FOXBORO — During their AFC Wild Card Round matchup with the Chargers, while the game still hung in the balance, receiver Stefon Diggs approached Drake Maye on the sidelines.
“Keep being smart,” Diggs told his quarterback. “Keep using your legs.”
That’s not something you’ll often hear from receivers, encouraging their quarterbacks to run. Their production depends on a passer’s willingness to, well, pass.
But that advice paid dividends in their first playoff game, and it could once again Sunday against the Texans.
“Whatever it takes for us to win the game, I don’t care how it comes out,” Diggs said Wednesday. “We’re in the [playoffs]… If using his legs is what’s needed, then turn into Michael Vick. I’m with whatever.”
Despite being arguably the NFL’s top defense, Houston has had its issues at times keeping mobile quarterbacks in check this season.
Since Week 13, they’ve allowed the fourth-highest EPA per carry on quarterback runs (not including quarterback sneaks or kneels) and the ninth-most yards per attempt (7.8).
If their uber-talented ends Danielle Hunter and Will Anderson Jr. get too aggressive up the field, if their front is at all undisciplined in their twists up front and leave open rush lanes, Maye’s athleticism might allow him to extend drives.
“His ability to escape the pocket doesn’t get talked about much,” Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans said. “But his athletic ability, his ability to escape the pocket has been really clutch for them. He’s made some big runs to really hurt a lot of defenses, so we have to be conscious of that.”
Maye’s 37-yard jaunt at the end of the first half against the Chargers helped set up an Andy Borregales field goal. And even on his touchdown pass to Hunter Henry in that game — the lone touchdown of the night — Maye used his mobility to change his launch point, avoid pressure, and make an accurate throw down the field.
“He’s a hell of an athlete,” Diggs said. “I feel like he makes plays with his legs. I feel like he’s comfortable using his legs. Whatever it takes to help the quarterback settle in, too. Using your legs kind of makes them loosen some other things up. Being a receiver, you never know, it might take the corner’s eyes off you. You just never know.”
The danger, of course, is obvious.
Maye took shots to the head twice last year while running with the football — once against the Jets in the middle of the field and once along the sidelines against the Chargers.
Though he has not had to miss a start this season, though he appears to have a better understanding of how and when to slide, he understands that the Texans play a violent brand of defense. And he doesn’t want to be on the receiving end of a hit that may make him unavailable to his team.
“Those guys, especially at the linebacker level, they’re going to try to take your head off,” Maye said. “I respect them for it. They do it at a really high level. They tackle the ball-carrier hard. They’ll punish them. They’ll make you pay for it.
“Got to have a good feel about when to take chances and when to be smart because, you know, the linebackers are good, and they do a good job of delivering some big-time hits. That’s this league, and knowing to protect myself and be good.”
Maye’s not kidding. One example of the Texans not letting up on quarterbacks in the open field came in December of last season when linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair drilled a sliding Trevor Lawrence. The hit caused a concussion for Lawrence, and Al-Shaair was suspended three games.
Maye played this defense before, making his first pro start against them at Gillette Stadium last year. But that doesn’t mean he’ll approach this matchup without a heightened sense of awareness of just how fast and aggressive that unit can be.
“I think I scrambled (against them) a few times last year,” Maye said. “Since then you’ve kind of seen some of those guys on tape just take some guys out of the game.”
If Maye can pick and choose his spots — and remain healthy in doing so — his ability to get out and run could end up being the difference in the game.
