Derek Stingley, Jr. was a game-changing force in Sunday’s win over Miami.
The third-year cornerback picked off a pair of Tua Tagavailoa passes in the fourth quarter, notched two tackles for loss, and played a big role in limiting Dolphins’ All-Pro wide receiver Tyreek Hill to just two receptions for 36 yards.
But it was his final play of regulation, an acrobatic interception head coach DeMeco Ryans described as a “big-time play”, that sealed the victory for the Texans.
“Not a lot of players can do that,” Ryans said. “I know all the games aren’t over, but I think he’s very deserving of player of the week. There’s not a better play I’ve seen than that play he made today.”
After a Texans punt, Tagavailoa and the Dolphins were in a 1st-and-10 situation at their own 23-yard line, trailing 20-12, with 1:44 remaining in regulation. The Dolphins’ signal-caller threw deep up the right sideline to Hill, but Stingley corralled the pass and landed in bounds at the Texans’ 49-yard line. Houston’s C.J. Stroud was able to kneel three times in victory formation, and the Texans moved to 9-5 in 2024.