Welcome to week 2. This week we have a few more weather concerns than we did last week. Heat will be more widespread this week imparting a negative effect on defense. It's a lot tougher to chase guys around in the heat than it is to run knowing where you are going. Additionally rain and storms will be a possibility in Miami as a tropical depression or storm moves by Florida this weekend. Right now it looks like the storm itself should move out before Sunday but there will still be some lingering thunderstorms behind it. One potential concern would be lightning as delays could throw a wrench into the flow of the game for the teams.
This week you will also notice a new addition to the map. In games where winds will be 10 mph or more I have included a diagram in the game information displaying the wind direction in relation to the field. As we get into fall and winter this will become more important as wind will become more of a factor.
Finally, if you prefer not to scroll through the map, you can click the small arrow at the top left corner of the map and it will bring down a menu where you can click each game individually.
Recap if you missed last week: Above you will find an interactive map with pins for each outdoor game this week overlaid with forecasted precipitation. Clicking on a pin will display weather and fantasy impact information for the game.
As always if you have any suggestions or questions you can find me on Twitter @stephenuzick.
This is a list and a few thoughts from the five Thursday Night Football games where Bill O'Brien has been the head coach for the Texans.
2014: The almost comeback for the ages - Texans lose 33-28
This game sucked early, but then almost sucked a lot less. It still sucked in the end but it had one of J.J. Watt's best plays of his career.
The Colts jumped out to an early lead thanks to a Pat McAfee onside kick and a huge T.Y. Hilton play from Andrew Luck. It was one of the signature Hilton games in his time against the Texans. The Colts would lead 24-0 at the end of the first quarter. Ryan Fitzpatrick and Arian Foster along with some stellar defense would get the Texans back in the game but it wasn't enough.
This was the first Thursday game under Bill O'Brien and would be right in the middle of a three game losing streak coming off a bad overtime loss to the Cowboys and ahead of a Monday disaster against the Steelers.
I always describe this game as the one where Matt Hasselbeck was crapping his pants on the sidelines and still beat the Texans. I am not too wrong about this. He was so sick he didn't practice and yet still had enough for the Colts to beat the Texans. He was also 40 years old too by the way.
It also marked one of the quarterback indecision moments of Bill O'Brien's tenure. Ryan Mallett took a big hit and asked out of the game and Brian Hoyer returned to the game and played pretty well. He completed a long pass as time expired to Jaelen Strong (remember that name!?) to get the Texans their first touchdown. Trialing by seven Hoyer threw an interception in Colts territory ending the Texans comeback attempt.
2016: Brissett blows out Brock - Texans lose 27-0
This is one of the worst losses of the Bill O'Brien era. The Patriots were down to their third-string quarterback in the midst of a Tom Brady suspension and Jimmy Garoppolo's injury. Enter Jacoby Brissett and the best coach of all-time to torture Brock Osweiler and the Texans. Oh, by the way, Gronk was hurt too I think.
A field goal by New England put the first points on the board and the Texans fumbled the ensuing kickoff which then moments later saw Brissett take a rush 27 yards to the house. The Texans wouldn't get on the Patriots side of the field until there was a couple of minutes left in the third quarter and they were down 20-0.
We should have all known Osweiler stunk when he couldn't score in this game, but it took me a few more weeks before I really jumped off the Brock train.
2017: The first one for the chosen one - Texans win 13-9
Tom Savage was benched and Deshaun Watson's era began. A short week after sitting behind Savage in training camp and then getting thrown to the Jaguars defense in the second half of week one didn't matter to Watson. It was the start of his coming out party.
The defense kicked ass in this game helping Watson get the first win. The big run above was the moment many of us will never forget when it comes to this Thursday night affair.
2018: Welcome Back Brock - Texans win 42-23
Ah yes, the Brock Osweiler revenge game! The Texans had won four straight after a dreadful start to the season and were coming off a physical game with Jacksonville. This was Brock Osweiler's chance for revenge on the team that jettisoned him after the 2016 season.
There would be little revenge. Credit the Dolphins, they kept the game fairly close until Deshaun Watson started cooking in the second half. Four touchdowns in the second half was quite the efficient showing on just 10 pass attempts.
It was a fun Thursday night contest especially given the Texans history on the short week under O'Brien.
