Why Carlos Hyde is the biggest X-Factor for the Texans against the Bills

Carlos Hyde finally had his breakout season with the Texans in 2019, and the veteran RB will prove to be an important part of Houston's Wild Card matchup.

If the Houston Texans are going to avoid another first-round knockout like they did last season, they will need a big game from running back Carlos Hyde in the AFC Wild Card Game versus the Buffalo Bills.

Hyde had largely struggled to find his footing after bouncing around the league over the last two seasons following his departure from the San Francisco 49ers. Fortunately, he has now proven to be one of the biggest offseason additions that Houston made after establishing himself as the primary ball-carrier out of the backfield in the 2019 NFL season.

His role as the workhorse on early downs allowed him to top 1,000 rushing yards for the first time in his career along with five touchdowns on 224 carries. It is safe to say that he took full advantage of the attention that the explosive passing game garners by averaging a career-high 4.6 yards per carry.

It is no secret that most teams look to establish a more balanced approach on offense during the playoffs in order to keep the opposition on their toes; however, the Texans are one of the few squads that have the means to take advantage either through the ground or the air thanks to players like Hyde, quarterback Deshaun Watson, and star wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins.

The team's track record in the 2019 campaign indicates that they will need to put a strong emphasis on the run game if they hope to get through the AFC. Houston is 7-0 whenever Hyde garnered at least 17 carries this season and was even able to rush for over 100 yards in three of those games, which included impressive wins over AFC playoff contenders such as the Kansas City Chiefs and Tennessee Titans.

Unfortunately, this will be much easier said than done as the Texans get set to welcome the Bills and their formidable run defense to town. They boast one of the most stout fronts in the entire league after giving up the tenth-fewest rushing yards in 2019 (103.1) and they will be looking to kick things up a notch in the postseason.

Regardless, this is all the more reason for Houston to do what they can to get Carlos Hyde going early and often so that they can kickstart the rest of the offense. Not only will it take the pressure off Watson and this inconsistent offensive line, but it will also prevent the Bills' offense from ever finding a rhythm by dominating the time of possession.