The Houston Texans stunned the Bills on this week's edition of Thursday Night Football, 23-19, as they sacked Buffalo quarterback and reigning NFL MVP Josh Allen eight times in a dominating defensive performance.
After the game, NFL Insider Ian Rapoport both wrote about and described the Texans' defenders, who are the number-one unit in the National Football League, entering this week, allowing just 264.3 yards per game. Rapoport says it all comes down to head coach DeMeco Ryans handing over play-calling duties to Houston's defensive coordinator, Matt Burke.
The #Texans have thrived since DeMeco Ryans made the selfless decision to hand play-calling duties to DC Matt Burke, who now runs the NFL's best unit," Rapoport posted on X. "Burke has become a HC candidate."
Rapoport discusses the decision
Following the game, Rapoport elaborated on Ryans' switch-up on the defensive side of the equation after the team started the season 0-3.
"[It was] a huge decision by the Texans, a selfless decision by DeMeco Ryans," Rapoport said on the Amazon broadcast. "He loves calling plays on defense, but this team needed help offensively. He needed to be more of a CEO-type head coach. Plus, he had a rising head coach candidate in Matt Burke to run the defence and focus on all the duties that come with being a head coach."
"Since that time, they are 5-2 as a team. The offense has improved; the defense leads the league in least yards allowed and least explosive plays."
The Texans (now 6-5) will return to that same formula in Week 13 on Nov 30 against the Indianapolis Colts (currently 8-2). Along with their top-ranked defense, they are also expected to have quarterback CJ Stroud back from injury and installed back in the starting lineup.