Texans finally dominate banged-up Ravens as sharp C.J. Stroud delivers four touchdowns, defense stonewalls Derrick Henry

BALTIMORE, MD – C.J. Stroud raised a few eyebrows days ago when he made a lighthearted comment about slowing down since his high school football days.

The Texans’ star quarterback turned on the jets and looked extremely mobile on a scramble that set a touchdown pass.

Stroud delivered a textbook performance days after celebrating his 24th birthday. He was extremely accurate and decisive in a commanding game by the former NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year and Heisman Trophy finalist from Ohio State. Stroud threw four touchdown passes, including a pair of scoring tosses to wide receiver Xavier Hutchinson, completing 23 of 27 passes for 244 yards, zero interceptions and a 143.9 passer rating.

It was just that kind of dominant day for the Texans as they finally defeated the Baltimore Ravens, 44-10, Sunday at M&T Bank Stadium after years of beatings inflicted by the AFC North franchise. Stroud and offensive coordinator Nick Caley collaborated for an encouraging game plan executed for

This marks the first win by the Texans in Baltimore, in franchise history, after eight previous losses here. The Texans’ six-game losing streak to the Ravens, a tough run that went back to a 2014 win at NRG Stadium, was finally halted. In 2014, Joe Flacco was the quarterback for the Ravens and J.J. Watt, the three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year who called Sunday’s game in Baltimore for CBS Sports, couldn’t be blocked by Baltimore.

The Texans are now 3-13 all-time against the Ravens, a franchise that has earned two Super Bowl victories.

The Texans capitalized on a banged-up Ravens squad playing without star quarterback Lamar Jackson due to a hamstring strain and several other key players, including safety Kyle Hamilton, left tackle Ronnie Stanley, cornerback Marlon Humphrey and linebacker Roquan Smith.

The Texans took full advantage of their absence, stonewalling the Ravens at every turn.

Rookie wide receiver Jaylin Noel caught the first touchdown of his career off a slick play-action fake and

Five-time Pro Bowl running back Derrick Henry, a scourge against the Texans with four 200-yard rushing performances, was absolutely bottled up. He rushed for just 21 yards and one score on a dozen carries.

Texans nickel Jalen Pitre was in the right place at the right time as he intercepted Ravens backup quarterback Cooper Rush twice. Pitre now has three interceptions for the season.

Rush struggled as he completed 14 of 19 passes for 179 yards and no touchdowns for a 63.2 passer rating. He was intercepted three times, once in the fourth quarter by second-year corner Kamari Lassiter.

The most successful option for the Ravens’ offense was throwing to wide receiver Zay Flowers five times for five catches and 72 yards.

Texans veteran running back Nick Chubb rumbled for a 27-yard touchdown run. He followed blocks from offensive linemen Blake Fisher, Tytus Howard and Ed Ingram and found the perimeter of the defense and accelerated away from pursuit to find the end zone.

Chubb rushed for 61 yards on 11 carries.

The Texans rushed for 138 yards on 22 carries and one score.

Slot wide receiver Christian Kirk had his longest play of the season on a 47-yard catch. He caught all four of his targets for 64 yards.

Now, the Texans get an early bye before a Monday night road game against the Seattle Seahawks.

Lineup changes

The Texans shook up their offensive line Sunday with a new configuration.

It wasn’t a big surprise as Juice Scruggs took the majority of the snaps, 80 percent, last week against the Tennessee Titans. Now, he’s the starting left offensive guard as the replacement for former Pro Bowl selection Laken Tomlinson.

Scruggs prepared all week for the start, and now the former second-round draft pick from Penn State joined a first-string offensive line that includes rookie left tackle Aireontae Ersery, center Jake Andrews, right guard Ed Ingram and right tackle Tytus Howard.

The Texans began the game in a heavy package that includes an extra offensive tackle in Blake Fisher.

Defensive alignment altered

The Texans went big on defense to try to bottle up Ravens five-time Pro Bowl running back Derrick Henry, who has four 200-yard rushing performances against them.

They went with five defensive linemen in the starting lineup: defensive ends Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter along with defensive tackles Tommy Togia, who was rewarded with more playing time after delivering big plays against the Titans, Sheldon Rankins and Tim Settle Jr.

Additionally, E.J. Speed replaced Henry To’oTo’o in the starting lineup at linebacker and made the first tackle of the game for the Texans.

Later in the first half, team captain and middle linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair appeared to overextend his leg and left the game briefly. He got checked out in the blue medical tent and returned to play.

Inactives include Christian Harris

The big storyline from the Sunday inactives was already known.

Baltimore Ravens star quarterback Lamar Jackson was officially ruled out Friday for this football game against the Texans in addition to linebacker Roquan Smith and cornerback Marlon Humphrey not available.

