TEXANS LOSE AGAIN

Rams are latest team to prove Savage does not have the skills to be an NFL quarterback

Rams are latest team to prove Savage does not have the skills to be an NFL quarterback
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.

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The Rockets host the Bucks Tuesday night. Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images.

The Houston Rockets (35-22) welcome the surging Milwaukee Bucks (32-24) on Tuesday night as they look to snap the Bucks' four-game winning streak and defend their strong home record.

The Rockets have been solid at Toyota Center, boasting an 18-9 home record, but they’ll need a sharper shooting performance to keep pace with Milwaukee. Houston ranks last in the Western Conference in three-point percentage (34.3%) and will have to find offensive efficiency against a Bucks team that allows 45.2% shooting to opponents.

Milwaukee, led by Damian Lillard and Brook Lopez, has struggled on the road (12-15) but remains dangerous when controlling possessions. The Bucks are 15-7 when they commit fewer turnovers than their opponents, averaging just 13.1 per game.

Key Matchups to Watch:

  • Jalen Green vs. Milwaukee’s defense: Green leads Houston with 21.5 points per game but will need efficiency against the Bucks’ perimeter defense.
  • Alperen Sengun’s recent form: Averaging 14.8 points over his last 10 games, Sengun will play a pivotal role inside against Lopez and Milwaukee’s frontcourt.
  • Bucks’ offensive edge: Milwaukee averages 5.2 more points per game than Houston allows, making defensive execution critical for the Rockets.

With both teams sitting fifth in their respective conferences, this matchup could serve as a measuring stick as they push toward playoff positioning. Tip-off is set for 8 p.m. EST in Houston.


*ChatGPT assisted with the content.

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