Offense goes off the rails after another road bump
DENVER — Something about playing on the road brings out the worst in the Texans.
Maybe they malfunction because they miss their families, don’t like hotel food or inhale bus fumes on their ride to the stadium.
Whatever the reason, the Texans still can’t play well enough to beat a good team away from NRG Stadium. They proved it again Monday night when they suffered a 27-9 loss to the Denver Broncos at Sports Authority Field at Mile High.
The Broncos ended a two-game losing streak and ruined quarterback Brock Osweiler’s homecoming before 76,263 hostile fans and a national television audience.
Osweiler, who didn’t throw an interception for the first time this season, completed 22-of-41 for a measly 131 yards. His longest completion was for 13 yards against Denver’s secondary that’s the best in the NFL.
The Texans had more yards rushing (140) than Osweiler had passing. His 131 yards were the second-fewest in NFL history for a quarterback with at least 40 attempts, according to ESPN Stats and Information. Jesse Palmer’s 110 yards in 2003 were the fewest.
Osweiler threw for 50 of his 131 yards on their last two possessions when the Texans were hopelessly behind.
Kept out of end zone
The Texans reached Denver territory five times and came away with only three field goals.
The Broncos scored on five of their six trips into the Texans’ end of the field, including touchdown drives of 72, 75 and 68 yards.
As bad as the Texans were, especially their passing game, their 4-3 record is still good enough to lead the AFC South, the NFL’s worst division.
The Broncos elevated their record to 5-2 and remained tied with Oakland for first place in the AFC West.
The Texans’ offense was so inept against Denver’s ferocious defense that it failed to score a touchdown and was forced to settle for three Nick Novak field goals.
The Texans’ defense couldn’t sack or force a turnover by second-year quarterback Trevor Siemian, who finished with 14-of-25 for 157 yards and one touchdown.
Osweiler, who left the Broncos for the Texans and $72 million over four years, couldn’t get the ball down the field to receivers DeAndre Hopkins (6 yards a catch) and Will Fuller (5.5). He had to settle for short passes that did very little damage to Wade Phillips’ defense.
It must be noted that despite the offensive ineptitude, Novak’s third field goal, a 29-yarder, pulled the Texans within 14-9 with 9:09 left in the third quarter.
Unfortunately for the Texans, right when they drove into Denver territory late in the third quarter, disaster struck in the form of two turnovers that spoiled any chance of pulling off a shocking upset.
The Texans were on the move, but Alfred Blue lost a first-down fumble at the Denver 28 with 4:46 left in the third quarter. It turned out to be a back-breaker.
Rather than kick another field goal to pull within 14-12 or score a go-ahead touchdown, Blue’s fumble jump-started Denver’s offense. The Broncos responded with a 72-yard touchdown drive that ended with Devontae Booker’s 1-yard run to give them a 21-9 lead and some breathing room.
The Texans gift-wrapped the Broncos’ next score. The ball slipped out of Osweiler’s hand as he was trying to throw, and the Broncos recovered the fumble at the Texans’ 28. A field goal by Brandon McManus boosted their lead to 15 points.
Kubiak back on track
Denver needed a victory in the worst way.
Coach Gary Kubiak, who was presented a game ball by his players, returned to the sideline after a one-game absence for health reasons. The last thing he wanted was for the Broncos to have a three-game losing streak for the first time since 2011.
Not surprisingly, the home crowd booed Osweiler unmercifully from the first time he stepped on the field for pregame warmups and never let up.
Denver’s running game had been sputtering until the Texans came to town with their horrendous run defense. The Broncos ran for 190 yards, including 107 by C.J. Anderson.
Fortunately for the Texans, they return to NRG Stadium, where they are undefeated, to play Detroit before their open date. A 5-3 record at the midway point wouldn’t be too shabby considering how difficult their road schedule has been.
Those three road defeats have been to teams that have a combined record of 16-4.