5-day span one of intrigue
Potential Osweiler reunion looms following key division matchup with nemesis Jaguars
Within five days next week, the Texans have what should be a challenging and interesting opportunity before they reach the midway point of the season.
Beginning Sunday at Jacksonville, the Texans have a chance to extend their winning streak to four games if they can upset the Jaguars, who embarrassed them last season during an AFC South sweep.
Then, in a nationally televised game Thursday at NRG Stadium, the Texans play Miami. It’s a game that could have far more significance to Houston fans than just their team trying to close out the first half of the season with a victory.
Before we get into the Jacksonville game, let’s do what coaches warn players not to do — look ahead.
One day after the Dolphins defeated Chicago 31-28 in overtime Sunday, coach Adam Gase said something that should interest fans in Houston. Gase said he didn’t know when quarterback Ryan Tannehill would be able to return from a shoulder injury.
Gase’s comment means backup quarterback Brock Osweiler could start against the Texans. That distinct possibility should excite a lot of people in Houston who watched Osweiler in 2016, his only season with the Texans before they gave Cleveland a second-round pick to take him off their hands and free up cap dollars to be used in free agency.
Atoning for one-sided sweep
Fans and media can look ahead, but players aren’t supposed to, not that they would anyway, considering the intrigue that awaits them in Jacksonville.
In his first three seasons as coach, Bill O’Brien didn’t lose to the Jaguars. Last season, when his close friend, Doug Marrone, got the Jaguars’ job, that changed.
Not only did Marrone guide the Jaguars to two victories over the Texans, but the average score was 37-7. The Texans haven’t forgotten how it felt to get hammered by a combined score of 74-14, but whether they can do anything about it Sunday remains to be seen.
The Texans and Jaguars are going in opposite directions. The Jaguars, who lost the AFC Championship Game at New England, started 3-1 but have lost the last two games to Kansas City (30-14) and New England (40-7), both on the road. The Jaguars, especially their second-ranked defense, are going to be seething Sunday at losing the last two but energized to return home for the Texans. The Jacksonville defense wants to see if the pass rush can dominate the Texans’ pass protectors as the Jaguars did last season when they had 14 sacks, including 10 in the first game.
The Texans’ defense has played exceptionally well in the last two victories, and the players are hoping they can do a better job against quarterback Blake Bortles than last season when he threw four touchdown passes and no interceptions in Jacksonville’s sweep.
O’Brien was asked this week what worries him the most about the Jaguars?
“I would never use the word ‘worry,’ ” he said. “I’ll let you use that word. They’re a great opponent, really good in a lot of areas. They’re strong in all three phases. We have a big challenge ahead of us.”
The Texans have clawed their way back from an 0-3 start to defeat Indianapolis, Dallas and Buffalo. After losses to New England, Tennessee and the New York Giants by seven, three and five points, O’Brien emphasized how tough his team is mentally, which has contributed to the winning streak.
“Every week is a little different,” he said. “The one thing is that every game we’ve had has come down to the wire.”
Like Sunday’s 20-13 victory over Buffalo. The offense was awful with only 216 yards, but special teams and defense were outstanding. The Texans won on Johnathan Joseph’s 28-yard interception return for a touchdown.
“This is a very, very tough team,” O’Brien said. “That’s one thing I know about this team — very resilient, a team that really cares about each other. I think chemistry in this league is big. It’s underrated. I think talent is important. Don’t get me wrong, I think coaching is very important, but I think chemistry and toughness in the locker room is big. That’s why we enjoy coaching this team — because they fight.”
The Texans’ offense has to play a lot better if they’re going to have a chance to defeat Jacksonville. Deshaun Watson has thrown at least one interception in eight consecutive games dating to last season. Sunday would be a good time for Watson to end his interception streak.
Winning ugly not a concern
The key to the Jacksonville game, as it is in every game the Texans play, is if the offensive line — and tight ends and running backs — can provide enough protection for Watson to make plays, and will he get rid of the ball faster rather than absorb a lot of hits.
If not, the Texans won’t be tied for first place next week.
“I feel good for these guys,” O’Brien said about sharing the top spot. “We know we have to improve in areas, obviously. Winning the last three games the way we’ve won them shows a lot about that locker room and what they’re all about. To come back from where we were is a testament to those guys, but there’s a long way to go. There’s a lot of teams that are 3-3.”
The Texans are being criticized for winning ugly and not playing a complete game in all three phases and winning decisively. No game has been decided by more than seven points.
“I don’t care what anyone says,” O’Brien said about the criticism. “All I care about is the players in that locker room, the coaches upstairs, Mr. (Bob) McNair, Cal McNair, their families (and) the support staff.
“I (couldn’t) care less about what anyone else says. That’s not my job. My job is to coach the team to the best of my ability. and that’s what I’m trying to do.”