For Houston Texans coach DeMeco Ryans, dwelling on the past is rarely part of the conversation. But ahead of Monday night’s clash with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, he made an exception.
When asked about the last time the Texans faced the Bucs in 2023, Ryans’ memories came flooding back. In that game, quarterback C.J. Stroud threw a career-high five touchdown passes, piling up a rookie-record 470 yards in a thrilling 39-37 comeback victory. Houston trailed with less than a minute remaining before Stroud led a six-play, 75-yard drive, capped by a 15-yard touchdown pass to rookie wideout Tank Dell.
“That game still stings,” said Buccaneers receiver Mike Evans, who grew up just an hour from the stadium in Galveston, Texas. Dell, meanwhile, remains sidelined with a severe knee injury suffered last season, leaving Stroud with a new set of targets.
After a season-opening 14-9 loss to the Los Angeles Rams in which the Texans failed to reach the end zone, Stroud remains upbeat. “We’ve got playmakers, and we’re going to make adjustments,” Stroud said, looking forward to facing a Bucs defense that picked up right where it left off last season.
Tampa Bay, led by 347-pound nose tackle Vita Vea, limited Atlanta’s rushing attack to just 69 yards on 24 carries in Week 1, keeping star running back Bijan Robinson to only 24 yards. Coach Todd Bowles, impressed by the team’s resiliency in a 23-20 victory over the Falcons, used a mix of 3-4 and 4-3 defensive alignments to keep opponents guessing, moving edge rusher Haason Reddick around to disrupt the run. The Texans will need to lean on Nick Chubb, who led Houston with 60 rushing yards in the opener, to challenge Tampa Bay’s stout front.
On the offensive side, Houston is hoping top receiver Nico Collins can get untracked after a quiet opener with three receptions for 25 yards. Collins has been particularly effective at home, with 13 of his last 15 touchdowns coming in Houston over the past two seasons. Veteran receiver Sterling Shepard, though often overshadowed by Tampa Bay’s depth, will be a key target for Baker Mayfield. Shepard and Mayfield have a long history, dating back to their time at Oklahoma in 2015, and Shepard caught three passes for 39 yards in Week 1.
Monday night’s showdown promises a clash of resilience and talent as the Texans look to shake off their slow start, while the Buccaneers aim to build on a Week 1 win. Stroud and Mayfield, both seeking to establish rhythm early in the season, will be central figures in what should be an exciting MNF matchup.
