In The Know is an ongoing series with the opposing team's beat writer. Tim Twentyman senior writer for DetroitLions.com, gives insight on the Texans upcoming opponent.
Give me an overall sense of the mood in Detroit. The Lions are 4-3 but all their games, wins and losses, have been very close, within just one score. 
Twentyman: Yeah, if you're a Lions fan with a heart condition, it might be a little tough the last few weeks. This team was 1-3 and they went into that Philadelphia game knowing, we have to win this game because at 1-4, your chances of making the playoffs and turning that thing around is pretty slim. So they went into that game, they won and Matthew Stafford played well. Matthew Stafford's been hot these last three weeks, and this team has really jumped on his back. They've guided him these three wins, and they're playing really well offensively.
Matt Stafford as hot as he's ever been. He's playing very well between the comeback wins and the staggering numbers that he's putting up. Many attribute Stafford's success to the change in the offensive coordinator, Jim Bob Cooter, who took over halfway through last year. Is that really the reason for Stafford's play these days, and if so, what has he done to get Stafford playing at the level that he is?
Twentyman: Yeah, well I think that's a big part of it. You just look, last week's game was the 16th game Jim Bob Cooter and Matthew Stafford have been together, since Jim Bob took over midseason last year. You just look at his numbers over that stretch, you know, 35 touchdowns, only eight interceptions. He's completing just about 70 percent of his passes with 102.5 passer rating. That's over a 16-game stretch. 
Matthew's made the comment before that he and Jim Bob see football the same way, and I think that's really important when you're talking about a quarterback and an offensive coordinator. This system really fits Matthew. It's a read system. I think sometimes when you had Calvin Johnson in the past, he would maybe force the ball to Calvin because you had to find ways to get such a dynamic player like Calvin the football. This offense is nothing like that. It's go to the open man, it's go through your read, it's get the ball out of Matthew's hands quickly, and I think when you got a nice troop of receivers like the Lions do like Marvin Jones Jr. and Golden Tate and Anquan Boldin, then you throw in Theo Riddick, who's got the most receptions out of the back field for a running back, a pretty good weapon in (TE) Eric Ebron too. 
It's really a system offense, and it's throw to the open guy, and Matthew has really excelled in that. Just going through reads, getting the ball out of his hands, getting it to guys that can make plays and those guys are making plays for them.
Is that something he wasn't doing before Jim Bob took over OC? Making reads like that?
Twentyman: Yeah, I think so. Like I said, you had Calvin Johnson, and so he maybe tried to force it a little bit. If things broke down a little bit, you knew you could toss it up to Calvin even if he had two guys on him. That leads to a few more interceptions and I think that's the biggest part of it. Matthew Stafford is taking care of the football. The second half of last year, he through 19 touchdowns and only two interceptions. This year through seven games, he's got 15 touchdowns and only four interceptions. I think that's the biggest part of it. It's him taking care of the football and letting guys around him make plays, not forcing the football. I think that's been the biggest transition Matthew's gained.
I saw a stat that said that opposing quarterbacks have finished with a passer rating above 100 when facing the Lions defense this year. Obviously the Lions are having some struggles on defense. What has been ailing them and why have they not been able to get that pressure on quarterbacks?
Twentyman: Yeah, that statistic is accurate. It's been all seven games. Case Keenum, a couple weeks ago, for Los Angeles at one point completed 19 straight passes in that game. He looked like Joe Montana until that last year. You know, I think it's a number of problems. I think they're not getting consistent pass rush, and when you don't do that, I think that leaves those guys exposed in the back.
But to me, the biggest problem has been, their linebackers: Tahir Whitehead and Kyle Van Noy have really, really struggled in coverage. Now, Tahir is a great run defender. He is third in the NFL in tackles. When you give those guys some space, we've seen opposing tight ends have a ton of success against the line. Seven touchdowns on the year, and it's really been the tight ends, the running backs, the short passing game that's really been effective against the Lions. 
