The Texans offensive line played their worst game in a while

Offensive line among the disappointments for Texans in loss

Offensive line among the disappointments for Texans in loss

Plenty went wrong for the Houston Texans in their blowout loss to the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday. It would be unfair to pinpoint just one thing, but the offensive line had its worst day in a long time.

Deshaun Watson was sacked five times in the first half for a loss of 36 yards including one fumble.

The turnover happened early when wideouts couldn't get open and Watson scrambled in an attempt to make something happen. Matthew Judon would get to the Texans quarterback knocking him down and the ball loose.

The third Texans drive would begin by going backwards. This time Brandon Williams got home on Watson. A roughing the passer would eliminate the lost yards on the next play but it was another pop on Watson.

After the Ravens first score the Texans couldn't manage anything thanks to back-to-back sacks. The last sack of the first half would cost the Texans their last timeout. Deshaun Watson looked to get his ankle rolled up on during this play. The drive would end in a missed field goal.

The sixth sack of the day ended the first drive of the second half for Houston as their third down play ended with another Judon sack.

The rushing attack couldn't get going either. They managed just 36 yards on the ground in the first half with only 24 yards coming from the running backs. Baltimore's defense punished the Texans rushing attack every chance and with the issues through the air it wasn't meant to be for the ground game.

This is the first time in a while the offensive line has looked bad in all facets. The Ravens have a solid defense but to have these mistakes pop up when the game was still close is annoying. There should be some bounce back but no easy task with just a few days to recover ahead of Thursday night hosting the Colts.

Most Popular

SportsMap Emails
Are Awesome

Listen Live

ESPN Houston 97.5 FM
The Jazz host the Rockets on Thursday night. Photo by David Berding/Getty Images.

The Houston Rockets, riding a three-game road winning streak, head to Salt Lake City on Thursday night to take on the Utah Jazz. Tipoff is set for 9 p.m. EDT.

Team outlook

Houston (47-26) sits second in the Western Conference and has been dominant in recent weeks, winning nine of its last 10 games. The Rockets have thrived in blowout situations, going 21-9 in games decided by 10 or more points.

Utah (16-57) has endured a rough season, sitting at the bottom of the Western Conference standings. The Jazz have lost nine of their last 10 and are just 7-39 against conference opponents. Despite their struggles, they remain a strong team on the offensive glass, ranking sixth in the West with 11.9 offensive rebounds per game, led by Walker Kessler’s 4.6 per contest.

Key matchups

Kessler has been a bright spot for the Jazz, averaging 11.2 points, 12.3 rebounds, and 2.4 blocks per game. Collin Sexton has also stepped up recently, averaging 14.1 points over the last 10 games.

For Houston, Alperen Sengun continues to shine with averages of 19 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 4.9 assists. Dillon Brooks has also been on a tear, hitting 3.1 three-pointers per game in his last 10 contests.

By the numbers

  • The Jazz average 113.6 points per game but give up 120.1, a troubling disparity.
  • Houston allows just 108.8 points per game in its last 10 contests, a major reason for its recent dominance.
  • Utah’s 13.9 made three-pointers per game could be a factor against a Rockets defense that allows 12.1 per contest.

Injury report

The Jazz will be without several key players, including Lauri Markkanen (illness), John Collins (ankle), Taylor Hendricks (fibula), and Jordan Clarkson (foot).

The Rockets list Amen Thompson as day-to-day (ankle), while Reed Sheppard is out with a thumb injury.

With momentum firmly on their side, the Rockets will look to keep rolling and take care of business against a short-handed Jazz squad.


*Looking to get the word out about your business, products, or services? Consider advertising on SportsMap! It's a great way to get in front of Houston sports fans. Click the link below for more information!

https://houston.sportsmap.com/advertise


ChatGPT assisted.

SportsMap Emails
Are Awesome