An improbable 19-point fourth-quarter comeback like the one the Houston Texans pulled off Sunday doesn't happen without playmakers stepping up.
Backup quarterback Davis Mills and the offense deserve credit for three consecutive scoring drives to close the game, but when we're talking playmakers in Houston, it starts with pass rushers Danielle Hunter and Will Anderson Jr. spearheading a smothering defense.
The duo combined for 4.5 sacks on Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence on Sunday, as Houston stiffened up down the stretch, allowing a single fourth-quarter first down and ending the game on an Anderson strip-sack that Sheldon Rankins housed to make it a 36-29 final.
On Monday, head coach DeMeco Ryans gushed about his pass-rush duo.
"I'm happy I never played quarterback because I'll probably be taking a lot of sacks," Ryans quipped, via the team's official transcript. "The way Will plays, we know the effort, the intensity that he plays with. Danielle, he was exploding off the ball yesterday, playing violent, not slowing down. That only works with the interior guys getting the right push. So, I thought our [defensive] tackles did a good job when we were able to push the pocket and they were able to collapse the edge. That's how the rush works together.
"Will and Danielle, they're definitely a scary force on the edge and two of the best edge rushers in the league. We're blessed to have both of those guys as rushers on our team."
Anderson's strip-sack marked his fourth consecutive game with a QB takedown.
Meanwhile, Hunter was an unblockable force, generating eight QB pressures, seven tackles, four QB hits, four tackles for loss, one forced fumble, and tying his career high with 3.5 sacks. It marked Hunter's third game with two-plus sacks and his sixth career game with three or more.
After the defense got put in unsavory situations early with a few first-quarter turnovers, the No. 1 defense in the league snuffed out the Jags' offense late. Trailing 29-10 in the fourth quarter, Houston's offense finally found traction, and the Texans defense didn't allow Jacksonville to milk the clock with pivotal back-to-back three-and-outs.
"As a coach, you want to teach things," Ryans said. "You want to harp on a certain play style and what is it going to take to win a game. When you see your players go out and do that in a manner that you've been asking them to do, it's encouraging. It's exciting as a coach. That's why you coach, to be able to get guys to see and do things that they may not.
"It may not look great from the onset, but it's that belief that I have in all these guys as their coach. I know they can do it. I know we got great players. I know we have a great team. I'm always urging and pleading with them just to, 'Hey, let's just do it the right way. Let's execute the right way. Let's finish the right way because I know we're capable of doing it.' That's what it looks like. When you just do the things you're supposed to do, you make the plays. It's fun film to watch. Hopefully, it's a confidence booster for everyone. When you do it the right way, we can win a lot of games."
The Texans allowed a season-high 29 points in the win over Jacksonville. Houston entered the week with the No. 1 scoring (15.1 PPG) and No. 1 overall (267.4 YPG) defense. No team in the Super Bowl era has finished No. 1 in both scoring and overall defense and missed the playoffs.
Moving to 4-5, the Texans currently sit at No. 9 in the AFC. The Jags (5-4) are in the final wild-card spot entering Week 11.
