The Houston Texans’ sixth win of the season on Sunday afternoon, a 23-20 nail biter over the Indianapolis Colts, was a whole lot like at least four of their other wins this season. Really, it was the same as every win but the 41-21 win over the Patriots in Week 6. It was a confounding, heart pounding, last minute win that honestly didn’t need to be this close.
Somehow, the Texans forced Colts QB Anthony Richardson into a 10 for 32 day passing, and were gifted a touchdown before the end of the half, and still they only won 23-20 at home. On the one hand, I’m thrilled with a 6-2 start. regardless of aesthetics. On the other hand, there is no way the Texans can attack the second half of their season, and the massive upgrade in schedule strength with this poor level of pass protection. C.J. Stroud will be dead by the bye week in Week 14.
But hey, the Texans are in first place in the AFC South by two games (with the head to head tie breaker over the Colts, who are now 4-4), have won six straight AFC South games, and are now 12-4 in one score games under DeMeco Ryans/ Let’s get to winners and losers, shall we?
WINNERS
4. Will Anderson
Anderson built off his recent dominance (Defensive Player of the Week just two weeks ago) by leading the team in tackles with seven, sacking Richardson in the first half, and combining with Danielle Hunter to bury Richardson on the final play of the game. We are watching the ascension of a future perennial All Pro right before our very eyes. If we take inventory of the Texans right now, and try to list what the BEST things are, there is nothing better than the duo of Anderson and Hunter coming off the edge.
3. C.J. Stroud
Statistically, Stroud had a decent day throwing the football, going 25 for 37 for 285 yards and a touchdown to Tank Dell. If you just looked at the box score, you’d say “Yeah, by Stroud’s standards, not bad.” However, if you watch this game, every snap, then you know that Stroud was pressured and running for his life again. The fact that he was only sacked twice and didn’t throw an interception is a major testament to his courage in the pocket, his ability to bail out when needed, and his decision making under pressure. Stroud may not be putting up the gaudy numbers we thought we’d see in Year 2, but he remains the absolute truth as a young quarterback.
2. The Texans’ secondary
Look, any time a quarterback, even one as scatter shot as Richardson, goes 10 for 32 throwing the football, your secondary did a lot of things right. Of course, Jalen Pitre had the pick right before halftime to set up Dell’s touchdown to go up 17-10. Eric Murray had three pass breakups in the first half, and the corners, Derek Stingley and Kamari Lassiter, were outstanding all afternoon. Nearly half of the Colts’ passing yardage came on one play, the 69 yard touchdown to Josh Downs.
1. Joe Mixon
When Joe Mixon starts and finishes a game for the Houston Texans, he rushes for at least 100 yards. This is a statistical fact. Mixon is clearly the best thing this offense has going for it consistently, and in big spots, it’s also very clear that DeMeco Ryans doesn’t really trust any of the other running backs even close to how much he trusts Mixon. Mixon’s punishing running style will be something to monitor over the second half of the season. As the punishment stacks up, does he run with the same level of juice and energy in December and January?
LOSERS
4. This poor bastard
One thing to root for the Colts, it’s another to make a weekly anthem like this, AND LOSE…..
Okay, sorry. That tune is now going to be in your ears forever, and that’s on me. Welcome to my miserable world.
3. Kenyon Green
The offensive line as a position group has played mediocre at best, especially protecting C.J. Stroud, over the course of the season. On an offensive line with problems, there is none bigger than Green’s performance, where he was routinely allowing free runners at Stroud on Sunday (again). At one point, the coaching staff replaced Green with Jarrett Patterson, and the Texans had their only long touchdown drive of the game. Unfortunately, Patterson suffered a concussion on the Joe Mixon touchdown play, and Green was right back in the game. Green played steadier in the second half, but it still wasn’t great. Make no mistake — the protection issues are THE biggest problem for the Texans, because again, Stroud might get killed.
2. Bobby Slowik’s operation
Bobby Slowik became a hot head coaching candidate for a reason last season. While the Texans’ offense struggled to run the ball, Stroud’s rapid ascension was due, at least in part, to Slowik’s mentoring. Now, in Stroud’s second year, the offensive line play and Slowik’s inconsistent play calling are a problem. On Sunday, with two opportunities in the Colts’ red zone, his play calling failed the Texans. First, on a 3rd and 2 at the Colts’ 13 yard line, he called an awful missile green to John Metchie that got stuffed for a loss. The Texans kicked a field goal to go up 23-13. Later in the game, up 23-20 in goal to go, he called a toss to the right on second down that was destroyed before Mixon even touched the ball on the toss, and the Colts recovered. The Texans could have gone up six or ten points, and instead they remained up three.
1. Shane Steichen
Even with Slowik’s shoddy play calling, nothing he did compared to the braindead sequence that Steichen had at the end of the half. With the game tied at 10-10 and a minute left in the half, the Colts took over at their own five yard line. They conservatively, and correctly, ran Jonathan Taylor for seven yards on first down. The Texans did not use one of their three timeouts, so they eemed content to go to the locker room tied at 10. Then, Steichen lost his mind, and on second down, he had Richardson throw and he almost threw a pick. Then on 3rd and 3, with 23 seconds left in the half, FROM HIS OWN 12 YARD LINE, he had Richardson throw AGAIN. Pitre picked off the pass, was tackled at the Colts’ seven yard line, and one play later, Dell scored. They handed the Texans seven points in a three point loss. Steichen should get skewered for this. As a Texans fan, I’m glad he did it!
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This article appears in Jan 1 – Dec 31, 2024.
