Colts 27, Texans 20

5 reasons to keep watching the Texans after Sunday's 27-20 loss to the Colts

5 reasons to keep watching the Texans after Sunday's 27-20 loss to the Colts
The Texans just can't catch a break. Photo by Getty Images

Chad Hansen should be a part of next year's team.

Let's face it; there is not a lot of interest in the Texans right now. They have nothing to play for, no draft pick to tank for and are basically playing exhibitions. Sunday, they played a decent game again with a gritty effort, but came up short in a 27-20 loss to the Colts, once again fumbling on the final drive. Deshaun Watson had another monster game (33 of 41 for 373 yards and two TDs), but other than that, it's a struggle to come up with any reason to keep watching this team. We still managed to somehow find five:

1) Let's see if Whitney Mercilus can continue being invisible. The overpaid Mercilus had gone two games in a row without so much as a tackle entering Sunday's game. When it came to ineptitude, he did not disappoint against the Colts, with ONE tackle. One freaking tackle in three games. (He also had a nice flail at the running back early in the game). Can he keep continuing to be useless over the last two games? Let's find out. Play a drinking game; for every quarter he goes without a tackle, take a shot. You will get at least three in per game. He appeared to injure his arm late, so maybe the Texans are merciful and put everyone out of their misery.

2) We should find out if Brandin Cooks can win a job here next year. Cooks has been solid when on the field, but he is a $12 million cap hit next season and the Texans can cut him with no penalty. Keke Coutee (if he can learn to protect the ball) and Chad Hansen should be on the roster next year, and Randall Cobb is not going anywhere due to his ridiculous contract. So it might come down to re-signing Will Fuller (or adding a better free agent) or keeping Cooks. He needs to have a big couple of weeks to make the new GM and coaching staff have a hard decision.

3) We can enjoy what might be J.J. Watt's last two games as a Texan. Watt has been the greatest player in franchise history and one of the best to ever play in the city. But the Texans won't be contenders next season, and they would be doing Watt a solid by dealing him to a legitimate contender at the twilight of his career. The guy has been a joy to watch, and seeing him on the field in a Texans uniform for what will likely be the last two times will be bittersweet, but enjoy him while you have him.

4) Then there is always the players who will be back next year. Mercilus will be but shouldn't. Unfortunately his contract is too punitive to purge unless they can find a trade partner. That probably won't happen unless Bill O'Brien is the other GM. The Texans should sit Watson (he was sacked four times in the first half and they are going to get him killed), but he is putting together a strong year and 4,000 yards, 30 TDs and under 10 turnovers would be outstanding. He has eight 300-yard passing games this season. Other than that? Hansen, Coutee, Laremy Tunsil, Tytus Howard (if his injury isn't season ending) and the cadre of tight ends are worth watching to see what the Texans can start with next year. On defense? It's basically Zach Cunningham, Tyrell Adams and Charles Omenihu. That's about it. Sad.

5) Let's see if any of the young running backs can be part of the future. David and Duke Johnson and their ridiculous contracts should be gone next season. The Texans will have to invest rare draft picks or free agent money for a legitimate replacement. But they will need backups, and we should see Buddy Howell, Scottie Phillips and any other guy they can find off the scrap heap over the last two games. We don't need to see another minute of the David Johnson experience. He had a nice game as a target for Watson passing, but he can't run, and all he does is remind people what a crappy trade Bill O'Brien made with DeAndre Hopkins. The snake has been beheaded. Let's chop off the rest of it now. (That includes you too, Jack Easterby).

The bottom line: Yeah, these aren't great reasons. But we have to look for something, right? It is still NFL football. Sort of. And there are only two games left before what will be a critical off-season. Might as well find something to enjoy. Admittedly, I miss having O'Brien to make fun of and criticize. There is no joy in beating up on Romeo Crennel and his staff, which is basically still O'Brien's staff. So we will focus on the five reasons above over the next two weeks.

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The Texans are back in action next week against the Dolphins. Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images.

C.J. Stroud faced criticism in Houston's last few games as the Texans hit a rough patch after losing just two of their first eight games.

But the second-year quarterback remained confident and his strong performance last Sunday helped the Texans (8-5) to a 23-20 win over the Jaguars to enter their bye with a two-game lead atop the AFC South.

“When he is leading and playing the way he is playing, our entire team feeds off of him,” coach DeMeco Ryans said. “I am excited for his second year. I think he is showing a ton of growth, he is in a really great spot for us physically, mentally. I really love where he is and I am excited to see how he comes back after the break.”

Stroud threw for 242 yards and a touchdown against Jacksonville to leave him ranked fourth in the NFL with 3,117 yards passing this season. That game came after he threw two interceptions in a 32-27 loss to Tennessee a week before for the team’s third loss in four games.

Those two interceptions brought his season total to nine, which are four more than he threw in 15 games a rookie. But the Texans aren’t worried about that statistic and believe he has grown in his second year.

“He’s made a lot of progress,” general manager Nick Caserio said. “There are some plays, like all of our players, that we probably wish he could have back, but happy he’s our quarterback, happy with what he brings to the table. ... Wouldn’t want anyone else leading this team.”

The Texans are in position to win their division for a second straight season despite dealing with several significant injuries on offense. Running back Joe Mixon missed three games early with an ankle injury and leading receiver Nico Collins was sidelined for five games with a hamstring injury.

They also lost four-time Pro Bowler Stefon Diggs for the season when tore an ACL in Week 8.

Mixon leads the team with 887 yards rushing and 11 touchdowns and has added four touchdown receptions. His work in his first season in Houston after a trade from Cincinnati has helped the team deal with those significant injuries to the receiving corps.

Mixon ranks third in the NFL by averaging 88.7 yards rushing a game and has had at least 100 yards rushing in seven games.

Stroud has continually raved about Mixon’s contributions on and off the field.

“He’s a servant, a helper,” Stroud said. “That’s ultimately what I want to be as well. Who can I serve and how can I help? That’s ultimately what the game of football is.”

While Mixon has been the team’s most important new acquisition on offense, Danielle Hunter has been Houston’s new defensive star. The defensive end spent his first eight seasons in Minnesota before joining the Texans this year.

He has helped Houston lead the NFL with 84 tackles for loss after piling up 15 this season, which is tied for third most in the league. He also leads the Texans with 10½ sacks to help them rank second with 42.

Hunter been a great addition to a team that already had defensive end Will Anderson Jr., last year’s AP Defensive Rookie of the Year. Anderson ranks second to Hunter on the team with 13 tackles for loss and 9½ sacks.

Ryans said this week’s break is much needed for a team that opened the preseason on Aug. 1 in the Hall of Fame game.

“It’s here and we’re going to take advantage of it,” he said. “We’ve been going at it for a long time.”

The Texans need to recharge this week with a brutal stretch of three games in 10 days when they return from their bye. Houston hosts Miami on Dec. 15 before a trip to Kansas City on Dec. 21 and a visit from the Ravens on Christmas Day.

“It’s Christmas and all that, but we can’t worry about that. All we can do is focus on Miami,” Caserio said. “And then when we get through the Miami game, then we kind of turn the page to the next. ... We’re either going to earn it or we’re not. Not to oversimplify it, but that’s the truth.”

The Texans will play those game without starting linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair after he received a three-game suspension for his violent hit to the head of Jacksonville’s Trevor Lawrence, which led to a concussion.

Al-Shaair will be eligible to return for Houston’s regular-season finale against Tennessee.

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