Election Sale: 6 Months for 99¢ Sale Ends Nov. 5 | Cancel Anytime |
The Houston Texans matched their best start in franchise history. Now comes the hard part
At this point in the season — six games in — the Houston Texans are exactly where they should be. They are 5-1, which matches their best start in franchise history set by the 2012 team.
This first third of their schedule was always going to be the easiest, and so far they've handled business. Their latest win was perhaps their most impressive: A 41-21 blowout over the struggling New England Patriots.
The jury is still out on whether this is a Super Bowl caliber-team. The Kansas City Chiefs are still the team to beat.
But so far, the Texans have checked all the boxes. They've withstood injuries to key players, re-discovered their running game, and have terrorized rookie quarterbacks, with the Patriots' Drake Maye the latest victim. Will Anderson Jr. sacked him three times, Danielle Hunter had another, and they pressured him on 47.6% of his dropbacks Sunday.
But now comes the tough part.
The Texans face the Green Bay Packers, Indianapolis Colts, New York Jets and Detroit Lions in consecutive weeks. Those teams have a combined 13-9 record. All four teams are in a position to make the playoffs. And all four are capable of beating the Texans.
How the Texans come out of this stretch could ultimately determine the direction in which this team is heading.
As of now, with the second-best record in the AFC, that direction is straight for the playoffs and maybe more. A Super Bowl is in sight.
 | Jonathan M. Alexander, Texans beat reporter |
3 🔑 plays
Photo by: Brett Coomer, Staff Photographer
Danielle Hunter's strip-sack to start third quarter
It was the first possession of the third quarter, and the Patriots had an opportunity to tie the game. Hunter was lined up against the right tackle. He used a swim move to get past his man and had a clean line on rookie quarterback Drake Maye. As Maye cocked his arm back, Hunter pounced on the quarterback, knocking the ball loose. Defensive tackle Mario Edwards recovered the fumble at the Pats' 10-yard line. Two plays later, the Texans scored to extend their lead to two scores. It was a 14-point swing.
Watch the play: Danielle Hunter's strip-sack
Photo by: Brett Coomer, Staff Photographer
Joe Mixon's 20-yard TD run in fourth quarter
At the time, the Texans led by two scores, and this Mixon run basically sealed the win.
Mixon starts inside and shoots for the hole created by left tackle Blake Fisher and guard Kenyon Green. Tight end Cade Stover picks up the free rusher. As Mixon reaches the second level, he cuts back outside of Stefon Diggs, who also makes a great block on the cornerback, and outruns the safety to the end zone for a 20-yard score. You can really see Mixon's vision here. It's what separates him from others.
Watch the play: Joe Mixon's 20-yard touchdown run
Go deeper: Texans show how a fierce running game can make life minus Nico Collins manageable
Photo by: Brett Coomer, Staff Photographer
Will Anderson's pass deflection leads to Eric Murray's INT
Before every game, DeMeco Ryans and Will Anderson Jr. have a ritual. They make eye contact for a few seconds, without saying a word, then nod their heads before moving on. Anderson said they do that to check each other's temperature to see if they are ready for the game. Ryans said he knew when checking Anderson's eyes Sunday that the edge rusher was ready. He had a career-high three sacks, and a pass deflection that led to an Eric Murray interception. The deflection, which led to the pick, was one of four turnovers on the day. How Murray made the pick with a blocker draped on him was wild, too.
Watch the play: Will Anderson deflection leads to an Eric Murray INT
For more: Will Anderson Jr. joins J.J. Watt in Texans' record book
Podcast
🎧 Texans Insider Podcast
|
Texans Trivia!
This week's question: How many quarterbacks threw Andre Johnson a pass in a Texans uniform? That includes those who did not complete a pass to Johnson. (You'll know this answer if you read one of my earlier stories on Johnson ahead of his Hall of Fame induction).
The first person to email me the correct answer gets a shoutout in the next newsletter.
Top Stories
Photo by: Brett Coomer, Staff Photographer
5 takeaways from Texans' win over Patriots
Houston's 20-point victory was its first by more than a touchdown in a 5-1 start. And the margin probably should have been greater.
- Minus Nico Collins, Texans show Pats the difference a fierce running game makes: With Joe Mixon and Dameon Pierce carrying the ball to great effect, Houston racked up a season high in points. Read More
- Lakers' LeBron James shows Texans' C.J. Stroud some love on social media: LeBron James is just like us. He watches football at home and posts his thoughts on social media. Spoiler alert: He loves watching C.J. Stroud. Read More
- What C.J. Stroud told Patriots rookie quarterback Drake Maye after Texans' win: Patriots quarterback Drake Maye got some encouraging words from the Texans' C.J. Stroud after making his first NFL start. Read More
Photo by: Jonathan Alexander, Staff Photo
My Boston food review
On Saturday, I went to Neptune Oyster, one of Boston's most popular seafood restaurants. I got the lobster roll sandwich and fries.
I'll give it a 7 out of 10 and not because it wasn't great. I just may not be a big fan of lobster rolls. The fries were really tasty, though. The entire meal was super filling. And if you don't mind waiting in line for an hour, I'd recommend going if you're in the Boston area.
On Sunday, I had clam chowder from Legal Sea Foods at the Patriots game. Now that was a 10 out of 10. It had a ton of flavor and hit the spot on a somewhat chilly day.
|
Unsubscribe | Manage Preferences
Houston Chronicle
4747 Southwest Freeway, Houston, TX 77027
© 2024 Hearst Newspapers, LLC
No comments:
Post a Comment