Texans Wide Receivers Face Tough Test Against Bears Defensive Backs

HOUSTON - - While many will be watching the performances of quarterbacks C.J. Stroud for the Houston Texans and Caleb Williams of the Chicago Bears Sunday night, the most intriguing battles will be between two other position groups.

Houston has one of the most dangerous trios of wide receivers in Nico Collins, Stefon Diggs, and Tank Dell. They proved how dangerous they could be in the Week 1 matchup with the Indianapolis Colts. Collins finished the game with 117 yards receiving, Diggs had two touchdowns, and Dell was instrumental in helping the Texans move the ball up and down the field in the 29-27 victory over the Colts.

“We have to be prepared for all contingencies as far as the route concepts that we’ll see,” said Bears defensive coordinator Eric Washington about the Texans wide receivers. “I’m sure that they’ll move (Texans WR) Stefon (Diggs) around so that we can’t identify and pinpoint one location for him and design our plan around that. Wherever he ends up in terms of the route concept, we have to make sure we execute the coverage.”

On the opposite side of the ball, Chicago has a dynamic tandem of defensive backs in Jaylon Johnson and Tyrique Stevenson. Their play helped the Bears defeat the Tennessee Titans in their season opener by holding quarterback Will Levis to a measly 127 yards passing. Chicago scored 24 unanswered points, led by defensive and special teams turnovers.

Johnson, a Second-Team AP All-Pro and Pro Bowl selection in 2023, recorded three tackles (three solo), two tackles for loss, two passes defended, and one interception, which helped seal the victory against the Titans. Stevenson was named Week 1 NFC Defensive Player of the Week after his four tackles (two solo), two passes defended, and one interception performance.

What makes Johnson stand out as one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL is his ability to travel from side to side to cover the opponent’s top wide receiver. He is expected to be wherever Nico Collins is lined on the field. Johnson aligned as the field CB on 93% of his snaps in Week 1, and Tyrique Stevenson aligned as the boundary corner on 90%.

“They play really sound,” said Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud when asked about the Bears defensive backs. “They have all the talent in the world. 29, [Bears DB] Tyrique [Stevenson] and [Bears DB] Jaylon Johnson, number one, are two great corners. They play the ball really well. [Bears DB] Kevin Byard has been playing at a high level for a long time. And [Jaquan] Brisker, I played in college. He’s a dawg.

“So, yeah, I think they had one of the most highest interception rates last year and they got two last week. So, we’ve got to be cognizant of that and know that you’ve got to be careful with the ball because they won the game, pretty much, on defense last week. So, definitely a great defense. I have a lot of respect for those guys and can’t wait to compete against them.”