Work to do
McClain: Offense stiff as cardboard cutouts in another dreadful effort.
The Texans are supposed to be trying to win the AFC South for the fifth time in six years, but they’re wallowing in last place two weeks into the season.
In another dreadful performance, the Texans were as stiff as the cardboard cutouts that posed as fans at NRG Stadium, where they suffered a 33-16 loss to Baltimore.
What the Texans have shown in 14- and 17-point losses is they are not in the same class as Kansas City and Baltimore, the best teams in the AFC.
At this early point of the season, the Texans may not be in Jacksonville’s class, either. After defeating Indianapolis, the Jaguars went to Tennessee and scared the Titans before losing 33-30. The Jaguars joined the Colts at 1-1 behind unbeaten Tennessee.
“It’s never good to be 0-2,” quarterback Deshaun Watson said after throwing for 275 yards and one touchdown with one interception. “I don’t like to lose. The energy coming off the field is a little low, but you can’t get discouraged.”
The Texans’ next opponent is Pittsburgh at Heinz Field. They’ll be in danger of starting 0-3 for the second time in three years. That might be the time to get discouraged.
The Texans fell in another self-induced coma, and by the time they snapped out of it, they were in 10-0 hole. They climbed within 10-7, but three points was as close as they got to the Ravens, who have a 14-game regular season winning streak.
The Texans’ performance Sunday was similar to Kansas City, where they scored one touchdown until they trailed 31-7. They scored only one touchdown against the Ravens after having drives stall at Baltimore’s 26, 17 and 26, forcing them to settle for Ka’imi Fairbairn field goals.
Not that the Ravens needed any help, but the Texans gave it to them, anyway.
Behind 3-0, Bill O’Brien went for it on fourth-and-1 at the Texans’ 34. The Ravens called a timeout, so O’Brien had time to rethink his decision that backfired. Under pressure, Watson threw it at Darren Fells’ feet, and the Ravens capitalized on the short field for their first touchdown.
Watson, who threw a 10-yard touchdown pass to Fells, couldn’t get the Texans in the end zone but that one time.
“Start with the fourth down,” Watson said when asked about the offensive inability to score touchdowns when it had opportunities. “They did a good job of controlling the edge, creating pressure with the play call. They did a good job of coming off the edge and getting there quickly.
“The red zones, we’ve got to capitalize on those. I missed a touchdown with (Randall Cobb). I wasn’t set. I had to step up in the pocket. I didn’t put enough on it to get it up and get it into his arms, at least for a first down.”
Baltimore took advantage of another mistake by the Texans’ offense. Watson threw a short pass to Keke Coutee, and cornerback Marlon Humphrey knocked the ball loose. Linebacker L.J. Fort picked up Coutee’s fumble and scored on a 22-yard return that gave the Ravens a 20-7 lead.
“I’m sure he feels as bad about it as anybody,” O’Brien said about Coutee. “He’s worked hard but, when you fumble and it’s a touchdown, that’s a tough play. But we turned it over twice. They didn’t turn it over, and that’s really the name of the game — penalties and turnovers, and they won the battle.”
Baltimore was supposed to win the battle, but the Texans’ offense was supposed to be better. More productive and consistent.
“They did a heck of a job of containing us from getting in the end zone on those red zone drives,” Watson said. “You always want to get points, but with a great team like that, you’ve got to score touchdowns. And that’s the thing that we didn’t do today.”
Unlike the Ravens. No turnovers. Three penalties. Touchdowns on offense and defense. Perfect field goal day by Justin Tucker, who connected on four. The Ravens are as reliable as a Swiss watch.
Quarterback Lamar Jackson didn’t embarrass the Texans like he did last season when they lost 41-7 at Baltimore. He threw four touchdown passes in that game and only one Sunday — a 1-yard completion to fullback Patrick Ricard.
It’s hard enough to win in the NFL against any team if you fall behind, but it’s especially difficult if you fall behind teams like Kansas City and Baltimore.
Slow starts are nothing new for the Texans. Last season, they were outscored 75-47 in the first quarter and 187-162 in the first half. In two games, they’ve been outscored 37-17 in the first half. They have one touchdown in the first quarter.
“When you dig yourself a hole against playoff-caliber teams, it’s hard to come back in games like that,” said Cobb, who had five catches for 59 yards.
It’s preposterous the Texans’ offense isn’t more productive.
For the second game in a row, it was out of sync under new play caller Tim Kelly. The Texans aren’t a smooth operation like Baltimore is.
“We have to get better quickly,” O’Brien said. “We go to Pittsburgh, so we have to work hard this week to improve, and we need to play a lot better than we’ve been playing against Pittsburgh. We don’t have any choice, right?”