Incompletions: Texans-Ravens (Turnover Tommy)

Matt Weston

Look at this stat line.

20/32 141 yards 4.4 yards an attempt 0 touchdowns 0 interceptions sacked 1-8 yards lost rating of 72.5

The Texans played a football game in 2017 and lost to a quarterback that procured the most game managing box score you’ll ever see. Flacco was an absolute mess in the back of the pants, just as he’s been all season, and as he’s been since Gary Kubiak took his offense to Denver to win a Superbowl. He couldn’t throw deep. He was inaccurate on intermediate throws. Inefficiently, he sent the ball short to pick up four yards at a time instead of doing it all in one downfield trip. He couldn’t even take advantage of the Texans’ deep pass giving secondary.

But it didn’t matter. It didn’t matter because they hit a big run play with Alex Collins on a sweet power fake-outside toss against an aggressive pass defense. Buck Allen got naked in the endzone on a clown car driving run. And most importantly, the other team’s quarterback was much worse, somehow, he worse than the least valuable quarterback in the NFL.

Because the Texans couldn’t run the ball against a top ten front seven they were forced to rely on Savage. He threw the ball 37 times, picking up 252 yards. When the pass rush wasn’t there, when the read was easy, he is a champion. A real ‘I think they found their franchise quarterback’.

But the game isn’t in a bubble. When the difficulty level isn’t on beginner he has no idea what he was doing. It wasn’t all easy in this game like how it is every game. The Ravens played some exotic coverages to jump routes and goad the goatish Savage into action, leading to two interceptions. A wise man once said, “Try to throw it to your team as much as possible.” Savage ignored his heeds and careened this game all on his own.

The world also proved once again that it is a beautiful place. Savage was strip sacked by Terrell Suggs, the ancient snapping turtle that has been in the bottom of the swamp since that first blast of energy, by latching onto his arm as he was curled back to pass. I haven’t seen something so pure and perfect, spectacular and sublime, since I cried when I saw the Grand Canyon again since last week.

Even though the season was over as soon as Deshaun Watson I’m not crying you are crying ripped his knee like a werewolf attack, it wasn’t officially over until tonight, until Tom Savage’s three turnover game. Houston is now 4-7. They aren’t coming back three doors down, let alone two games down of the 6-5 Ravens and Bills. In the meantime, until the inevitable releases us from the bland and macabre, let’s snarf down each strip sack and Jadeveon Clowney dominant performance, because soon enough we will all be babes in the crib dreaming for September 2018. The present is too precious and slippery for it all to be dreamed away.

SEVEN

Rivers McCown

I have nothing against Tom Savage as a man. He seems like a good dude. The offense has done decently since O'Brien has restructured it the last couple weeks to be quick-hitting rather than reliant on deep balls that will never happen between this offensive line and Savage's pace.

But I can't see a reason to spend one more snap on him. He's a free agent next year. He's not performed up to the standard of competent backup in my estimation, mostly because of the turnovers. There's no hidden upside left to develop here. He is what he is: a bad backup quarterback that has his job because he is tall and has arm strength.

Here is hoping the Texans cut bait and come back with a fresh answer as the string gets played out. Even if Warden Bob is predisposed against a certain available quarterback, that's fine. Find me a practice squad guy to dream on. Someone who at least has a chance to be a competent backup on a rookie contract. And if it blows up, nothing of value was lost. You're actually doing Savage a favor by letting him escape the season healthy and limiting the amount of bad snaps he can put on tape behind this line.

Never Again, Nevermore

Brett Kollmann

I hope the Browns enjoy our top 10 pick.

This Is A Great Look On Him

Mike Bullock

Well, at least the Texans didn't get utterly destroyed on National TV by a Super Bowl contender. They actually had a shot at winning for the first 15 minutes.

Diehard Chris

Tom Savage is perhaps better than he was when he started the season and/or when he took over for Deshaun Watson. But that's still not close to NFL competency, especially when it comes to taking care of the ball. Just to be somewhat contrarian, he wasn't terrible when he had a clean pocket. That hardly matters, though - because that pocket? - it ain't gettin' any cleaner anytime soon.

At this point the only possible value Tom Savage has as a Houston Texan is to some way, some how play above his head for the remaining five games and allow Rick Smith to Jedi mind-trick some woeful GM with a decent offensive line in place into giving Rick a 7th rounder for him. Then he can begin his destiny as a middling backup and put this starting nonsense behind him.

I realize how ridiculous that sounds, but remember - it requires Savage to play better down the stretch.... I realize how ridiculous THAT ALSO sounds, but remember... um... the Houston Astros are 2017 World Series Champions?

I’m A Sad Panda

Which Is Better?

bfmf’nd

I'm old enough to remember that, after watching Tom Savage attempt to play quarterback for four years, Bill O'Brien thought Savage should be the starter for your Houston Texans this year.

After 162 passing attempts in 2017, it's clear that Tom Savage is not of starting quality as an NFL QB, and it's even questionable as to whether or not he's a capable backup. With 12 turnovers in just that span of attempts, he's little more than a turnover machine.

And let's give credit where it's due: BOB did what he could do scheme-wise with Savage to keep him clean with a ton of max protects and quick passes. The only time Savage had success Monday night was when the Ravens blew pass coverage, which happened oddly often, or when Savage was throwing to DeAndre Hopkins.

The good news is that the con is over, and the Texans are now out of the playoff hunt. No more false hopes or promises, and I'm free to just sit back and enjoy watching Benardrick McKinney, Jadeveon Clowney, DJ Reader, Dylan Cole, and the rest of the young defensive core.