 The Houston Texans are 2-3 and in the third place in the AFC South. They have beat easy teams (Titans, Raiders), put up a fight against somewhat ok teams (Jaguars, Cardinals), and been blow out by good teams (Jets). The team has been teasing the fans at Reliant Stadium with respectability. This flirting has kept them interested as the Texans have allowed just a point more than they have given up (23 points scored versus 24 points allowed). Certainly everyone expected a little bit more of an explosive offense his season, especially after Matt Schaub began to show signs of becoming a near-top tier quarterback last season. This season Schaub has kept that promise to fans. He has a quarterback rating of 97.9 (9th in the NFL) and has thrown the football for 300 or more yards three times but the Texans are 1-2 in those games. Of the two times he failed to do, one was because of a stifling defense and one was because the unwritten mercy rule forbade him from further embarrassing the Raiders. His main target all season long has been Andre Johnson. Despite the fact that he is 8th in the league in receptions, fifth in yards, and tied for first for touchdown catches it feels like he is having an of year. Last season he had 115 receptions and this season he is only on pace for 90. The Houston Texans offense has been moving the ball by air since Steve Slaton and the running game has yet to work in 2009. As a team the Texans average 75.4 rushing yards a game and the backs are moving the football at 3 yards a carry. Defensively the Texans are barely winning the turnover battle, forcing eight takeaways compared to the offenses seven giveaways. On the field, the Houston defense has some issues stopping the pass, but has a huge gaping hole in the front seven that somehow allows an obscene 140.8 yards rushing a game. The next four games on the Texans NFL schedule take them to Cincinnati, back home to play San Francisco, back out East to Buffalo, and to the Midwest to play the Colts. This type of team could upset a few of the teams, and should walk away with at least one win against Buffalo.
|
