TEXANS LOSE AGAIN
Rams are latest team to prove Savage does not have the skills to be an NFL quarterback
Nov 12, 2017, 6:09 pm
Tom Savage was bad against the Colts. He was at his turnover-generating worse against the Rams. Tim Warren/Getty Images
Tom Savage is not good at sports
He gave the Rams defense 10 points on two awful sack/fumbles. He was lucky he did not give them more on a pick 6 that was called back on a questionable defensive holding call.
He has led his team to one offensive TD in each of the last two games.
Sunday he gave up at least 16 points and generated just 7. What does all that mean?
Savage is not an NFL quarterback. It is questionable he is even a backup in the league. All of that was on display in Sunday’s loss to the LA Rams, a game that was there for the taking, but turned into a 33-7 LA rout.
There were several other issues -- blown coverages and big plays given up by an awful defense again, shaky special teams and a bad offensive line -- but Savage was the main culprit.
Savage was just 18 of 37 for 221 yards, one touchdown, two picks and two fumbles. This follows his less than stellar 19 of 44 effort against the Colts. His two starts have been absolutely Osweilerian.
He threw a bad interception in the red zone, one of those “what was he thinking?” passes. What should have been -- at worst -- a 10-6 lead at halftime became a 9-7 deficit.
He failed to connect on easy passes. His body language screamed that it was all in his head. His pocket presence does not exist, other than he is present in the pocket. He simply does not deserve to be starting.
The Texans defense did its best to keep the team in the game in hopes Savage would come around. He never did. The defense spent too much time on the field and could not hold the Rams down forever. After Savage’s second sack/fumble, they gave up a quick TD and the rout was on.
At 3-6, the Texans season is doomed. It effectively ended when Deshaun Watson went down in practice. But if Savage were even remotely competent, the Texans could be sitting at 5-4 with a chance to win the putrid AFC South. However, Savage’s inability to move the team consistently and penchant for giving points to the opponent took away any hope the Texans had.
It is not on Bill O’Brien. The play calls were there. Savage could not convert. The real problem is not signing a solid backup in the offseason and instead believing in Savage, who has never looked like an NFL quarterback in his prior opportunities.
Do the Texans have a better option? Probably not. And at this point, does it really matter? T.J. Yates is not going to give them a six-game winning streak. The only quarterback that could do that is limping around on the sidelines. And losing does not help the Texans; they have traded away their top two picks next season. In essence, 2017 is lost.
But at least you get to savor the Tom Savage experience. It’s fun if you enjoy watching people who are not good at their jobs.
Tactical battles Houston Texans must win to deliver upset over Chargers
Jan 9, 2025, 5:03 pm
The NFL playoffs are finally here, and the Texans will kick off the postseason by hosting the LA Chargers this Saturday at NRG.
And while the Texans are only 3 point underdogs, the national media is making it seem like Houston has no chance against Justin Herbert and company.
ESPN's Rex Ryan has gone as far as calling the Texans a "bye" week for the Chargers, giving the team no chance to win despite playing at home.
However, the Texans are no stranger to this situation, as they were given little chance to win against the Browns in last year's Wild Card game. And we know how that ended, with the Texans thrashing the Browns 45-14.
It's certainly fair to predict the Chargers will come away with a win this Saturday, they have been playing much better football than Houston in recent weeks.
But it's important to remember that home underdogs have performed well in the Wild Card round. In fact, home underdogs are 16-14 all-time in the Wild Card playoffs, and both home underdogs won last year (Texans, Buccaneers).
Speaking of last year, many credit the Texans defense for securing the win over Cleveland, with two pick sixes in the second half helping to seal the deal.
But the real reason Houston won the game was because of CJ Stroud and the offense. Stroud threw 3 touchdowns before halftime and the team was leading 24-14 with six minutes left in the third quarter. That's when the defense tacked on two interceptions for touchdowns and put the game out of reach. Stroud and the offense also went on to score another TD on a Devin Singletary run.
If Stroud and the offense didn't put so much pressure on Joe Flacco and the Cleveland offense to score, he may not have forced those passes that were picked off.
Now, many will point to the Chargers having the best defense (points allowed) this season, but it's worth noting the Browns had the number one defense (yards allowed) last year as well.
Bulls on Parade
Houston's defense will have its hands full against a strong rushing attack led by JK Dobbins. And Justin Herbert has been terrific this season, spreading the ball around to his top two targets, Ladd McConkey and Quentin Johnston.
Fortunately for the Texans, they are extremely healthy on defense this week. While Jimmy Ward and Jalen Pitre are out for the year, we'll finally get to see linebackers Azeez Al-Shaair and Christian Harris play together for the first time this season.
The defensive line is expected to be at full strength as well, keep in mind Jonathan Greenard was injured and unable to play against the Browns last year.
Outlook on offense
We should see the best possible version of the offensive line this Saturday. We're all aware how many hits Stroud has taken due to poor o-line play. But with Tytus Howard and left guard and Juice Scruggs at right guard, Stroud should have more time to get the passing game going, featuring Nico Collins.
Speaking of the receivers, it's pretty amazing that this receiver group is almost identical to last year's in the Wild Card round. Stroud didn't have Stefon Diggs (on the Bills) or Tank Dell (injured) to throw to last year, either. But he does have one big addition in Joe Mixon this year. Hopefully, they can get Mixon involved in the passing game, and the shuffling of the o-line provides Mixon with some holes to run through.
X-factor
At least there's a possibility newly acquired receiver Diontae Johnson could provide a spark to the offense. Last year John Metchie and Robert Woods were the main targets besides Collins and Dalton Schultz.
What does Vegas think?
The Chargers are favored by 3 and the total is set at 42.5 points
Don't miss the video above as the crew from Texans on Tap previews this week's big game!