The 2-0 Houston Texans were a lot of people’s sneaky Super Bowl pick prior to this season and haven’t done anything through two weeks to make people doubt that notion.
The team’s rise back from obscurity has brought a few haters out of the woodwork, but that doesn’t bother one player who said he enjoys being the villain.
Prior to the team’s Week 3 matchup with the 2-0 Minnesota Vikings, linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair told CBS Sports’ Evan Washburn that he’s energized to go up against 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’s energized to go up against the Vikings. pic.twitter.com/Sh8yMsQOrN
— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) September 22, 2024
Al-Shaair added “the circumstances are what they are” and that playing in Minnesota won’t make his Texans change the way. they do things.
Al-Shaair had a strong performance in last week’s victory over the Chicago Bears with ten tackles and a sack and has quickly become a key member of this defense after last year’s breakout performance with the Tennessee Titans.
The 27-year-old posted a career-high 163 tackles for the Titans last season and joined the Texans this offseason on a 3-year, $34 million deal.
Houston’s defense has surrendered 20 points per game so far and will now take on an explosive Vikings offense that hasn’t missed a beat with Sam Darnold taking over at quarterback this season.
Darnold has completed 72 percent of his passes so far and has four touchdown passes, and while Al-Shaair acknowledged the impact Darnold has had, he also pointed out how pivotal it is to slow down Justin Jefferson.
Jefferson looks like his old self after missing much of last season with an injury and has 192 yards and two TDs so far, so Al-Shaair and his fellow defenders have their hands full.
