THE INSIDE LOOK

5 observations from the Texans' loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars

5 observations from the Texans' loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars
Expect more heat on Bill O'Brien this week. Houstontexans.com

There really is nothing positive to take from the Texans 45-7 loss to the Jaguars on Sunday. In most of the post-Deshaun Watson games, they have at least been competitive, at least until the fourth quarter. This one was never close and the Texans never had a prayer. It was essentially over when the Jags went up 14-0. By halftime it was 31-0 and the rout was on. Here are five quick thoughts in the wake of the loss:

Jags one weakness is becoming a strength

The Jaguars’ patience with Blake Bortles is paying off. He has been a negative for almost his entire four-year career, but he is playing his best football now. The coaching change to Doug Marrone was a positive, and the Jags have done a nice job of establishing a powerful running game and using that to set Bortles up with play action. He has eliminated the critical mistakes from his game, especially in the red zone, and the Jags have everything else in place around him. It will be tough to trust him in the playoffs, but it goes to show players can develop with better coaching and being put in a better position. He is playing at a much higher level than I ever expected. Obviously, it helps that he was going up against a terrible defense, but he had a big game against Seattle the week before, too. Bortles got most of the fourth quarter off after going 21 of 29 for 326 yards, three touchdowns, no picks and a near-perfect rating of 143.8. 

Nothing special

The Texans special teams continue to be a complete joke. Three penalties on the first two extra points? Yes, there are players on the field that do not belong in the NFL, but these are dumb penalties, not hustle penalties. And an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on your punter that leads to points before the half? Wow.  And of course, coverage was shaky on punts. It kind of got lost in a game where the Texans had no chance but once again special teams was a negative.

Cover zero

Is there anyone on this defense that can cover a wide receiver? Kevin Johnson continues to regress and is starting to look like a busted pick. He simply has not been the same since returning from last year’s injury. The hope that he would return to form is one of the reasons the Texans did not invest heavily in A.J. Bouye. Kareem Jackson has been OK at times, but Johnathan Joseph looks done. They made it look way too easy for Bortles and the Jags. Some of that has to be scheme, as the Texans were confused the entire game (well, at least in the first half when the Jags were trying). The Texans got very little pressure and forced no turnovers again.

The line has been drawn

The offense figured to struggle against the Jags defense, and it lived down to expectations. The offensive line was simply overmatched by the Jags front seven, and as a result they were unable to run the ball or protect the QB. T.J. Yates was not very good, but did anyone expect him to be? Not much to say here other than they were just flat out bad. The Texans are going to have to totally revamp their OL in the offseason as there is little in the cupboard as the unit is now constructed.

The heat is on

For the first time this season, the Texans were not even competitive, especially on defense. The coaching staff had actually been doing a pretty good job of keeping the players motivated until this game. Expect more heat on Bill O’Brien and Rick Smith in the wake of this one.

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Framer Valdez recorded six strikeouts. Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images.

Jason Heyward hit a two-run homer early and Jon Singleton had three hits, capped by a tiebreaking RBI single in Houston’s four-run eighth inning, and the Astros got a 6-3 win over the Oakland Athletics on Thursday.

Brent Rooker homered off Ryan Pressly (2-3) with one out in the eighth to tie it at 2-all.

Yainer Diaz and Kyle Tucker hit consecutive singles with one out in the eighth to chase T.J. McFarland (2-3) and bring on Grant Holman. There were two outs in the inning when Singleton’s single to center field scored Diaz to put the Astros on top.

Jake Meyers followed with a run-scoring double before the Athletics intentionally walked Heyward to load the bases. Mauricio Dubón singled on a ground ball to left field to score two more, pushing the lead to 6-2.

Tyler Nevin hit a solo homer off Josh Hader with one out in the ninth before the closer retired the next two batters to end it.

Houston’s Framber Valdez allowed five hits and a run with six strikeouts in 6 1/3 innings to help the Astros avoid a three-game sweep and snap a three-game skid with the victory.

Oakland starter Mitch Spence permitted seven hits and two runs in seven innings.

Singleton hit a ground-rule double with one out in the second before Heyward smacked a line drive into the second row in right field for his first home run as an Astro to make it 2-0.

It was the third hit in 12 games with Houston for Heyward, who signed with the Astros Aug. 29 after being released by the Dodgers.

Jacob Wilson doubled to open the seventh and moved to third on a ground out by Nevin. The Athletics cut the lead to 1 when Wilson scored on a single by Daz Cameron that chased Valdez.

Bryan Abreu took over and pinch-hitter Seth Brown grounded into a double play on his second pitch to preserve the lead.

Lawrence Butler doubled with one out in the third to extend his career-long hitting streak to 20 games.

Singleton doubled again to start Houston’s fourth before Spence sat down the next 11 Astros. Houston’s next base runner came on a double by Dubón with two outs in the seventh and Alex Bregman grounded out to leave him stranded.

Trainer’s Room

Athletics: 1B Tyler Soderstrom (left wrist injury) is scheduled to come off the injured list Friday for the start of a series against the White Sox.

Astros: 2B Jose Altuve was out of the lineup Thursday, a day after leaving in the fifth inning with discomfort in his right side. Manager Joe Espada said he was feeling better Thursday and that he is listed as day to day.

Up Next

Athletics: LHP Brady Basso (0-0, 1.93 ERA) will start for Oakland against LHP Garrett Crochet (6-11, 3.83) in the opener of a three-game series against the Chicago White Sox Friday night.

Astros: Houston LHP Yusei Kikuchi (8-9, 4.31) opposes LHP Samuel Aldegheri (1-1, 2.45) in the first of three games against the Los Angeles Angels Friday night.

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