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Texans fans have gone through enough lately. The come from ahead playoff loss to the Chiefs was enough. Yet this fan base has been nothing but loyal and supportive through it all. Despite their loyalty, It seems as if the Texans don't give a damn about what the fans think, as long as they're footing the bill. Not only did the fans weather the storm of that debacle in Kansas City, but they were rewarded with Bill O'Brien getting more power! And what does this dumbass do? He trades the best wide receiver in Texans' history!
What did they get in return
Simple answer: not a thing that's worth a damn. The actual answer: running back David Johnson, a 2nd round pick, and a swap of 4th round picks. Johnson hasn't been a real factor in the last three seasons. The 2nd rounder and 4th round swap should've included a 1st rounder, if not more. To get so little in return was like rubbing salt in the wound while pouring alcohol on it, then wrapping it in sand paper.
Stunting Deshaun Watson's growth
Having a receiver like Hopkins is a quarterback's best friend. He's relaible because he runs immaculate routes and catches anything remotely close to his catch radius. He may not have the blazing speed, but he will win most one on one battles for the ball. The only thing fans can hope for is for the team to take a receiver in the draft that can fulfill some of the Grand Canyon-sized void Hopkins leaves behind. Without a 1st rounder, that will be tough. Watson no longer has his security blanket, which will hurt his growth because he no longer has that one guy he can rely on to make the tough catch in a critical time.
O'Brien's history of buffonery
Getting what he got for Hopkins feeds the narrative of him being a dumbass as a GM. Extending Whitney Mercilus, Ka'imi Fairbairn, Nick Martin, and Bennardrick McKinney were all boneheaded moves for one reason or another. Trading Hopkins, Jadeveon Clowney, and Duane Brown for quarter waters, half-smoked cigarettes, and leftover wing dinners adds uel to the dumpster fire that he's been as a personnel guy. O'Briwen is the type of GM that would not fill up his gas tank during hurricane season, only to run out of gas trying to leave the city, then get flooded in his vehicle because he get stuck in a high water area because he tried to drive through it. He's woefully inept at many of the hats he wears, yet the McNairs seem to be okay as long as the bottom line is in the black instead of the red.
Only one thing stops this madness
More and more I'm hearing Texans' fans say they're fed up. Whether they show it when it counts is another thing. The only way this type of behavoir is deemed unacceptable is if it starts to hurt the bottom line. When the team starts to lsoe money, the McNairs will finally listen. I was told by a very trusted source that only six to eight teams every year actively pursue winning a title. The others are solely out to make a profit. Should they happen to win, that's just an added bonus. The Texans are proving to be one of those profiteers.
There are moments in which a sports fan won't forget where they were or what they were doing when they heard the news. When Mark McGuire hit 62. The time Deion Sanders played in a World series and NFL game on the same day. How about the time Magic Johnson announced he was HIV positive? Or the day we all found out Kobe Bryant had passed away? Some memories are fond. Others are painful. But the common thread is a memory you won't forget. For the next couple years, Texans fans have to hold out hope that this egotistical idiot knows what he's doing. They must rely on a guy who's head is so far up his own ass, his ears are clogged poop so he can't hear the logic others are trying to reason with him. All he sees and smells is his own crap so he's fully convinced it's the only way to go. Hopefully one day these fans are treated to a respectable franchise instead of a laughingstock. Unfortunately, that day seems so far off, our kids may not even get to enjoy it.
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The Texans make just their third ever visit to Lambeau Field Sunday. It’s a dandy matchup as the Texans try to run their record to 6-1 at the expense of the 4-2 Green Bay Packers. The Texans have one win and one loss in Wisconsin. In 2008 the gameday high temperature was 13 degrees. Kris Brown kicked a 40 yard field goal as time expired to give the Texans a 24-21 win over a Packers team that struggled to a 6-10 record under first-year starting quarterback Aaron Rodgers. The Texans posted their second consecutive 8-8 finish that year. In 2016 the mercury reached a balmy high of 34 degrees as the Texans fell 21-13 at Lambeau. Inexplicably, Rodgers somehow managed to win the quarterback matchup with Brock Osweiler. The Texans and Packers each won their division that year. Both Texans’ trips to “America’s Dairyland” occurred in December. No risk of frozen tundra this time around. The forecast for Green Bay Sunday calls for a high of 75 degrees! That’s almost 20 degrees warmer than normal there for October 20.