When you're completing short passes like that, you're going to complete a lot of passes, your percentages are going to be good and you're going to get high quarterback ratings. Not so much plays down the field, which I know Houston is terrific at, and I think that'll be a key matchup to watch, but it's those underneath routes, those 10 yards and in that the Lions have really, really struggled to defend this year.
The Lions have had some spectacular comeback wins this year. How much of that is Matthew Stafford coming out of the gun and leading the team to victory, and how much of it has been the defense allowing opposing teams to come from behind in the fourth quarter?
Twentyman: Yeah, they've had a little bit of both. Matthew had four comeback wins this year. All four of their wins had a fourth-quarter comeback fashion with Matthew Stafford getting them lead. With Philadelphia and Los Angeles, it was a key interception from (CB) Darius Slay. (S) Rafael Bush had one in the last drive for Los Angeles, so I think guys have stepped up and – a number of different guys have stepped up – but Matthew has been a catalyst for all of this. 
Head coach Jim Caldwell had a comment that we feel comfortable being uncomfortable, and I thought that was an interesting way to put it. In those fourth-quarter situations, they have guys step up. You know, Matthew's played 100 games. 24 times in his career, he's led a fourth-quarter comeback or in overtime. Five of those times, he's thrown a touchdown pass with less than 30 seconds left. There's just something in his DNA. He doesn't get rattled. He's very calm and those situations and he's really confident that if you put the ball in his hands, you give him a timeout or two, there's no distance from the end zone that's too great for him, and I think that team kind of rallies around that as well.
The Lions run game has taken quite a hit with the injuries that they've had in the back field. Recently, they signed a familiar face to the Texans: Justin Forsett. How does he fit in with Duane Washington, Zach Zenner, and what about the injuries you guys have had to endure so far this year?
Twentyman: Yeah, they've had a ton. They haven't had Theo Riddick the last couple games. They haven't had Duane Washington the last couple games either. I think the good news on that front is it looks like Duane is pretty close to coming back. He practiced all last week, limited fashion. I think Theo's going to be fairly close too, but you're right, they haven't had a consistent run game. 
Now, they have been stubborn with it, and I think that's been important for Jim Bob and for the passing game. They've only had two games this year where they haven't run the football at least 23 times, so even though they aren't a game-breaking offense in terms of running the football, they stick with it. They're stubborn and teams have to defend that. 
Then on the flip side of that too, Matthew Stafford has made a number of plays with his legs, something we haven't seen in years past. I think that's helped their run game. That's added an element to it. I think the Lions are getting healthier on that front, and certainly against a terrific pass rush like the Texans with some of the guys they have coming off the edge. I think Jim Bob still has to be, you know, stubborn with it. You got to run in 20-plus times and hopefully they get a few guys back. Justin Forsett kind of fits into that mix. He's kind of that third guy, but I think really when Theo, Duane are back, you have Zenner, he's probably going to be that third, fourth guy – the odd man out. I think he was just kind of an injury sign and once those guys get back, it'll be more those three than Justin Forsett.
What are some of the storylines that you're following with your team there this week?
Twentyman: Well, obviously the Texans have a couple terrific receivers in (DeAndre) Hopkins and (Will) Fuller. You know, Darius Slay injured his hamstring last week. His status, we'll have to kind of monitor it this week, but that position having a hamstring injury, that's going to be tough and I think that's a huge story line. (CB) Johnson Bademosi stepped in for Darius Slay last week. He's more of a special teams guy. He's really never made a name for himself on defense, so it's something really big to watch this week. 
It's Darius Slay. He's one of the best corners in the NFL. If they don't have him, I think they'll be in trouble in terms of some of the big play weapons. I think that's a big story. The Lions have to do a good job containing the run. They've done it the last couple weeks pretty well. (Lamar) Miller is a pretty good back over there, so I think defensively, they just have to tighten things up. If they don't have Slay, that'll be pretty difficult. 

