Sam Darnold faces his toughest test yet when he faces the defense of the Houston Texans on Sunday. The undefeated Minnesota Vikings are underdogs against the undefeated Texans at home, which says a lot about the respect Houston is getting around the NFL.
Two names that will likely be at the forefront of this matchup are Houston corners Derek Stingley Jr. and Kamari Lassiter. That pair rates among the best in the league, and Darnold will find it difficult to work against their pressure cover tactics. Lost in the solid play by Darnold so far this season is the fact he’s tossed an interception each week and has seemed to squeeze the ball a bit too tight at times.
Minnesota fans will see a familiar face in former Viking wideout Stefon Diggs. While he’s not the prime target for C.J. Stroud at this juncture of his career, Diggs can deliver the goods even when he’s not highly targeted (10 catches, but two for scores).
Houston wide receiver Nico Collins is a key offensive weapon for Stroud. Through two games, he leads the NFL in receiving yards. The former Michigan Wolverine is one of the most targeted pass-catchers in the league, even if he’s getting the ball from a former Ohio State Buckeye.
A slew of young quarterbacks have entered the NFL in the last two seasons. But Houston’s Stroud is pretty inarguably the best. He manages games well, can go downfield with on-point passing, already has a playoff win, and shows poise that Caleb Williams and Bryce Young can only dream about. On Sunday, he’ll need to avoid a top pass-rushing attack. Minnesota defensive lineman Jonathan Greenard is one of the best in the NFL in pressures. The Vikings have a league-best 11 sacks.
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Houston Texans at Minnesota Vikings odds
How to watch Texans vs. Vikings
- Venue: U.S. Bank Stadium — Minneapolis
- Time: 1 p.m. ET, Sunday
- TV: CBS
- Streaming: Fubo (try for free)
Expert picks for Texans vs. Vikings
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(Photo of C.J. Stroud: Alex Slitz / Getty Images)
