Post-Game Breakdown: Texans Rally To Beat Chiefs
Several fans have said it, so it hardly qualifies as some sort of profound observation: Your Houston Texans are 4-2, but it sure doesn't feel like your Houston Texans are 4-2. The defense is putrid, and there's no reason to think it's going to get appreciably better. Indeed, after the loss of DeMeco Ryans, there's every reason to believe it could actually get worse. If that happens, we may be witnessing history. Not just as Texans fans. As football fans.
Yes, my friends, we could be witnessing one of the worst defenses in NFL history. Probably not the worst, mind you; the 1981 Baltimore Colts gave up 533 points (an average of 33.3 points per game) over a 16-game season, and the 2010 Houston Texans aren't quite on that pace...yet. I'd get more excited about that small victory, except the 1981 Baltimore Colts went 2-14. The 2010 Houston Texans are supposed to be a playoff contender.
There will be plenty of time for big-picture stuff this week, what with the bye and all. Until then, let's take a look back at some of the details of the Texans' fourth victory (in only six games!) of the 2010 season, while understanding it's infinitely better to be irritated with a 4-2 start than it is apoplectic about a 3-3 (or worse) start.
1. Matt Schaub has had a lot of good games in a Texans uniform. Last Sunday's may not have been his best, but it was one helluva bounce-back from the rotten egg he laid the week before against the Giants. The two TD passes were made possible by his ability to keep the play alive with his feet, and The Schaub will never be confused with Randall Cunningham. Phenomenal game.
2. Andre Johnson is not 100%, and he still posted 8 catches for 138 yards and a TD. There's not another WR in the league right now I'd rather have, even if 'Dre's not firing on all cylinders.
3. For all the outrage Brandon Flowers' pass interference call late in the fourth quarter got (and I'm one of those who thinks a flag shouldn't have been thrown on either player), why has no one expressed similar indignation over the absurd PI flag on Kareem Jackson that was thrown when the Chiefs went for it on fourth down deep in Houston territory on the first drive of the game? I was at Reliant, so maybe replays showed something I missed, but I thought that was an absolutely terrible call. Had the flag not been thrown, the Chiefs stay off the scoreboard, the Houston offense takes over, and we could be looking at a very different game. Kareem appeared to have great coverage, and he appeared to make the best single play he's made all season. Am I wrong about this?
4. I cannot recall witnessing a worse officiated NFL game involving your Houston Texans than what I saw on Sunday at Reliant Stadium. That crew was beyond bad.
5. One more game, and I'll be ready to say Owen Daniels is back. Given that he has two weeks before his next game, I feel pretty good that the all-clear is on the horizon. Good for the Houston offense, and great for OD; I do hope he gets that big contract he wants (although I remain skeptical it'll be in Houston). Plus, in an odd bit of coincidence, OD's next game (MNF at Indianapolis) will occur on the one-year anniversary of the ACL injury that ended his '09 season.
6. Houston running backs ran the ball 21 times on Sunday. Steve Slaton had precisely zero of those carries. When I think back to how electric Slaton was in 2008, this makes me sad. Then I remember how he's looked since then, and the sadness gives way to acceptance and approval.
7. Watching Arian Foster (who, in averaging less than 4.0 YPC on Sunday, still had a very good game) this season, I become more and more impressed at how prolific the Houston passing game was last season with the total lack of a running threat. How did the play-action ever work?
8. Derrick Ward has football speed. He doesn't look fast, yet he doesn't get caught nearly as much as it looks like he should.
9. I would rather have Vonta Leach returning kicks than Steve Slaton. He might not make many people miss, but neither will Slaton, and at least Vonta will run over someone.
