The two-0 Houston Texans had been lots of people’s sneaky Tremendous Bowl choose previous to this season and haven’t performed something by means of two weeks to make individuals doubt that notion.
The crew’s rise again from obscurity has introduced just a few haters out of the woodwork, however that doesn’t hassle one participant who stated he enjoys being the villain.
Previous to the crew’s Week 3 matchup with the 2-0 Minnesota Vikings, linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair advised CBS Sports activities’ Evan Washburn that he’s energized to go up towards Minnesota and that “I honestly personally like being the villain, I like being on the road.”
“I honestly personally like being the villain, I like being on the road.”
Texans LB Azeez Al-Shaair tells @EvanWashburn he is energized to go up towards the Vikings. pic.twitter.com/Sh8yMsQOrN
— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) September 22, 2024
Al-Shaair added “the circumstances are what they are” and that taking part in in Minnesota received’t make his Texans change the way in which. they do issues.
Al-Shaair had a robust efficiency in final week’s victory over the Chicago Bears with ten tackles and a sack and has shortly turn out to be a key member of this protection after final yr’s breakout efficiency with the Tennessee Titans.
The 27-year-old posted a career-high 163 tackles for the Titans final season and joined the Texans this offseason on a 3-year, $34 million deal.
Houston’s protection has surrendered 20 factors per recreation to date and can now tackle an explosive Vikings offense that hasn’t missed a beat with Sam Darnold taking up at quarterback this season.
Darnold has accomplished 72 % of his passes to date and has 4 landing passes, and whereas Al-Shaair acknowledged the impression Darnold has had, he additionally identified how pivotal it’s to decelerate Justin Jefferson.
Jefferson appears to be like like his outdated self after lacking a lot of final season with an harm and has 192 yards and two TDs to date, so Al-Shaair and his fellow defenders have their fingers full.