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In The Know is an ongoing series with the opposing team's beat writer. Tim Twentyman senior writer for DetroitLions.com, gives insight on the Texans upcoming opponent.

*Give me an overall sense of the mood in Detroit. The Lions are 4-3 but all their games, wins and losses, have been very close, within just one score.

Twentyman: Yeah, if you're a Lions fan with a heart condition, it might be a little tough the last few weeks. This team was 1-3 and they went into that Philadelphia game knowing, we have to win this game because at 1-4, your chances of making the playoffs and turning that thing around is pretty slim. So they went into that game, they won and Matthew Stafford played well. Matthew Stafford's been hot these last three weeks, and this team has really jumped on his back. They've guided him these three wins, and they're playing really well offensively.

**

Matt Stafford as hot as he's ever been. He's playing very well between the comeback wins and the staggering numbers that he's putting up. Many attribute Stafford's success to the change in the offensive coordinator, Jim Bob Cooter, who took over halfway through last year. Is that really the reason for Stafford's play these days, and if so, what has he done to get Stafford playing at the level that he is?**

Twentyman: Yeah, well I think that's a big part of it. You just look, last week's game was the 16th game Jim Bob Cooter and Matthew Stafford have been together, since Jim Bob took over midseason last year. You just look at his numbers over that stretch, you know, 35 touchdowns, only eight interceptions. He's completing just about 70 percent of his passes with 102.5 passer rating. That's over a 16-game stretch.

Matthew's made the comment before that he and Jim Bob see football the same way, and I think that's really important when you're talking about a quarterback and an offensive coordinator. This system really fits Matthew. It's a read system. I think sometimes when you had Calvin Johnson in the past, he would maybe force the ball to Calvin because you had to find ways to get such a dynamic player like Calvin the football. This offense is nothing like that. It's go to the open man, it's go through your read, it's get the ball out of Matthew's hands quickly, and I think when you got a nice troop of receivers like the Lions do like Marvin Jones Jr. and Golden Tate and Anquan Boldin, then you throw in Theo Riddick, who's got the most receptions out of the back field for a running back, a pretty good weapon in (TE) Eric Ebron too.

It's really a system offense, and it's throw to the open guy, and Matthew has really excelled in that. Just going through reads, getting the ball out of his hands, getting it to guys that can make plays and those guys are making plays for them.

Is that something he wasn't doing before Jim Bob took over OC? Making reads like that?

Twentyman: Yeah, I think so. Like I said, you had Calvin Johnson, and so he maybe tried to force it a little bit. If things broke down a little bit, you knew you could toss it up to Calvin even if he had two guys on him. That leads to a few more interceptions and I think that's the biggest part of it. Matthew Stafford is taking care of the football. The second half of last year, he through 19 touchdowns and only two interceptions. This year through seven games, he's got 15 touchdowns and only four interceptions. I think that's the biggest part of it. It's him taking care of the football and letting guys around him make plays, not forcing the football. I think that's been the biggest transition Matthew's gained.

I saw a stat that said that opposing quarterbacks have finished with a passer rating above 100 when facing the Lions defense this year. Obviously the Lions are having some struggles on defense. What has been ailing them and why have they not been able to get that pressure on quarterbacks?

Twentyman: Yeah, that statistic is accurate. It's been all seven games. Case Keenum, a couple weeks ago, for Los Angeles at one point completed 19 straight passes in that game. He looked like Joe Montana until that last year. You know, I think it's a number of problems. I think they're not getting consistent pass rush, and when you don't do that, I think that leaves those guys exposed in the back.

But to me, the biggest problem has been, their linebackers: Tahir Whitehead and Kyle Van Noy have really, really struggled in coverage. Now, Tahir is a great run defender. He is third in the NFL in tackles. When you give those guys some space, we've seen opposing tight ends have a ton of success against the line. Seven touchdowns on the year, and it's really been the tight ends, the running backs, the short passing game that's really been effective against the Lions.

