Sam Darnold faces his toughest test yet on Sunday when he faces the Houston Texans defense. The undefeated Minnesota Vikings are underdogs at home against the undefeated Texans, which says a lot about the respect Houston enjoys in the NFL.
Two names that will likely be prominent in this matchup are Houston cornerbacks Derek Stingley Jr. and Kamari Lassiter. This duo is one of the best in the league, and Darnold will have a hard time going against their pressure coverage tactics. Lost in Darnold’s solid play this season is the fact that he has thrown an interception every week and has seemed to push the ball a bit too hard at times.
Minnesota fans will see a familiar face in former Viking wideout Stefon Diggs. While he isn’t CJ Stroud’s primary target at this point in his career, Diggs can produce well even when he’s not often targeted (10 catches, but two for scores).
Houston wide receiver Nico Collins is a key offensive weapon for Stroud. After two games, he is the NFL leader in receiving yards. The former Michigan Wolverine is one of the league’s best-targeted pass receivers, even when he’s getting the ball from a former Ohio State Buckeye.
A number of young quarterbacks have come into the NFL over the past two seasons, but Houston’s Stroud is arguably the best. He manages games well, can run down the field with pinpoint passes, has a playoff win under his belt and displays a poise that Caleb Williams and Bryce Young can only dream of. On Sunday, he will have to avoid a top-tier offense. Minnesota defensive lineman Jonathan Greenard is one of the best in the NFL when it comes to pressure. The Vikings have a league-high 11 sacks.
The Texans will be without their top rusher Joe Mixon, who has an ankle injury. Cam Akers is likely to get more playing time, although he has only played seven so far this season.
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Odds for Houston Texans vs Minnesota Vikings
How to watch the Texans vs. Vikings game
- Venue: US Bank Stadium – Minneapolis
- Time: 1:00 p.m. ET, Sunday
- TV: CBS
- Streaming: Fubo (try for free)
Expert tips for Texans vs. Vikings
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(Photo by CJ Stroud: Alex Slitz / Getty Images)