10. What happened to Kevin Walter? Has Jacoby Jones truly usurped K-Dub's role in the passing game?
11. I have nothing constructive to say about the Houston defense, so I won't say anything at all. Except...
12. There are a lot of Houston fans calling for Frank Bush's head, and deservedly so. The defense has shown no sign of turning it around, and Bush does not appear inclined to address, via scheme, the myriad personnel weaknesses with which he has to deal. If ever there was a time to make a change at defensive coordinator, it would have been after this game; the team would've had the bye week to adjust, and then another week of practice before the next game. Of course, no change was made, and it's virtually certain that no change will be made during the season. The trade deadline has come and gone, so the dreams of an Nnamdi Asomugha or Albert Haynesworth coming to save the day are dead.
We have to face the bitter reality: These are your 2010 Houston Texans, complete with a Frank Bush scheme, a laughable secondary, a generally non-existent pass rush, and now, a Capn' 'Meco-less linebacking corps. It ain't pretty. It's reality. Temper your expectations accordingly, and enjoy a bye week that sees your team sitting at 4-2 as best you can.
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That was a terrible officiating crew
Just absolutely terrible. Both teams have right to complain about that performance.
"Lord, beer me strength."
The officials were awful, the TV announcers were awful, our Defense was awful...
…but the outcome was GRRRRRREAT!!
by DilloTex on Oct 19, 2010 5:56 PM CDT reply actions 2 recs
I wonder...
What the over/under will be for MNF against the colts. Gotta be at least 70 lol and I would bet over all day.
Texas. Gods favorite country.
by CoolBreeze3 on Oct 19, 2010 6:05 PM CDT via mobile reply actions
We'll run the ball a lot.
No way we hit 70. Around 50 sounds right to me.
Texans fan.
We will need alot of luck.
If we hope to beat the colts, schaub will have to be near perfect again. If we can just run the ball effectively and avoid quick scores thus keeping our D (if we can still honestly call them that) off the field, then we should be alright.
Texas. Gods favorite country.
by CoolBreeze3 on Oct 19, 2010 6:10 PM CDT via mobile reply actions
Let me edit that for you...
If we hope to beat the colts, schaub will have to be near perfect again. If we can just run the ball effectively and avoid quick scores thus keeping our C (short for Carpet) off the field, then we should be alright.
Look on the bright side..
Peyton can’t possibly shred us harder than the 435 yards and 4 TDs he put up in the first game..right?
I’m scared.
by leacheatsbabies on Oct 19, 2010 9:56 PM CDT up reply actions
sorry..3 TDs
Well at least theres that for the defense to build off of..
by leacheatsbabies on Oct 19, 2010 10:07 PM CDT up reply actions
No worries on the Colts game...
it’s on the road, we rule the road……right?
GO TEXANS!!!!
Our time will come...
it is on monday night too
we get to test our monday nightness…. i mean we win on CBS lose on Fox….
I heard Brian Cushing like to do it with girls in a really uncomfortable place and i am not talking about the back seat of a Volkswagen
Go Texans!
If we win, that means we'll lose if we get a Sunday night game on NBC
I would challenge you to a battle of wits, but you appear to be unarmed.
by The Night Owl on Oct 20, 2010 7:14 PM CDT up reply actions
So I went in to my podiatrist today for a followup because I tore the fascia ligamen on the bottom of my foot in a soccer game this summer.
I aked him about achilles ijuries and he said he believes that they are generally career ending because even if you rehab it is never as strong so e thought Demeco would never be the same player.
Suck….
"An open mind is like a fortress with it's gates unbarred and unguarded."
What happens when an unstoppable force meets three defensive players? THIS: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gpWqMqrZwTU
If losing Meco is the price payed to be 4-2
I would rather be 3-3 with him.
Texas. Gods favorite country.
by CoolBreeze3 on Oct 19, 2010 6:26 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions
I hope thats not the case
and injuries are ALL different and different bodies heal…well…differently! His achilles could be barely/partially torn, or it could be in two pieces. The surgery could go great but it might not heal as quickly as it should or maybe it will exceed all expectations. You honestly NEVER know how injuries will affect players. My friends foot slipped off a 4wheeler peg and got run over by the back wheel in high school. His ACL was torn completely in half. After surgery it was a proposed ONE YEAR heal time… thats not including rehab… just heal time. Its a very seriosu injury but I hope Demeco is as tough a cookie as i think he is and he comes back full speed!
by theSpaceCityKid on Oct 19, 2010 6:49 PM CDT up reply actions
Not trying to hijack the thread or anything but
I was listening to the radio and on their “Whiner Line” segment, someone was doing a play-by-play of the Texans defense.