On Sunday, the Ravens officially ruled out standout safety Kyle Hamilton and veteran left offensive tackle Ronnie Stanley. They also ruled out cornerback Chidobe Awuzie and 300-pound fullback Pat Ricard.

For the Texans, backup linebacker Christian Harris is inactive for the first time this season. His role has been reduced after being a starter two seasons ago before injuries derailed him, including calf and ankle issues. The Texans lean on middle linebacker and team captain Azeez Al-Shaair as their defensive signal caller. Last week, linebacker E.J. Speed played 56 percent of the snaps while starter Henry To’oTo’o played 48 percent of the defensive snaps.

Backup running back Dameon Pierce is active after being inactive for a few games. Defensive end Darrell Taylor is active again, too.

The Texans officially ruled out wide receiver and returner Braxton Berrios, nickel Zion Childress, offensive lineman Jarrett Kingston and offensive tackle Trent Brown. Brown didn’t travel with the team for non-injury reasons after being officially signed to the 53-man roster from the practice squad on Saturday. The swing tackle Sunday is Blake Fisher.

The Texans prepared in case Jackson would somehow be active despite a bad hamstring injury. Now, they’ll face backup quarterback Cooper Rush.

Rush has an entirely different style than Jackson, whose multidimensional skills are rare for a quarterback. Rush has a 9-5 record as a starter, including a loss last season to the Texans while stepping in for Dak Prescott with the Dallas Cowboys in a Monday night defeat. Of course, Jackson sports a 5-0 record against the Texans.

The Ravens won’t have the former NFL Most Valuable Player along with Ricard, Smith, Humphrey, offensive tackle Emery Jones Aquzie.

“I’m pretty sure it doesn’t change,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said before Jackson’s status for the game became official “They still have explosive players who Lamar is getting the football to, so that doesn’t change. If Rush has to come in and play, he still has very capable guys he can get the ball too. So, it really doesn’t matter to us.

“For us, we specifically focus on the Ravens and how they run their offense. So, that’s what it’ll be. That’s our preparation. That’s what we have to go off of. It’ll be the Ravens film. So, that’s what we’ll go off of.”

The Texans are relatively healthy heading into this match of 1-3 squads.

Texans All-Pro cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. and Pro Bowl defensive end Will Anderson Jr. returned to practice Thursday in advance of Sunday’s road game against the Baltimore Ravens. Stingley participated fully Friday and is set for a full workload on defense. Anderson is no longer on the injury report.

“I know they’re dealing with some injuries, but they always have good players, regardless of if it’s ones, twos, threes,” Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud said. “So, they’ll be prepared. I know they’ll be motivated. They’re in a boat, like we are, trying to find wins. So, it’ll be a fight, no matter who plays.”

The Texans officially ruled out defensive tackle Foley Fatukasi with a shoulder injury Friday and he was placed on injured reserve. Although they were designated for return, safety Jaylen Reed (knee) and defensive end Denico Autry (knee) were not expected to be activated this week. Both were officially ruled out Friday.

Stingley first injured his left oblique in the season opener against the Los Angeles Rams.

Last week, the Texans’ $90 million man, didn’t practice Wednesday or Thursday after aggravating the injury against the Jacksonville Jaguars, before returning to practice Friday on a limited basis and then started and played the entire game in a 26-0 shutout victory over the Tennessee Titans.

Although Stingley missed the majority of the Texans’ practices last week before returning Friday on a limited basis, he intercepted a pass.

“It take a lot to get me off of the field,” Stingley said Sunday.

Stingley played 94 percent of the Texans’ defensive snaps, delivering a gritty performance.

“Stingley comes back, he was battling all week just to be able to be out there and he toughed through it,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said. “He was able to be out there and not just be there but be productive. He was able to intercept the football for us to change the game.”

Signed to a contract extension in the offseason that includes $90 million in new money, Stingley read the play alertly when Titans rookie quarterback Cam Ward’s pass was deflected.

He intercepted the 13th pass of his career.

“Right in the right place,” Stingley said. “Just doing my job. Just being who I’m supposed to be."

Stingley managed to gut it out despite dealing with the injury and only practicing once last week.

“Every day is important,” he said. “Whether that’s doing stuff on the field, or doing stuff in other places.”

Wide receiver Nico Collins (knee) and tight end Harrison Bryant (shoulder) were full participation again and have no injury designation on the report.

The Ravens can’t say the same. They are officially banged up.

“By taking care of ourselves and worrying about ourselves,” offensive coordinator Nick Caley said. “They have a history of having a very, very good team. They’re well-coached. They’re physical. You got to go play a clean game.

“You got to play a physical game. You got to be able to sustain drives. That’s about us having the right approach, us playing clean and us being able to do the things right with good fundamentals and techniques.”

Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com