Greg Rousseau and Dallas Turner
Former NFL player and scout Bucky Brooks knows the ins and outs of this league, providing keen insight in his notebook. Today's installment covers:
• Two edge rushers making the leap for undefeated teams.
But first, a look at one of the biggest disappointments of the young season ...
The Houston Texans have climbed out of the grave multiple times during DeMeco Ryans' tenure to ultimately claim a playoff berth. The team's resilience, toughness and unwavering self-belief helped it overcome an 0-3 start in 2025 to finish at 12-5 and reach a third straight Divisional Round.
One year later, Houston is back at 0-3. And this Sunday, the team plays host to the similarly disappointing (and desperate) Dallas Cowboys. Given the firepower the 1-2 'Boys possess, it's not hard to imagine them leaving Reliant Stadium with the win. That would most likely represent a death blow to the Texans. Just look at this note from NFL Research: Since 1990, 109 teams have started a season at 0-4, and only one has gone on to make the playoffs. That lone outlier? The 1992 San Diego Chargers. They actually won 11 of their final 12 games to take the AFC West, providing a modicum of hope for the modern-day Texans. But do I actually believe Houston is poised for such a dramatic turnaround? Color me skeptical -- HIGHLY skeptical.
The Texans need to right the ship right now. They must immediately fix their biggest issues and lean into the rugged identity that has helped them bludgeon opponents in recent seasons. When this team's at its best, the hard-hitting defense sets the tone for a roster that excels at complementary football. At the moment, Houston is nowhere near that brand of ball.
Over the past two weeks, Houston hasn't been able to play on its terms because of a putrid offense. Serious O-line issues have neutered the running game and made it impossible for C.J. Stroud to get into a rhythm in the pocket. Despite adding to the blocking unit in free agency (OT Braden Smith and OG Wyatt Teller) and the 2026 NFL Draft (first-round pick Keylan Rutledge), the Texans remain shockingly porous up front, thanks to injuries and incompetence. They just cannot find a winning combination to control the line of scrimmage. As a result, the Texans rank 30th in rushing yards at 84.7 yards per game. According to Next Gen Stats, Houston running backs have been hit at or before the line of scrimmage on a whopping 52.5% of carries. Consequently, David Montgomery is averaging just 2.8 yards a pop, while Woody Marks is at 3.0. This has completely disrupted offensive flow, forcing the unit into a one-dimensional approach with Stroud throwing into the teeth of the defense.
With defenses failing to respect the ground game, Stroud has been ducking and dodging pass rushers at every turn, while also waiting for his receivers to get open at intermediate range. With would-be WR2 Jayden Higgins out for the season (torn ACL in August) and Pro Bowl WR1 Nico Collins out for the last two games (hamstring injury), Houston's slender gunslinger has been forced to play with backups and role players on the perimeter. The lack of blue-chippers in the passing game has led to tighter perimeter coverage, as defenders are not threatened by the Texans' speed, explosiveness or big-play potential. As a result, Stroud has been sacked 10 times across 43 total pressures faced this season, per NGS. That 23.3% pressure-to-sack rate is the third-highest mark in the NFL.
The spate of negative plays has consistently thrown the Texans behind the chains and prevented offensive coordinator Nick Caley from getting to the best plays on the call sheet. Collins is set to return to action this Sunday, which obviously should help open things up. But I wouldn't expect this offense to light up the scoreboard, as the underachieving O-line is bogging everything down.
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If Ryans and Caley aren't able to reverse the offensive woes, the vaunted defense will again need to carry the squad. It's a star-studded group, with marquee players like Will Anderson Jr., Danielle Hunter, Azeez Al-Shaair, Derek Stingley Jr. and Jalen Pitre topping the marquee.
However, the Texans' defense has looked disjointed this season. Anderson has done his part. According to Next Gen Stats, he leads the NFL with 17 pressures and eight quick pressures (under 2.5 seconds) on 59 1-on-1 pass rushes this season. Furthermore, the first-team All-Pro monster paces Houston in total pressures (20), quick pressures (9), sacks (4), and QB hits (6). He's clearly holding it down on his side, but the rest of the unit has failed to deliver in key moments for a team that is built to close out games.