“And Barely Competent Receiver will step into the end zone where Eugene Wilson has left rose petals and a fruit basket, and Kareem Jackson falls down. Today’s game is brought to you by Drano Brand Milkshakes.”
Anybody want to take credit for this? It sounds like something from BRB.
I am a visionary, I am a genius, and now I am angry! Now help me find my pants!
I WANT CREDIT
but, wow…..they do sound like someone here.
Rose petals and a fruit basket cracks me up.
"Lord, beer me strength."
I was laughing like a moron for five straight minutes afterward
I just wish I had thought of it first.
I am a visionary, I am a genius, and now I am angry! Now help me find my pants!
by UprootedTexan on Oct 19, 2010 6:44 PM CDT up reply actions
I just imagine a WR crowd surfing our defense into the endzone
by theSpaceCityKid on Oct 19, 2010 6:45 PM CDT up reply actions
More from that call
“1st and 10 from the 48 yard line. Random guy analyzes the defense, mostly out of courtesy, and throws it to…Barely Competent Receiver who makes the first down. Kareem Jackson falls down, Glover Quin looks up from his Game Boy to see what’s going on.”
I am a visionary, I am a genius, and now I am angry! Now help me find my pants!
by UprootedTexan on Oct 19, 2010 6:54 PM CDT up reply actions 2 recs
The officiating was horrendous
and the TV network needs to understand that it makes the game less enjoyable when the announcers favor one team, meanwhile bashing the other teams every move the entire game. This includes pointless, obvious remarks throughout the game that offer no insight, only a stab at the fanbase’s last nerve (“..and the Houston texans defense has had NO answer for this Kansas City offense all afternoon!” REALLY? YA THINK?)
I know KDub wasnt that invloved this week but thats what I love about this offense. Down day for ’Dre? Thats alright, Kdub and Arian pick up the slack, No running game today?Thats cool ’Dre and JJ might just go off. Arian and Dre both cant get goin? No problem, Ward and Owen Daniels can beat you too. SO MANY WEAPONS ITS SILLY!!
Also, dont you think Reliant stadium, although an awesome place to watch football, is horrible at providing information. They never show replays or updates from other games, they never show player profiles on the screen or show the stats from the game so far or other games going on simultaneously. Anyone agree?
by theSpaceCityKid on Oct 19, 2010 6:43 PM CDT reply actions
About Reliant
The only other experience I’ve had other than my 12 games at Reliant was 1 game at Qwest Field in Seattle vs the Jaguars (41-0 Seahawks won) and I thought they were about even. During halftime they didn’t do a fantasy rundown like they do in Reliant which I think is pretty cool and they’ve got stats of the game right above one of the corners of the stadium
Split Seahawks/Texans fan. Don't like it? Don't care.
They used to have dedicated screen for stats a few years ago
It got covered up with AD space though. They do show the stats, but it rotates through with other info so you just have to catch it. Scores from other games are there. I don’t need to see highlights from other games.
The one thing that bugs is the replays some time…but usually only when it’s a close call/reviewable play. If it might not go the Texans way they don’t show it.
I don’t want too much extraneous stuff going on during the game anyway. That’s what bugs me about the Rockets games in person. It’s non-stop stuff on the video board, music, etc. It makes everything seem artificial.
"Well, at least our players kept their helmets on, so that showed some intelligence"-Bob McNair
How can i get andre
to come visit my school?
I heard Brian Cushing like to do it with girls in a really uncomfortable place and i am not talking about the back seat of a Volkswagen
Go Texans!
regarding your 2010 Houston Texans
all good points, and, as it usually does, our playoff penetration level will be determined by our division record.
