Jalen Pitre is having fun in Houston. And why not? Since Week 9 last year, the Texans own the NFL’s best regular-season record, 10-4 (.714), a half-game better than Buffalo, Kansas City, Baltimore, San Francisco and Detroit (all 9-4, .692).
Before the Bills (3-1) come to Houston (3-1) on Sunday (1 p.m. ET, CBS), Pitre told The Insiders on NFL Network that his team is focused on stacking wins. And any win they get is impressive, including last week’s 24-20 comeback victory over winless Jacksonville, because the Texans are no longer the hunters. After advancing deep in the playoffs last season, they’re now the hunted.
“It has been a little bit different,” Pitre, who’s started 36 games since the team drafted him in 2022, told Judy Battista Wednesday night. “We definitely hear the chatter and stuff through the media. We try to keep the main thing the main thing.”
The main thing for the Houston defense this week is Josh Allen, who is 14-3 over his last 17 games after a loss. Pitre said the Texans’ gameplan against the Bills has three primary components.
“I think it’s just about executing, making sure we show him a couple different looks and not making him feel comfortable back there,” Pitre told Tom Pelissero. “Making sure that we’re swarming to the ball, wherever it ends up, and making sure we’re making plays on the ball. I think if we do those three things, then we’re going to be fine.”
While Allen (116.5 rating) is the NFL’s second-ranked passer, the Texans own the league’s fifth-ranked defense (273.8 yards allowed per game). They’re also fourth against the pass (161.0) and, thanks in part to Pitre and his coverage skills, are tied for fourth with 14 sacks. Pitre said Houston knows the Bills are likely to reach the red zone but when they get there, the Texans will be focused on holding them to field goals.
Allen has gone six straight games without an interception, including postseason, the longest stretch of his career. If the quarterback ends his streak at Houston, Pitre won’t complain. He’s looking for his first interception since he had five his rookie season in 2022.
“I definitely miss the ball,” Pitre told Mike Garafolo. “Had a little taste of it in preseason. Definitely trying to get back to that. If I can continue to, like I said, hone in on the details, perfect my assignment, the ball’s going to come to me for sure. But I definitely miss it.”
Most importantly, Pitre is using his platform to provide meals for food-insecure children in Harris County. His Feed 5 More campaign seeks to provide much-needed meals for Houston-area kids. Pitre is giving away two tickets to the Texans’ Oct. 27 game against the Colts along with an autographed item. Fans can enter to win by following the instructions on his Instagram account.