Perhaps Ryans can get his defense to execute better by simplifying an already-straightforward plan, but the Texans need their stars beyond Anderson to elevate their games. Hunter has to match his pass-rushing partner's effort and energy off the edge, while the secondary must come up with the game-changing plays that have been a staple of this D since Ryans' arrival.
It will take a herculean effort to turn this around. It's early, but the Jaguars sure look poised to defend their division title. And with a bunch of frisky teams in the AFC North and West, wild-card bids could be tough to come by.
Frankly, with the struggles I've seen on both sides of the ball in Houston, I have a very difficult time imagining this team in the playoffs. After entering this season with plenty of hype and a bunch of big-name players, the Texans hit October in a deep hole -- and I just don't think they're going to get out of it by January.
Cutting edge: Two pass rushers emerging as stars
In the NFL, it typically takes about three years for a player to fully realize his potential. Although timetables vary according to raw skills and development plans, elite talents tend to see a major surge in production when they become more comfortable with a scheme and/or techniques that accentuate their natural abilities.
In Buffalo and Minnesota, we are seeing a pair of destructive pass rushers truly coming into their own. The Bills' Greg Rousseau and Vikings' Dallas Turner have emerged as unstoppable forces for two 3-0 squads that are building defensive game plans around their former first-rounders' exceptional pass-rushing skills.
The Bills have jumped out to a perfect start with an opportunistic defense coming up with key stops in pivotal moments. Rousseau has blossomed in new DC Jim Leonhard's scheme, which prioritizes overload blitzes and simulated pressures from a 3-4 front. The 6-foot-6, 266-pounder has hit the quarterback on 12.6% of his pass rushes this season, per Next Gen Stats, which is the highest rate among edge rushers with at least 50 pass rushes. Rousseau also leads the NFL with a 35.3% pressure-to-sack rate.
Leonhard has cleverly aligned his top pass rusher on the defensive left against overmatched right tackles. Rousseau has registered 14 of his 17 pressures when aligned outside the RT, exposing the lack of quickness from a position that's traditionally stronger at run blocking. The sixth-year pro has recorded an NFL-high six sacks -- two in all three games -- by playing primarily as a stand-up rusher on the edge. That's a departure from his role in former head coach Sean McDermott's 4-3 defense, where he spent most of his time in a three-point stance.
With the new positioning unlocking Rousseau's destructive potential as a playmaker, the Bills have an emerging Defensive Player of the Year candidate making his mark. The constant disruption and splash plays have helped Buffalo generate enough stops to complement a high-powered offense that leads the league in scoring.
Buffalo Bills linebacker Greg Rousseau wakes up with "GMFB" and breaks down teams 3-0 start.
Turner has found his way as the designated playmaker in the Vikings' defense. Defensive coordinator Brian Flores has tapped into Turner's rugged pass-rush approach by utilizing a variety of smoke-and-mirrors pressures to create favorable 1-on-1 matchups. The constant movement from the front seven has opened up lanes for Turner to shoot through the line on the way to the quarterback.
Last season, the second-year pro totaled 6.5 of his eight sacks over the final eight games. He has continued that torrid pace with 3.5 sacks in the first three weeks of the 2026 campaign. And according to Next Gen Stats, he boasts NFL highs in total pressures (25), quick pressures (11) and QB hits (12).
Turner's combination of strength, power and explosiveness is putting offensive tackles on skates, as he routinely bull-rushes blockers into the laps of unsuspecting quarterbacks. Additionally, Turner will lean into his exceptional first-step quickness to race past protectors on speed rushes, putting immediate pressure on OTs as he turns the corner on his third step. The mere threat of his speed and power disrupts the rhythm and timing of the passing game, leading to errant throws and ill-advised retreats from quarterbacks. With Flores enhancing his playmaking skills and creating the illusion of pressure from multiple fronts, Turner has been able to whip blockers with physicality or finesse off the edges.
As the Vikings continue to befuddle opposing quarterbacks and play-callers with exotic pre-snap disguises, the 6-3, 247-pounder is set up for success, with the chaos around him distracting blockers at the point of attack. With Turner's pass-rushing prowess steadily improving with more reps, Minnesota has created a star in the third-year pro.