We have 0 AFC losses, everyone else has 2. If we do not get swept by any AFC-S opponent, this equates to a decent tie-breaker advantage. Half of our remaining games are against these three teams.
If we get swept by any team, that trumps our advantage, and it puts us at best 3-2 in our remaining divisional games. Thats a 7-4 record before accounting for the tough out of division schedule we have coming up.
"I'm trying to get a feel for Booty" - GK
I know
Indy
Sd
Tenn
Balt
Nyj
At least I get to attend the broncos game on dec 26. Hopefully it is a very meaningful game
by AllenOU on Oct 19, 2010 7:44 PM CDT via mobile reply actions
i want to puke looking at our schedule
Texas. Gods favorite country.
by CoolBreeze3 on Oct 19, 2010 8:44 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions
i want to puke looking at our schedule
Texas. Gods favorite country.
by CoolBreeze3 on Oct 19, 2010 8:44 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions
Houston Texans football at its finest
Double Negatives are a positive
Split Seahawks/Texans fan. Don't like it? Don't care.
problem solved
Dre and Leach play both ways. Dre at FS and Leach at LB. I’m only joking a little bit this would probably be an improvement.
Texas. Gods favorite country.
by CoolBreeze3 on Oct 19, 2010 8:58 PM CDT via mobile reply actions
make it so
This might actually even allow them not to get beat by Wilford Brimley (something I’m not sure they can muster with the current staff and scheme). I agree with this plan!
It still leaves us without a pass rush unless Leach hits Mario in the ass with a cattle prod before each play.
Wilford Brimley?
I didn’t realize he played. I thought he was writing for the chronicle, these days.
by Nashmeister on Oct 19, 2010 10:47 PM CDT up reply actions
Record the rest of the way?
10 games left in which I think we’ll be lucky to go 5-5 leaving us with a 9-7 record.
That make the playoffs in the AFC?
if our 5 wins are in the south.
That is the only way I think 9-7 would get us in. We know we can beat the colts but we can lose to them as well that game will be won by whoever has the ball last imo. I think we will lose to the jets ravens and chargers handily. I can see a sweep of Jax. And a split with the tits. I think we will beat the broncos and eagles in close games. Basically our playoff hopes dwell on MNF against the colts hopefully kubes tells the team they lost sunday so they actually show up.
Texas. Gods favorite country.
by CoolBreeze3 on Oct 19, 2010 9:54 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions
Lose to the Chargers handily?
Have you watched the Chargers this year? That’s definitely a team we should beat based on their performances thus far.
"LoL
Why am I even wasting my time responding to a "Salad". Ugh. Yeah… shit team"
I will gladly eat crow if we win
But the Texans enjoy playing down to their competition and I thought the chargers were in the tops of the league in offense and defense. Just missing that one important stat, the dubbya.
Texas. Gods favorite country.
by CoolBreeze3 on Oct 20, 2010 8:40 AM CDT via mobile up reply actions
#1 ranked offense #1 ranked defense last I looked
I’m not saying they blow us out…but there’s so much parity in the league there’s really not many bad teams in the NFL. There’s the teams that manage to find ways to win close games on a consistent basis…and there’s everyone else.
"Well, at least our players kept their helmets on, so that showed some intelligence"-Bob McNair
On the road too
they are 0-4.
"Progress isn't made by early risers. It's made by lazy men trying to find easier ways to do something." -Robert Heinlein
http://www.accessorizeyourvehicle.com/
Plus it's at Houston
Chargers are like 0-3 or 0-4 on the road…
That rams win won me enough money from stupid people off that stat haha
by Albiceleste on Oct 19, 2010 11:02 PM CDT up reply actions
0-4 on the road
Turnover the ball a lot………can’t hold onto the football……..can’t play special teams…..
Although Rivers to Gates would kill us…..the game isn’t lopsided by any means.
"Lord, beer me strength."
