Heat rises on teams desperate for a win
The mediocrity of the AFC South is underwhelming.
A division that was projected to be one of the NFL’s strongest looks as ordinary as ever with four teams tied with 2-2 records at the quarter point of the season.
The Texans are trying to rebound from their 16-10 loss to Carolina at NRG Stadium, where they host Atlanta, another disappointing team, on Sunday. The Falcons are 1-3 after suffering back-to-back losses to Indianapolis and Tennessee.
On a Sunday afternoon when the Texans will honor their late owner, Bob McNair, with induction into the team’s Ring of Honor, they have to avoid another putrid performance like the one they produced against the Panthers.
The Texans can’t afford another blemish on their record if they want to remain in first place. With road games against Kansas City and Indianapolis coming up, it’s essential for the Texans
to avoid another upset against the Falcons. Consecutive losses at home would be inexcusable.
Atlanta is a team with bad memories of NRG Stadium. The last time the Falcons played in Houston, they blew a 28-3 second-half lead (28-9 in the fourth quarter) to New England in Super Bowl LI and lost 34-28 in overtime.
There’s something about the AFC that brings out the worst in the Falcons. Not only are they 18-18 in the regular season since that Super Bowl defeat, but they’re 1-9 against AFC teams, including an 0-2 record this season and a six-game losing streak. Can the Texans make it seven in a row?
The Falcons are hard to figure. They have quarterback Matt Ryan with eight touchdown passes, a 70.5 completion percentage and 1,325 yards — second in the NFL to Patrick Mahomes. Ryan has a talented group of receivers with Julio Jones, Mohamed Sanu, Calvin Ridley and tight end Austin Hooper.
The Falcons are ninth in defense and tied for seventh against the pass, and yet Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota threw three touchdown passes in the first half of Sunday’s 24-10 victory in Atlanta.
Like Bill O’Brien, Atlanta coach Dan Quinn is under siege from fans and media. There are
reports Quinn’s job is in jeopardy. This is his fifth season. Counting the playoffs, his record is 40-33 but only 8-12 over the last two seasons.
O’Brien doesn’t want to hear anything about the Falcons being down. He knows how dangerous their offense can be with Ryan and Jones.
“They’re an explosive team,” O’Brien said. “They’ve got a lot of talent on offense. Great quarterback. Julio Jones, (Mohamed) Sanu, (running back) Devonta Freeman. They’ve got a great left tackle ( Jake Matthews).
“Defensively, they have good scheme. We’ve seen this type of scheme now three out of the first four weeks, so we’ve got to be ready for it. We’ve got to do a good job against it.”
There are two things in particular to keep an eye on in this game.
It should be exciting watching Deshaun Watson and DeAndre Hopkins vs. Ryan and Jones. Hopkins and Jones are All-Pro receivers who can make any catch, and both twosomes will be put to the test to see if they can help reverse their teams’ misfortune.
Also, the Falcons have recorded only five sacks in four games. Only Philadelphia (three) has fewer sacks than the Falcons.
The Texans have allowed 18 sacks. It’s hard to believe two teams — Arizona (20) and Cincinnati (19) — have surrendered more.
Will the Falcons’ pass rushers be able to get to Watson, who was sacked six times by the Panthers?
Watson has six touchdown passes and one interception to go with his 18 sacks. Through four games last season, Watson had seven touchdown passes, four interceptions and 17 sacks. The Texans were 1-3.
By comparison, Ryan has eight touchdown passes and six interceptions. He’s been sacked 10 times. The Falcons will have their hands full trying to keep Whitney Mercilus (five sacks) and J.J. Watt (three) away from Ryan.
Ryan’s interceptions are the primary reason the Falcons are minus-5 in turnover differential, tied for 28th. The Texans are plus-2 because Watson has avoided interceptions.
Bad news for Ryan: The Texans have forced at least one turnover in 17 consecutive games, the league’s longest active streak.
This is a game both teams should be desperate to win. The last thing the Texans need is a 2-3 start before they go on the road against the Chiefs and Colts. And the Falcons don’t need a second consecutive 1-4 start that could cause them to miss the playoffs for the third season in a row.
Sunday’s game should be a shot in the arm for one team and a kick in the butt for the other.