In a rematch of their Week 1 matchup, the Houston Texans are gearing up to face the Baltimore Ravens in the conference championship game. Back then, the Texans struggled to generate points against Baltimore's formidable defense, scoring only nine points. Quarterback C.J. Stroud had a modest performance, averaging just 5.5 yards per attempt, with running backs Dameon Pierce and Devin Singletary unable to find much success on the ground. The offense, however, did showcase potential through Nico Collins, who recorded 6 catches for 80 yards.

Since that early season encounter, the Texans' offense has undergone a dramatic transformation. Stroud had a breakout rookie season, leading the league in passing yards per game and touchdown-to-interception ratio. He became adept at attacking the middle of the field, completing 190 of 251 passes for 2,369 yards, 11 touchdowns, and 4 interceptions on between-the-numbers throws. Stroud's success was bolstered by offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik's emphasis on play-action plays, which accounted for 24.5% of dropbacks.

However, the Ravens possess the league's top-ranked pass defense, providing a tough challenge for Stroud. With the absence of explosive receiver Tank Dell, as well as Noah Brown on injured reserve, the Texans' passing game will be without key targets. The Ravens excelled at defending middle-of-the-field passes and play action plays during the regular season, allowing just one touchdown on a play-action throw following a run fake.

Defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald's unit has displayed a propensity for changing strategies from week to week, aiming to confuse opposing quarterbacks. Against the Texans in Week 1, they employed five different coverages, which proved effective in limiting Stroud's production. However, Stroud has demonstrated growth in reading and reacting to various coverages throughout the season.

The Texans' primary receiving threat, Nico Collins, poses a size-and-strength advantage over most cornerbacks. Nevertheless, Baltimore's Marlon Humphrey and Brandon Stephens possess good size for the position, and with the coverage help available, the Ravens can shift their focus towards limiting Collins' impact. The absence of Robert Woods, John Metchie III, and Xavier Hutchinson further allows the Ravens to concentrate their defensive efforts.

Offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik's game plan will be crucial in countering the Ravens' pressure. While the Ravens ranked eighth in pressure rate during the regular season, the Texans must find a balance between quick passes to avoid pressure on Stroud and pushing the ball down the field to prevent the Ravens from condensing the defense. The Texans could also look to exploit Baltimore's vulnerability against passes out of 12 personnel, a formation they had success with in recent games.

On the other side of the ball, when the Ravens have possession, the Texans' defense will face the challenge of containing quarterback Lamar Jackson. Jackson's versatility as a running threat adds a dynamic element to the Ravens' offense. The Texans, who saw limited plays against running quarterbacks throughout the season, will need to adjust their defense accordingly. They were less effective against play-action passes, ranking 31st in opponent's EPA/dropback, making them susceptible to Baltimore's play-action attack.

The return of Mark Andrews to the Ravens' offense, coupled with the emergence of rookie Zay Flowers, provides Jackson with additional weapons in the passing game. Houston's defense, particularly the linebackers, may face difficulties in coverage. Cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. could potentially shadow Flowers, while fellow corner Steven Nelson may be tasked with matchups against Odell Beckham Jr., Rashod Bateman, and Nelson Agholor.

Despite the Texans' improvement since their initial meeting, the Ravens undoubtedly hold advantages on both sides of the ball. With a healthy and well-rested roster, along with the home-field advantage, Baltimore enters the game as the favorite. The Texans' bright future may not be enough to overcome the present dominance of the Ravens.

In what promises to be a clash of titans, the Texans' offense will need to find ways to break through the Ravens' stout defense, while Houston's defense faces the challenge of containing the multi-faceted threat posed by Lamar Jackson and the Ravens' potent offense.