Sunday, October 13, 2013

2013 Texans Watch-Four Weeks, Four Straight Aggravating Losses

St Louis Rams v Houston TexansAs you probably guessed, I'm not too happy with my fave NFL team right now.   Thank goodness my alma mater is unbeaten and the Dynamo are making their usual late season surge toward the MLS playoffs to keep my Houston sporting pissivity to a minimum

And yes people, my TV is still intact. 

The Texans have had the number one ranked defense, but suck in stopping people in the red zone.   They have forced only three turnovers so far in this 2013 season.  The offense has now after today's game thrown a pick six in every game starting with the opening one against the Chargers.  And what's up with all the penalties being called on this team that have stalled drives at critical times or kept them alive for their opponents?  

Despite the Texans dominating time of possession in the first half against the Baltimore Ravens back on September 22, a critical second quarter pick six by Schaub gave the Angry Birds the lead and eventually led to a 30-9 rout at M&t Bank Stadium that knocked them from the unbeaten ranks and got this NFL losing party started.  

Good thing I didn't go double or nothing on the crab cakes Robyn Webb owes me from last year's rout we put on the Ravens at Reliant.   


Richard Sherman's pick-six tied the game at 20-all. The Seahawks would defeat the Texans 23-20 in OT.
The Texans get the Seattle Seahawks at home, are beating them soundly and I leave home for another event that Sunday with them comfortably ahead 20-3.  By the time I arrive at the venue for it I discover that Matt Schaub has tossed another pick six to Richard Sherman that tied the game with 2:40 left in the fourth quarter that they eventually lose 23-20 in overtime.    


The Texans then head to Candlestick Park and get embarrassed again on national TV.  Schaub starts this game against the 49ers like he did the San Diego one with a pick six that jump started their 34-3 blowout loss  

It was Schaub's NFL record fourth straight game with a pick six and had elements of the fan base here calling for his permanent benching in favor of TJ Yates.   After Schaub threw his third pick of that 49er game he was pulled.  The turnovers and stupid penalties on both sides of the ball didn't help either. 

(Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)Their latest loss came at Reliant to their third straight NFC West opponent in the St Louis Rams . The Texans once again moved the ball around at will but settled for field goals in the red zone. Arian Foster rushed 20 times for 140 yards, but penalties and four critical red zone turnovers turned this into a 38-13 rout as well.

And I have two words for the nekulturny bandwagon riding 'fans' who cheered when Schaub was carted off the field with a ankle injury after being sacked in the third quarter. 

Not cool.  

The 2-4 Texans have a trip to unbeaten (6-0) Kansas City looming next Sunday in which they will attempt to avoid going 0-for-October before their much needed bye week. 

They finally ended a touchdown drought that covered 9 quarters and 12 minutes of overtime when Ben Tate scored in the fourth quarter on his one yard plunge.   It was the first Texan TD scored since the second quarter of the Seattle game so I have some hope they'll get it together. 

When they come out of that bye week, they are facing a schedule that has the rest of their division games starting with the better than expected Colts team they have never beaten in Indianapolis, plus the New England Patriots, the Denver Broncos, a fast improving Oakland Raiders squad and a Jekyll-and-Hyde like Arizona Cardinals team in which you don't know which one will show up on Sunday.

Frankly, the Texans need to return to the football fundamentals.  Stop committing silly penalties. The receivers need to start coming back to the ball on those out routes to help Schaub out.   Get more creative in their play calling.  The Bulls On Parade need to create more turnovers.  

Whatever is ailing the Texans better get fixed fast because they are fortunate they have only played one AFC South Division game and already beat the Tennessee Traitors.   They are also 2-1 in their AFC conference games that go a long way toward breaking ties and determining who will get into the NFL playoffs at the end of the season. 

But their margin for error is shrinking and their time to turn this season around is dwindling.  .



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