The Texans had the best run defense in the NFL during the 2018 season
Seantrel Henderson Jersey , allowing a league-low 3.4 yards per carry, a league-low three runs of 20 yards or longer and a league-low 19.7 percent first
down rate.And then the Colts came to town.Indianapolis absolutely dominated up
front on Saturday, with the Colts’ offensive line consistently blowing the
Texans’ defensive line off the ball, and opening huge holes for running back
Marlon Mack. Mack finished with 148 yards on 24 carries, and the Colts as a team
had 32 carries for 203 yards before three Andrew Luck kneeldowns left them with
an even 200 yards on 35 carries.That the Colts were able to so thoroughly
dominate a good Texans front shows just how impressive the turnaround has been
on their offensive line, led by stellar rookie guard Quenton Nelson. It also
raises questions about whether the Texans’ defensive linemen are too quick to
try to get around blocks instead of fighting through them. Jadeveon Clowney and
J.J. Watt are great pass rushers, but the Colts showed how to run on them.Next
the Colts head to Kansas City, where they’ll face a Chiefs run defense that
allowed 5.0 yards per carry and gave up a first down on a league-worst 30.4
percent of rushing attempts. The Chiefs had better figure out how to stop that
Colts running attack. Sunday night, it was on the quarterbacks to take care of
things, in the absence of much help.Or, at the very least, survive.For the
Texans, it was a good thing Deshaun Watson has shown himself to be tough, as he
took a beating but lead them to a 19-16 overtime win over the Cowboys.Watson was
hit repeatedly, and was checked in the sideline tent for rib injuries. But he
hit DeAndre Hopkins for a 49-yard gain in OT, which was the equivalent of two
heavyweight boxers leaning on each other, and one uncorking a knockout
punch.Texans kicker Ka'imi Fairbairn hit the 36-yard field goal to win
it
Lamar Miller Jersey , and bring an end to the carnage.Watson finished 33-of-44 for 375 yards, with a touchdown and an interception, and 40 rushing yards on 10
carries.Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott threw for 209 yards, with a touchdown
and two interceptions. He didn’t have much help, as Ezekiel Elliott was limited
to 54 yards on 20 carries. His lack of targets is well-documented and was
evident, but he also threw some questionable passes, with at least one dropped
pick-six by the opponents.Still, he gave himself and his team a chance. He just
couldn’t outlast Watson.Here are five more things we learned during
Sunday Night Football:1. There’s not much the Texans can do about it now, but the state of their offensive line is bordering on ridiculous.They put Julie'n
Davenport back at left tackle, after he started the opener there. They had
initially shifted Davenport to right tackle when Seantrel Henderson broke his
ankle, letting rookie Mathias Rankin in at left tackle. But Sunday, Kendall Lamm
was in the starting lineup at right tackle.They’ve used five different
combinations of offensive linemen in five games, and that’s no way to protect an
investment like Watson, particularly one coming off a torn ACL.They used to have
a good left tackle in Duane Brown, but didn’t want to pay him and shipped him
off the Seattle. The 2019 second-round pick that’s coming back was the
centerpiece of the deal, and they could always use it to find protection.If it’s
not too late.2. The Texans’ struggles in the red zone are inexplicable.But in
the attempt to explic them (shut up, it’s as much of a word as their work there
is a game plan)
Jadeveon Clowney Jersey , it’s clear the Texans don’t trust that line.They were 1-of-6 in the red zone, but it’s actually worse than it sounds. They had five
possessions inside the Cowboys 3-yard line, and only one of them ending in a
touchdown. Four of the others were field goals, and they turned it over on downs
the other time.Everything seems designed to put Watson in space and let him
create, but that also tends to put him in harm’s way. There might be short-term
benefits, but the Texans don’t appear to be a contender now, and more care with
Watson’s future is probably in order.They have a reasonable array of targets, so
the focus will remain on the play-calling until it’s fixed.3. Texans defensive
end Jadeveon Clowney is having an amazing season, but never seems to get the
credit he probably deserves.Part of that has to do with playing in the shadow of
J.J. Watt, but he’s also the victim of his own talent.Though he’s battled
injuries, he’s still such a unique athlete that it looks easy for him to do what
others cannot. Then he gets criticized for not making otherworldly plays more
often. Panthers defensive end Julius Peppers is similar, in that he was ripped
for “taking plays off” early in his career. Somehow, Peppers has 154.5 sacks
despite such an egregious lack of effort.Clowney will likely never reach that
level, through factors outside of his control, but he’s the impact player in the
Texans’ front, capable of rushing with power and speed, and getting the best of
a player such as Cowboys left tackle Tyron Smith.4. The Cowboys won’t be able to
replace Jason Witten on the field
Johnathan Joseph Jersey , after they were caught off guard by their star tight end retiring to get into broadcasting.Geoff Swaim is beginning to look like a viable
target, though.Swaim had a 43-yard ramble on a screen in the first half, and
finished with three catches for 55 yards, albeit all in the first half. He
caught three passes for 39 yards and a touchdown last week.Again, he’s not going
to replace Witten’s production, but he’s growing into someone they can use
offensively, and in the everything-is-relative state of their offense, that’s
worth something.5. The Texans had to shuffle their secondary because of
injuries, and it doesn’t seem to be hurting them as much as the offensive
line.With Aaron Colvin on IR and Kayvon Webster leaving the game with a quad
injury, the Texans had to slide cornerback Kareem Jackson back to corner, and
replace him at safety with rookie Justin Reid.Jackson and Reid each had
interceptions, on passes which were touched at some point by Cowboys targets.
That doesn’t mean they weren’t Prescott’s fault, but it does speak to some
degree of good fortune.
