The last time the Texans played the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, it was a different coaching era with different quarterbacks for both teams.
Four years later, history still repeated itself.
On Nov. 13, 2011, safety Quintin Demps intercepted a deflected pass from quarterback Josh Freeman. With 8:15 left in the game, it set up an 11-yard touchdown run by Ben Tate.
When I mentioned to Demps early in the week that he had an interception in that previous meeting between the two teams, he joked that he'd have to get another one this time around.
And he did.
This Sunday, Demps nearly did it twice, succeeding on his third try early in the third quarter of the Texans' 19-9 win over the Buccaneers. Demps intercepted Jameis Winston's pass, intended for receiver Mike Evans, over the middle of the field at the Houston 45-yard line.
"It was a play that we kind of practiced all week," Demps said. "You have to credit J.J. Watt and Jadeveon Clowney and those guys for getting pressure and stuff like that. RAC (Romeo Crennel), Anthony Midget, John Butler, and Mike Vrabel, just for the play call. It was a really good call and a pretty good scheme for this week. Just executed the call and I caught it."
Demps also had four tackles (all solo) and a pass defensed in addition to the pick. He also added two kickoffs returns for 46 yards in the win. He now has nine interceptions since 2013, which is tied for the third-most in the NFL by a safety during that span and 12 for his NFL career.
The Texans improve to 1-2 in a four-way tie in the AFC South with Sunday's victory and will travel to Atlanta for their Week 4 matchup against the Falcons.
View photos from Sunday's Texans-Buccaneers game at NRG Stadium.