They might have Vincent back by then too
"Progress isn't made by early risers. It's made by lazy men trying to find easier ways to do something." -Robert Heinlein
http://www.accessorizeyourvehicle.com/
Teams tend to get well versus us. See: Cowboys, Giants.
"An open mind is like a fortress with it's gates unbarred and unguarded."
What happens when an unstoppable force meets three defensive players? THIS: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gpWqMqrZwTU
by TexansForever on Oct 20, 2010 10:04 AM CDT up reply actions
V-Jax will join the team.
If not only to put up career numbers against the worst pass D in the league. I really hope everyone takes my negative attitude lightly. Years of watching houston teams have made me this way.
Texas. Gods favorite country.
by CoolBreeze3 on Oct 20, 2010 6:26 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions
I'm right there with ya....
actually I blame it on BFD.
He burst all my happy balloons back in pre-season.
Just my $.02
Even duct tape can't fix stupid
can we go to 46 or 52 defense?
46 just bring pollard down and add nolan. 52 bring how about a d-line of willams, okoye, cody, earl, and antoino. might help.
We play pretty much exclusively in the nickel against the colts..
but maybe if they want to get creative (not in Frank Bush’s vocabulary)..they could have pollard blitzing instead of brice mccain in coverage.
by leacheatsbabies on Oct 19, 2010 10:01 PM CDT up reply actions
nickel
now I see why we cut 1 of our 4 active LBs today. We only need two for our next game.
Brilliant!
"I'm trying to get a feel for Booty" - GK
We were in a 46ish look quite a bit against the Chiefs
Pollard in the box a lot….and still got gashed on the ground.
"Well, at least our players kept their helmets on, so that showed some intelligence"-Bob McNair
What do you know?
Scheme-change doesn’t suddenly make people not miss tackles!
by Nashmeister on Oct 20, 2010 11:39 AM CDT up reply actions
Does so
A Texas Wannabe, born and raised in New Zealand. Currently located 7343miles South west of Houston.
by distant_texans_fan on Oct 21, 2010 4:13 AM CDT up reply actions
Some of this is a little too technical for me.
Would someone please explain (briefly) what a 46 defense and a 52 defense are? Thanks.
"My idea of an agreeable person is a person who agrees with me." -- Benjamin Disraeli
46 Defense is where the SS comes down into the box like a 4th LB & the FS lines up in the center of the field
52 Defense is a 5 man D-Line with 2 LB
I would challenge you to a battle of wits, but you appear to be unarmed.
by The Night Owl on Oct 20, 2010 7:26 PM CDT up reply actions
Bernard Pollard would work so much better in the 46.
He either sits in a mid zone, watches the flat zone, or blitzes. No more deep zone, covering crap.
"Lord, beer me strength."
Main problem though is we can't trust Wilson to cover the deep middle & don't know if Nolan is fast enough for Cover 1 or 3
I would challenge you to a battle of wits, but you appear to be unarmed.
by The Night Owl on Oct 21, 2010 4:10 AM CDT up reply actions
Thanks for the explanation.
"My idea of an agreeable person is a person who agrees with me." -- Benjamin Disraeli
On 1 &2 – Cannot agree more
On 3 – I noticed that they (TV folks) did not really analyze KJ’s call which was horrendous.
4. Maybe it is the worst – but there have been a few bad ones – I am not sure there have been more missed holding calls in a single game anywhere.
5. OD Does look good.
6. – 9. Definitely observed
10. I have asked that question for 2 weeks now (no I don’t play fantasy football) I did notice that Walter was ignored in the losses until it was well out of hand.
11. I will say something about the defense – whether lucky or what – they did stop KC when it was really needed in the 4th quater 3 times. Poor tackling accounted for a lot of the d’s problems against KC, and most Pro Teams do not do tackling drills during the season. The grown professional players are expected to know how to do it already.
