STEPHEN UZICK
Sorry Texans, I can't handle this relationship anymore. We are breaking up
Stephen Uzick
Sep 24, 2018, 12:08 pm
Sorry Texans. I am just not bullish on you anymore. Tim Warner/Getty Images
Dear Texans,
It’s not you, it’s me. Well, actually that’s a lie – it’s you. We have been together for years and we have had some good times, but its been mostly disappointment. Sure we went on a few dates in January but that b**ch from New England showed up and ruined the evening. I have tried to stick it out, visiting every week, but you just make it too difficult. It’s almost as if you just don’t care.
I know you tried to make some drastic new changes last year and at first it felt like maybe things would work out. Even when it started to fall apart last year I told myself you were committed to making changes and I should give you one more chance. We didn’t see each other for about eight months and I guess as they say distance makes the heart grow fonder. When you came back a few weeks ago I had hope that you would be different and we could work this out. You weren’t; you came back with that same loser mindset. Fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me.
After how you treated me this week I am done. I just can’t take the disappointment and frankly embarrassment anymore. I think i’ts time we take a break. Maybe if you commit to some real changes or change your thinking we can re-visit our relationship, but for now I think maybe it’s time we see other people. I still love football, but I just don’t think I love you. While I’ll be considerate enough to not take out any of your neighbors – the Titans, Jaguars and Colts – I can’t make any promises that I won’t find another team to care about. I’m sure I’ll still see you around, and I hope we can still be cordial and not make things awkward, but for now we are finished.
See you around,
Stephen
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The Houston Texans have a big challenge in store as they look to start the season with a win against the Colts this Sunday. When these two teams met in Week 2 last year, the Colts dominated the Texans, despite losing their QB Anthony Richardson to a concussion after the first quarter.
Keeping Richardson contained on Sunday will go a long way in increasing the Texans' chances of coming home with a win. The Texans defense will have their hands full containing the Colts backs and tight ends in the passing game.
Scoring touchdowns with their wide receivers could prove difficult, as the Texans allowed the second-fewest TDs (10) to the receiver position in 2023.
Limiting running back Jonathan Taylor will also be a top priority. While the Texans had an elite defense against the run last season, they struggled with Taylor in Week 18 as he almost rushed for 200 yards.
Houston's D allowed only four carries to running backs in 2023 that went for 20 or more yards. Two of which were to Taylor in the final game of the regular season.
Finally, DeMeco Ryans and company have to find a way to get pressure on the QB. They only had one QB hit and zero sacks on Richardson and Garner Minshew the first time they faced off last year.
On offense, the Texans have two big x-factors to watch for on Sunday. The offensive line that suited up to play the Colts in Week 2 last season is completely different from this year.
The o-line was ravaged with injuries to start the 2023 campaign, so we expect a big jump in productivity in the trenches this year.
Another big addition in 2024 is the presence of running back Joe Mixon. The running game only produced 2 yards per rush in Week 2 against Indy last year, so there's clearly room for improvement.
Be sure to watch the video above for our in-depth preview of Texans-Colts!
And catch Texans on Tap (a Texans podcast) live on our SportsMapTexans YouTube channel following every game this season!