I took it as a harbinger of things to come. I was already sweating a loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. I planned on 5-1 record at the break before the Giants left town. Now I was planning on a 4-2 mark but was nervous about 3-3 instead.
I kept telling myself the Kansas City Chiefs aren't that good. I tried to ignore the one loss record. I tried to ignore the fact that the pretty much stood toe to toe with the Colts.
I also tried to deny Matt Cassel could do any damage. I though the Texans defense couldn't possibly be that bad to let even the Chiefs rip them.
Then I pulled my head out of the sand and faced reality. That reality said hat 3-3 was a possibility. The fan in me still denied 3-3 and hoped for 4-2. Thank God I have the faith of a die hard fan.
The Opening Drive
The Chiefs took the opening drive and manhandled the Texans defense. The Chiefs did exactly what the Texans did to the Colts to close out the game.
Matt Cassel and company engineered a dominant 15 play 74 yard drive. The KC offense converted two forth downs. They kept the ball for over eight minutes. 7-0.
I viewed the opening drive as a harbinger of things to come. The Texans didn't help my gloom and doom mood with a very short opening drive.
The Texans managed to score a second quarter TD. Mostly likely the game would have been tied at half if not for the generous Texans defense. 14-7.
Despite the poor play of the defense, the Texans did well get hold KC to 14. It could have bee a lot worse.
Again, That Defense
The defense continued their generous ways through the second half. They allowed a third TD in the third but also held the Chiefs to a field goal.
The offense managed their own TD and the Texans were still very much in it at the end of three.
It was at this point where the game changed. The Texans responded to the KC field goal with their own touchdown drive. KC got the TD back and regained a 10 point lead.
The Texans then took their last two possessions and turned them into touchdowns and victory.
In between the two Texans touchdowns, the defense finally showed up. They held the Chiefs to a three and out.
Matt Schaub went right to work on the game winning drive. The first two plays saw TE Owen Daniels break free for big gains. The Texans first positioned themselves to make the field goal if needed to force overtime. From there they went to work on ending the game in regulation. With 28 seconds left in the game, Schaub found Andre Johnson open in the back of the endzone for the game winner. Schaub put the ball where only Johnson could catch it and Johnson hauled it in and made sure he took small steps to ensure he was in bounds.
Key Stat of the Game
No field goals for the Texans. They scored 5 touchdowns with 4 from inside the red zone. Only Derrick Ward's 36 yard scamper came from outside the red zone. Definitely nice to see the Texans finish drives with seven instead of three.
A close second key stat was no turnovers. No one put the ball on the ground and Schaub didn't throw a pick. The way the defense played turnovers would have been killers.
Player of the Game
Matt Schaub by far is Texans player of the week. He calmly lead the comeback. The fans were frustrated and antsy. The defense played terrible. Schaub didn't let any of that affect him. He played perfectly on the two drives. He didn't panic when flushed out of the pocket. He simply put the ball in the air where the best player on the team could do his thing.
The Linebacker Situation
Time for some linebackers to heal. The Texans only had four healthy linebackers for Sunday's game. Xavier Adibi, Kevin Bentley and Darryl Sharpton were all inactive due to injuries. A season ending injury to DeMeco Ryans forced second year man David Nixon into action. Zac Diles slid over to Ryans' middle spot and Nixon took Diles slot. I noticed during the game that strong side LB Brian Cushing called the plays.
If all the remaining LBs are good to go, Cushing and Diles remain at their positions with Bentley taking over in the middle. Diles can play all three spots and can Bentley. Bentley, however, is the primary back up at MLB. Although, like Diles, Bentley can play all three spots.
More than likely, the Texans will try add another LB to fill out the roster spot left open by Ryans.
The Interference Call
Brandon Flowers was seething after a pass interference was called on him on an Andre Johnson 36 yard pass. Flowers felt that Johnson interfered with him and should have been flagged. SI.com hack Peter King thinks the replay clearly shows Johnson interfered.
Johnson didn't interfere and neither did Flowers. It should have been a no call. Despite what King the Hack things, the replay clearly shows nothing. No flag should have been thrown. On top of all that, Johnson caught the ball with no interference so result is moot.
If Kansas City fans want to complain about something then they need to complain about the decision to pass late in the game on 3rd down. With the clock running and the Texans defense giving up big yards on the ground, Cassel overthrew the tight end. The play was boneheaded on many levels. First, even if the run doesn't succeed, Houston must burn a time out. A run play ticks even a few more seconds off the clock until time out is called. The Texans defensive line seemed pretty tired at the end. Also with Ryans out, the middle would be more vulnerable to the run. It was a gusty call but the wrong one.
Go cry somewhere else KC.
Texans enter the bye week hoping to try something with the defense. Anything at this point would help.
They also have two weeks to hopefully mend up a couple of linebackers and add one soon.
See you on Monday night in Indy...signing off for my own bye week and two weeks off work...
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