Inside linebacker Joe Mays will face his former team this Sunday for the first time since leaving Denver in free agency.
The last time the Texans faced the Broncos, Mays was on the opposing sideline and known best for his hit that bloodied Matt Schaub's ear. The Texans won that 2012 battle, 31-25, with a four-touchdown performance by Schaub and a late rally by Peyton Manning that came up short. Mays recalled how the Texans put up 436 total net yards of offense.
"I think the play action pass worked well against us," Mays said. "The Texans were running the ball pretty well all season long and we were an aggressive unit. I think Dre (Andre Johnson) caught a couple of deep balls and Kevin Walter caught one too so I think that worked well against us, and hopefully it works well this game."
Mays spent just one season with Denver but had the opportunity to face off against Manning every day in practice last year. With all his play-calling at the line of scrimmage, Manning was anything but predictable.
"It's kind of tough to pick up on anything," Mays said. "He may have a word today and then tomorrow he might change it up just so we won't get a good beam on what he's doing. He's smart. He's a pro just like every last one of us. If he keeps saying the same things, we may keep up on it so he does a good job of changing it up and making sure the offense is on the same page as him."
This Sunday Mays wants to win, but not just because it's against his former team.
"A win would be nice anyway," Mays said. "A win would be great. Not only against that team but for us as a whole."
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