Pick a metric.

Any metric.

It doesn’t matter.

The Texans defense ranks near or at the top of the league in every category, a fast-flowing, hard-hitting unit that is coming Sunday to pose the toughest test Drake Maye has faced in his young NFL career. Houston finished the regular season ranked No. 1 in scoring defense, and flexed its muscles in the playoffs Monday with a 30-6 blowout of the Steelers in the wild-card round. The Texans defense out-scored Pittsburgh by itself with a pick-six and a fumble return for a touchdown, plays the Patriots cannot afford if they want to survive this weekend.

So how does Houston do it? Rank first in scoring, third in takeaways, fourth in yards per play and top-5 by advanced metrics like DVOA and expected points added (EPA)?

Well, they’re talented everywhere, schematically simple and relentless in their pursuit. Start with Will Anderson.

The 2023 No. 3 overall pick was named an All-Pro last week, having tallied a dozen sacks, 23 QB hits and three forced fumbles during the regular season. Anderson is one of the most gifted pass rushers in the league, a menace off the edge who finished fourth among edge defenders by Pro Football Focus grades, trailing only Myles Garrett, Aidan Hutchinson and Micah Parsons. Right behind him is another Texans terror, his partner in pass-rushing crime: veteran Danielle Hunter.

Houston Texans defensive end Will Anderson Jr. comes onto the field between plays of an NFL game against the Kansas City Chiefs this season. (AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann)

The 31-year-old Hunter is a five-time Pro Bowler who led Houston with 15 sacks in what was his fourth straight season with double-digit sacks. Hunter also has three forced fumbles and more than 20 QB hits. He and Anderson often bookend a standard four-man pass rush for the Texans, who rarely blitz or disguise coverage, yet still punish opponents who more often than not know what’s coming.

Houston coach DeMeco Ryans favors a straightforward scheme that primarily relies on three coverages: Cover 1, Cover 3 and Cover 4. The latter calls are zone defenses, while Houston only plays Cover 1 and other man-to-man coverages roughly 30% of the time. When they do, the Texans know opponents are unlikely to test two-time All-Pro corner Derek Stingley Jr., which helps shrink the field.

Stingley is one of the few cornerbacks in the conversation with Christian Gonzalez for best in the league. He snatched four interceptions this year and broke up 11 other passes, giving him 14 picks and 42 pass deflections the last three years. Safety Jalen Pitre (74 tackles, four interceptions) is a Pro Bowl-caliber player capable of delivering highlight-reel hits anytime.

And the other starters in the secondary are no slouches, either. Cornerback Kamari Lassiter and safety Calen Bullock both had four interceptions during the regular season, running and hitting as hard as their teammates. Bullock scored the last touchdown last Monday in Pittsburgh, racing an Aaron Rodgers pass back 50 yards for a score.

Between the pass rush and secondary, middle linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair is an actual Pro Bowler who makes everything else go. He’s rangy, fast and constantly disrupting plays near the line of scrimmage. Mike Vrabel knows, having coached Al-Shaair in Tennessee in 2023. Al-Shaair had 103 tackles, two interceptions and a forced fumble this year.

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All together, there should be few openings for the Pats, even if they’re worlds better than when they welcomed the Texans last year and suffered a 41-21 defeat. That day, Maye made his starting NFL debut and hit Houston for a few big plays, but eventually succumbed to the pressure applied by an elite defense. This year, the Texans are even better, but explosive plays could still be a weakness.

Houston allowed 47 passes of 20-plus yards, one of the highest numbers in the league. If Maye can extend plays and protect the ball, he might pull the Pats into the AFC Championship Game. He was primarily responsible for the Patriots’ league-leading rate of explosive pass plays and can also create with his legs.

Just ask the Chargers.

If Maye can’t create, the Pats may need their defense to replicate what it did versus Los Angeles. Their offense figures to struggle running the ball against the NFL’s second-ranked run defense by DVOA, putting even more on the quarterback’s shoulders in the biggest game of his career.

The test is almost here.

Pencils down.