When you're completing short passes like that, you're going to complete a lot of passes, your percentages are going to be good and you're going to get high quarterback ratings. Not so much plays down the field, which I know Houston is terrific at, and I think that'll be a key matchup to watch, but it's those underneath routes, those 10 yards and in that the Lions have really, really struggled to defend this year.

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The Lions have had some spectacular comeback wins this year. How much of that is Matthew Stafford coming out of the gun and leading the team to victory, and how much of it has been the defense allowing opposing teams to come from behind in the fourth quarter?**

Twentyman: Yeah, they've had a little bit of both. Matthew had four comeback wins this year. All four of their wins had a fourth-quarter comeback fashion with Matthew Stafford getting them lead. With Philadelphia and Los Angeles, it was a key interception from (CB) Darius Slay. (S) Rafael Bush had one in the last drive for Los Angeles, so I think guys have stepped up and – a number of different guys have stepped up – but Matthew has been a catalyst for all of this.

Head coach Jim Caldwell had a comment that we feel comfortable being uncomfortable, and I thought that was an interesting way to put it. In those fourth-quarter situations, they have guys step up. You know, Matthew's played 100 games. 24 times in his career, he's led a fourth-quarter comeback or in overtime. Five of those times, he's thrown a touchdown pass with less than 30 seconds left. There's just something in his DNA. He doesn't get rattled. He's very calm and those situations and he's really confident that if you put the ball in his hands, you give him a timeout or two, there's no distance from the end zone that's too great for him, and I think that team kind of rallies around that as well.

The Lions run game has taken quite a hit with the injuries that they've had in the back field. Recently, they signed a familiar face to the Texans: Justin Forsett. How does he fit in with Duane Washington, Zach Zenner, and what about the injuries you guys have had to endure so far this year?

Twentyman: Yeah, they've had a ton. They haven't had Theo Riddick the last couple games. They haven't had Duane Washington the last couple games either. I think the good news on that front is it looks like Duane is pretty close to coming back. He practiced all last week, limited fashion. I think Theo's going to be fairly close too, but you're right, they haven't had a consistent run game.

Now, they have been stubborn with it, and I think that's been important for Jim Bob and for the passing game. They've only had two games this year where they haven't run the football at least 23 times, so even though they aren't a game-breaking offense in terms of running the football, they stick with it. They're stubborn and teams have to defend that.

Then on the flip side of that too, Matthew Stafford has made a number of plays with his legs, something we haven't seen in years past. I think that's helped their run game. That's added an element to it. I think the Lions are getting healthier on that front, and certainly against a terrific pass rush like the Texans with some of the guys they have coming off the edge. I think Jim Bob still has to be, you know, stubborn with it. You got to run in 20-plus times and hopefully they get a few guys back. Justin Forsett kind of fits into that mix. He's kind of that third guy, but I think really when Theo, Duane are back, you have Zenner, he's probably going to be that third, fourth guy – the odd man out. I think he was just kind of an injury sign and once those guys get back, it'll be more those three than Justin Forsett.

What are some of the storylines that you're following with your team there this week?

Twentyman: Well, obviously the Texans have a couple terrific receivers in (DeAndre) Hopkins and (Will) Fuller. You know, Darius Slay injured his hamstring last week. His status, we'll have to kind of monitor it this week, but that position having a hamstring injury, that's going to be tough and I think that's a huge story line. (CB) Johnson Bademosi stepped in for Darius Slay last week. He's more of a special teams guy. He's really never made a name for himself on defense, so it's something really big to watch this week.

It's Darius Slay. He's one of the best corners in the NFL. If they don't have him, I think they'll be in trouble in terms of some of the big play weapons. I think that's a big story. The Lions have to do a good job containing the run. They've done it the last couple weeks pretty well. (Lamar) Miller is a pretty good back over there, so I think defensively, they just have to tighten things up. If they don't have Slay, that'll be pretty difficult.

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