The Houston Texans defense is getting national love — and for good reason. Mina Kimes and JP Acosta both ranked Houston as the best defense in the NFL, and on paper, it’s hard to argue. The Texans kept their core intact, added Reed Blankenship, drafted Kayden McDonald, and still have the force multipliers that make this defense terrifying: Will Anderson Jr., Danielle Hunter, Derek Stingley Jr., and Kamari Lassiter.

But believing the hype doesn’t mean getting comfortable with it.

In this episode of Bleav in Texans, Seth Payne reacts to the national praise for DeMeco Ryans’ defense and stress tests the optimism. What happens if one of the pillars gets hurt? Can a defense that plays fast and relatively simple stay ahead of offenses without adding new wrinkles? Is it fair to assume Kayden McDonald immediately solves the defensive tackle rotation? And how much better can the Texans be with a more stable safety situation?

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