Why the Texans are a Better Team Than You Think
Despite a slow start, can the Texans still find success as the season progresses?
Two weeks into the regular season, the Texans are 0-1-1. It’s been a rollercoaster of a start. In week one we came out of the gate looking great. Houston bested Indianapolis 20 to 3 in the first three quarters. Most fans, including myself, thought that the game was pretty much over. Well, we were wrong. The Colts came roaring back, scoring seventeen unanswered in the 4th and sending the game to overtime. Heading into OT with little to no momentum, the game now looked like a sure thing for the Colts. However, both defenses battled and the contest ended scoreless, the first Texans tie ever. It was disappointing to say the least. While the result of a tie against the Colts, who were expected to be the better team, may seem like a success to some fans. It’s really not. We dominated that game up until the 4th quarter, a trend that continued into the next week.
The Texans headed to Denver to face Russell Wilson and the Broncos. The game was very low-scoring and uneventful, ending 16 to 7 in favor of the Broncos. The Texans offense was terrible, especially the passing game and Davis Mills. The Texans defense battled and was on the field for most of the game, as a result, the players were tired, leading to a surrender of ten points in the 4th quarter.
However this season the Texans defense has looked much improved and many players have stepped up as difference makers. The Texans are allowing only 18 points per game, and allowing conversions on only thirty-three percent of third downs. The defense features the first and second leading tacklers in the NFL in S Jonathan Owens, and LB Kamu Grugier-Hill. The one concern though is the yardage. However this is likely because of the offense that ranks 4th worst in the league in yards per game and 6th worst in points per game. While the offense may be subpar, there still is hope.
It all starts with a man who is the subject of countless Texans debates. That would be the giraffe himself, Davis Mills. A lot of people think that Mills is a terrible quarterback, and is nothing more than a bridge to the real franchise QB that we’ll draft in 2023. Others think that Mills is great, they say that based on how Mills played at the end of last season that he is our franchise guy. I’ve been both of these people. Last year I was convinced that Mills was the man after coming out of nowhere and setting the league on fire to end 2021. However now, I’ve begun to join the dark side and I’m starting to lean towards moving on from Mills. I still think Davis Mills can be good, but I just don’t see his potential being good enough to lead us to a Super Bowl some day.
Mills doesn’t necessarily have to be fantastic this year for the Texans to be good though. If the defense can continue it’s stellar play, Brandin Cooks can stay consist, Nico Collins can bring his offseason improvements to the field, the offensive line can get healthy and comfortable, and Dameon Pierce can continue to make strides, then I believe that if Mills can provide solid play we will be a good team. I know that’s a lot to ask for, but to be honest I believe this is a realistic scenario. So, If the Texans want to be a good football team then a good start would be Lovie Smith’s week three revenge game versus the Bears. A win there would certainly move Houston in the right direction.
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