12. I believe no one knows better than Frank Bush that he defense sucks. Neither he nor Kubes will say anything public, as they are their guys and they need to get the most out of them. Bush has had to “dumb down” the defense – some of the younger ones are not getting all of the complicated stuff. I expect to see a different d against Indy (not necessarily better, but different)
As far as releasing LB – they released Nixon (who I thought played fairly well) to make room for the regular LB to come back into the lineup. SOme of them should be healed (besides Demeco) by the Indy Game.
"I want you guys to pair up in groups of three and then line up in a circle." - Bill Peterson former Oilers Coach
by Barryfromtexas on Oct 19, 2010 11:51 PM CDT reply actions
“What I meant was that when I always approach things, I want to fix it with who I’ve got,” Kubiak said after practice Tuesday morning. “I can’t sit there and wait on something else to happen.”
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
What a sad day for entire city of Houston’s fans ! Yep! You did just that exact thing, you sat around, and did nothing,…and hoping something will change for the better,….how pathetic is that folks? Brace ourselves H town fans, the next 10 games will be disasterous ugliy,…the Texans Ship have ton of holes to be fix!!!
I feel ya.
Im glad the the Texans are getting more recognition and that this community is growing but damn.
All you can really do is shake your head in disgust now.
"Eff you mothereffer!"
-Bernard Pollard-
Success.......brings out the trolls.....douches just live for it, I guess.
GO TEXANS!!!!
Our time will come...
I find it hard to believe he isn't just a troll
because if he is really a fan then… ugh. I mean some frustration is understandable, but if he actually has paid attention the last few years I don’t think he would be nearly as harsh on our chances.
"Progress isn't made by early risers. It's made by lazy men trying to find easier ways to do something." -Robert Heinlein
http://www.accessorizeyourvehicle.com/
Well - he is a "Tool"
"I want you guys to pair up in groups of three and then line up in a circle." - Bill Peterson former Oilers Coach
by Barryfromtexas on Oct 20, 2010 3:27 PM CDT up reply actions
From my perspective...
There have been a LOT of people that have taken that Kubiak quote to mean that he arrogantly didn’t feel like there was a need to go out and get new players and the tone from Tool’s remark is just a little too gleeful about what he imagines are impending hard times.
MY interpretation of what Kubiak said is that “We’re not going to sit around and hope that we get another Bernard Pollard magic bullet… We are going to work on fixing our issues with what is already in-house.”
The snarky “…you sat around, and did nothing…” is kind of a give away, when I am fairly confident that Smithiak are working all hours looking to add any quality talent that they can and help this pathetic defense in any way possible.
He posts in the comments of Chron.com and other Texans stuff.
He just copies and pastes and hopes for attention for his “thoughts.”
"Lord, beer me strength."
I don't think anything happened to Kevin Walter
He’s second on the team in receptions. He’s got three TD’s. He’s had some quiet games in terms of impact, and Jacoby probably has taken some of his targets away, but he’s just as solid as he ever was. Even made some plays down field and gotten behind the defense once or twice. 52 of Schaub’s 127 completions were to backs and TEs. After Dre gets his whatever is left over is for Walter and Jacoby to split.
"Well, at least our players kept their helmets on, so that showed some intelligence"-Bob McNair
troll coach say what?
Jason la canfora just tweeted that we’re working out 2 qb, 2 TE, and 5 RB. I’m perplexed. I think Kubiak is in negotiations with Drew Brees for the future rights to Brees’ newborn son, because they thought he’d make a good tight end. You know , to build our future over-stock of TEs.
by rowdytexan81 on Oct 20, 2010 12:18 PM CDT via mobile reply actions
Dear Tim,
Either we think alike or you take notes during my alcohol-laden-post-game rants at The Lone Spot. If the latter is true, hows about a little byline love? If it’s the former, stay outta my head please. It’s crowded in there.
XOXO
~LS
"Foster - Texan for Score!" ~ Rip Jersey
Scary
I’m afraid we think alike, because I’m generally incapable of taking notes during or after a Texans game.
Looking forward to a day when being a Texans fan doesn't mean that April is the highlight of my season...

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