It’s a dynamic QB matchup with C.J. Stroud and Jordan Love sharing the field. Love broke out in a huge way in 2023 after serving a two-year apprenticeship under Rodgers. After a stumbling 3-6 start to their season the Packers went 6-2 the rest of the way to snag a playoff spot. They obliterated the Cowboys in a Wild Card game in Arlington (before everyone obliterated the Cowboys in Arlington...) then led at the 49ers with under 90 seconds to go before San Francisco scored to win 24-21. The Packers made crystal clear their belief in Love by signing him to a four-year 220 million dollar contract extension in July. That’s 55 mil per season. Stroud becomes extension-eligible after next season. Anyone think he won’t be in position to command at least 65 mil per season?
Stroud sure looks to be the guy to finally give the Texans the long-term stability and excellence they have never had at the most important position in the sport. The Pack is all in on Love continuing its unreal long-term QB stability and excellence. Love took the reins after Rodgers helmed the offense for 15 seasons. Rodgers took the reins after Brett Favre’s 16-year tenure. So if Love makes it for nine years as the starter, that’s three primary QBs in 40 years. Absolutely amazing.
After missing two games because of a sprained knee ligament suffered in the final seconds of the Packers’ season opening loss to the Eagles in Brazil, Love has thrown 10 touchdown passes in three games. But he has only completed 59 percent of his passes, and has thrown at least one interception per game.
The Texans’ first trip to the NFC North this season went brutally badly, the 34-7 beatdown from Minnesota. The Vikings beat the Packers 31-29 in week four of the season. That was Love’s first game back, he threw four touchdown passes and three picks. One defensive weapon the Texans will have against the Pack they did not have against the Vikes is Denico Autry. The 34-year-old Autry returns from his six-game banned substance suspension. That happens as one of the fill-ins for him, Mario Edwards, starts his own four-game substance abuse suspension. That should be a net improvement for the Texans.
X-factors
The single biggest variable in swinging the outcome of football games is turnovers. So far this season the Packers have been a takeaway machine. Last season the Packers generated just 18 turnovers over their 17 regular season games, only six teams took the ball away less often. Through just six games this season the Packers already have 17 takeaways. No other NFL team has more than 13, the Texans have just seven. The Packers have produced exactly three turnovers in five of their six games, and got two in the other. Every defense preaches turnovers, so it’s not as if first-year Green Bay defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley has introduced radical concepts that are yielding magical results. But the results are what they are.
If the Texans take care of the ball, they have a terrific chance to win. Having Joe Mixon back aids the cause on two fronts. One, Mixon is obviously the Texans’ best running back. Two, Mixon last fumbled in 2021. The Texans probably best plan to score 25 or more points to win this one because the Packers figure to score a bit. In Love’s four starts the Pack has lit the scoreboard for 29, 29, 24, and 34 points. On the other hand, the Texans’ D has been pretty stout, allowing the third-fewest yards per game (Green Bay rates 18th). It’s a strength vs. strength battle. The Texans have allowed no opponent more than 313 yards in total offense. The Packers have amassed at least 378 yards in five of their six games, and managed 328 in their worst performance.
For Texans’ conversation, catch Brandon Strange, Josh Jordan, and me on our Texans On Tap podcasts. Thursdays feature a preview of the upcoming game, and then we go live (then available on demand) after the final gun of the game: Texans on Tap - YouTube
The Astros are always in season for discussion. Our Stone Cold ‘Stros podcasts drop Mondays: Click here to watch!