Brock Osweiler’s 99-yard passing day does include two TDs and a game-sealing completion.
JACKSONVILLE — Let’s get the negative out of the way first: Yes, Brock Osweiler threw for a career-worst 99 yards in Sunday’s 24-21 Texans victory over Jacksonville.
At one point, Osweiler threw nine consecutive incompletions, including five on one series at the end of the first half. He threw over and behind open receivers.
But dig a little deeper into Oswiler’s performance at EverBank Field, and you’ll discover some important plays he made to help the Texans post their first road win to increase their record to 6-3 and keep them alone in first place in the AFC South.
Osweiler threw two touchdown passes to tight ends — Ryan Griffin for 1 yard and Stephen Anderson for 7. He didn’t throw an interception, and he was sacked once.
Osweiler ran for a season-high 23 yards and picked up two first downs in the process.
Crucial completion
Most impressive of all was the last pass he threw.
After the Jaguars scored and converted a two-point conversion to pull within three with 2:12 left in the game, the Texans needed to get a first down to run out the clock.
On third-and-5 from their 13 with two minutes left, Osweiler took a quick drop and threw a slant pass to DeAndre Hopkins for a 10-yard gain and a first down. Game over.
“That was a big play because we had to have it,” coach Bill O’Brien said. “If we were punting backed up like that, it would have been a difficult situation for us to be in.”
Typically, Osweiler praised his teammates.
“It was a huge play for the team,” he said. “I think all the credit needs to go to the offensive line for giving me time. Hop ran a tremendous route. Everybody stepped up in that moment when we really needed it.”
Osweiler was asked what he would have said if he’d been told before the game he would throw for only 99 yards.
“As long as there’s a win on the end of that, sign me up every week,” he said.
In this season’s four road games, Osweiler has averaged 140 yards passing.
“We won’t worry about stats,” O’Brien said. “It’s about winning. Whatever it takes to win is what we try to do.”
The Texans continued to rely heavily on the running game. With Osweiler struggling for most of the game, they generated 181 yards and a 5.5-yard average.
Lamar Miller (83 yards) played with a sore shoulder and shared the workload with Alfred Blue (23) and Akeem Hunt (52), who was promoted from the practice squad last week.
Even Osweiler contributed to the running game with his 23 yards.
Fourth-quarter power game
As they did in their last game, a victory over Detroit, the Texans pounded the defense in the fourth quarter. They ran for 85 yards in the fourth, including four runs of at least 11 yards.
No run was bigger than Hunt’s gaining 17 yards on third-and-16. His run led to Nick Novak’s 51-yard field goal for a 24-13 lead with 8:32 left in the game.
“The group is starting to jell,” Osweiler said about the backs and their blockers. “I think it’s the chemistry.
“We’re now in the second half of the season and (have) had a lot of practice together. We’re able to master some of those plays, and I think we also have tough, physical backs. That was very hard running between the tackles.”
AFC South streak up to 8
The Texans moved to 3-0 in the division. Their eight-game winning streak in the AFC South is the longest division streak in the NFL. Their next game is against Oakland on Nov. 21 in Mexico City.
“The most important thing in November and December — and coach O’Brien keeps preaching it — is that you need to be able to protect the football,” Osweiler said. “We were able to do that, and that was huge.”
It was the Texans’ first turnover-free performance of the season. They’ll have to play a lot better if they expect to beat Oakland and earn their first road win over a quality opponent.