Anthony Richardson opened the 2024 season against the Houston Texans with one of the best throws longtime football-watchers have ever seen:
Richardson, in his first regular season game since Week 5 of the 2023 season, completed nine of 19 passes for 212 yards with two touchdowns, one interception, a passer rating of 101.2 and six carries for 56 yards with a rushing score. Richardson's passing yards, touchdowns and passer rating all stand as season highs; his 56 rushing yards are tied for a season high with his total in Week 7's win over the Miami Dolphins.
A month and a half later, Richardson will again face the Texans – this time, on Sunday in Week 8 at NRG Stadium. It'll be the first time in Richardson's career he'll face the same team twice in a season, providing him a valuable opportunity to apply some of the knowledge he gained in Week 1 against the same defense in Week 8.
Richardson said facing the Texans again doesn't alter how he's preparing, and there's a give-and-take with the lessons both he and Houston's defense learned in early September.
"It doesn't really change much," Richardson said. "Of course, we've got some information on it because we played them before, but you've still got to prepare the same way because we don't know what they're doing in their meeting rooms. We don't know what they're trying to scheme up or switch up. So, it's just preparing the same way each and every week and just getting ready for the game."
To Richardson's point, teams evolve and adjust as the season goes on. The Texans sent just two blitzes on 24 passing plays in Week 1 (8.3 percent); since, they've blitzed on 31.4 percent of opposing dropbacks, per Pro Football Focus.
Still, with largely the same players on the field in Week 8 as in Week 1, Richardson will get a chance to figure some things out on Sunday before the second half of his season begins.
"Early in the season, we're just trying to look for growth week in and week out," head coach Shane Steichen said. "I think he's played nine games in the NFL now and by going into another one with an opponent that he's went against, so it's good. He's seeing some familiar faces. So, excited for Sunday for him."
