First game since McNair’s death lends emotional tinge to tonight
The Texans are expected to be an emotional football team in many ways Monday night at NRG Stadium.
Days after the death of owner and founder Bob McNair, the first-place Texans have a pivotal home game against the Tennessee Titans.
The Texans (7-3) are trying to set a franchise record with their eighth consecutive win and strengthen their position as the frontrunners to win the AFC South and clinch an automatic playoff berth. They are 1½ games ahead of of the Indianapolis Colts (6-5) and two games up on the Titans (5-5).
The Texans are the first NFL team since the 1925 New York Giants to win seven consecu-
tive games in the wake of an 0-3 start. As successful as the Texans have been in building the streak, they understand there is still a lot of room for improvement in several areas.
“We don’t believe in the hype,” quarterback Deshaun Watson said. “We just grind. We just work. We understand that it’s going to be tough each and every week, and we understand that all 31 other teams don’t really care what we’ve done in the past. It’s about what we do this week.”
The Texans lost to Tennessee 20-17 in the second game of the year as Watson threw into coverage and the special teams unit allowed a fake punt for a touchdown. They’re trying to avoid being swept in the annual season series by their former defensive coordinator Mike Vrabel, now the Titans’ coach.
“Tennessee is a very physical football team,” Texans safety Tyrann Mathieu said. “Those guys beat us earlier in the season. I think those guys are going to come in here and really try to punk us, bully us. We’ve got to be prepared for that.”
The Texans regressed a bit during last week’s 23-21 win over Washington in the areas of ball security, redzone offense, missed field goals by kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn, and pass protection.
“You’re always looking to improve, no doubt about it,” coach Bill O’Brien said. “I think that’s what the league’s all about. Who can get better the fastest? Who can be the team that improves the fastest as the year goes on? I think every game there’s going to be chances for improvement, and we definitely have to improve.”
The Titans impressively defeated the New England Patriots 34-10 earlier this month but got blown out 38-10 by the Colts last week.
Now the Texans are tasked with containing mobile quarterback Marcus Mariota and running backs Dion Lewis and Derrick Henry and blocking Jurrell Casey and Brian Orakpo.
“When you’re winning, they all become more and more important,” O’Brien said. “You want it that way, and we have to focus hard on the details. Winning football in November/December means that you’ve earned the right to win during the week.
“You’ve earned the right to go out there and compete and win because you’ve prepared during the week and paid attention to the details and done everything that you’re asking each other as teammates or as coaches and players to go out and do to be able to win a game. As you keep continuing to win, that becomes more and more critical.”