The Texans offensive line played their worst game in a while
Offensive line among the disappointments for Texans in loss
Nov 17, 2019, 2:51 pm
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.
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After dropping a frustrating series to the Chicago White Sox, the Houston Astros find themselves in a familiar position—searching for answers, but still within striking distance. Despite their inconsistency, Houston sits just three games behind the AL West-leading Mariners, who are currently 7 games over .500 and riding an 8-2 stretch. For as up-and-down as the Astros have been, the division remains tantalizingly close.
That inconsistency was on full display throughout the White Sox series. Jake Meyers and Zach Dezenzo each played the roles of both hero and heartbreaker. Dezenzo launched a massive home run in Game 3, a moment that energized the dugout and briefly shifted momentum. But his costly defensive error later in the game flipped the script. Meyers was a spark plug in Houston’s lone win, delivering a clutch performance at the plate, only to run the team out of a rally in the finale when he was picked off second—right before Jeremy Peña ripped what would have been an RBI single.
Jose Altuve’s struggles are quietly becoming more worrisome. He’s recorded just one multi-hit game since April 19 and has only one homer since April 8. On Sunday, he swung at the first pitch after Lance McCullers had grinded through a 33-pitch inning—a decision that raised questions about his awareness in a veteran moment. Should manager Joe Espada have reminded Altuve of the situation? Or is this on Altuve, who should have known what to do as one of the team leaders?
Signs of life
There are flickers of life from the bats. Last week, Houston's team OPS was an underwhelming .667 (23rd in MLB), with a slugging percentage of .357 (25th). They've nudged those numbers up to .684 (19th) and .370 (21st), respectively. It’s modest progress, but enough to suggest this offense might be trending in the right direction. Still, their 5-5 record over the last 10 games feels emblematic of who they are right now—a .500 team with both talent and flaws.
Looking ahead
The upcoming schedule could be a turning point. Three of the next five opponents have losing records, and none of them are elite. This stretch offers a prime opportunity for Houston to finally build momentum and close the gap in the division—assuming the Mariners cool off from their current tear, which seems inevitable given their unsustainable 8-2 pace.
McCullers is officially back!
Lance McCullers returned for the first time since 2022 and, despite being limited to 3.2 innings due to command issues (three walks and a hit batter), there were encouraging signs. His velocity was there, and the stuff looked sharp. It’s a start, and perhaps a step toward stabilizing a rotation that still needs length.
Steering the ship
Manager Joe Espada, however, continues to draw scrutiny. His decision-making in the finale raised eyebrows again. Giving Isaac Paredes a day off when Yordan Alvarez was already sitting left the lineup depleted. Rather than using promising young infielder/outfielder Cam Smith, he opted for Mauricio Dubón and Brendan Rodgers—a defensive combo that didn't inspire confidence. It feels at times like Espada isn’t prioritizing winning the final game of a series, a pattern that could haunt the team down the stretch.
The plot thickens
Meanwhile, Christian Walker’s slump is dragging on. He went 0-for-5 twice in the last two series and looks out of sync at the plate. The Astros need more from their power hitters if they hope to make a real run. And with Alvarez now heading to the IL with hand inflammation, runs will be even harder to come by.
All told, this team still feels like one hovering just above or below .500. But in a division that remains wide open, the path forward is clear: play better, hope the Mariners come back to earth, and capitalize on a soft schedule. The race is far from over—but it’s time for Houston to start acting like contenders.
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