DROWNING IN A SEA OF NEGATIVITY, THERE WERE SOME POSITIVES FOR TEXANS FANS AS WELL IN GAME 1
Texans: It wasn't a win, but at least it was fun to watch
Sep 11, 2019, 6:56 am
DROWNING IN A SEA OF NEGATIVITY, THERE WERE SOME POSITIVES FOR TEXANS FANS AS WELL IN GAME 1
I'm going to try something different with this column and focus on the positives I took away from Game 1 of the Texans season Monday night in New Orleans. I know everyone wants to focus on "Usual Suspects" for all the hate and negativity when talking Texans, mainly Bill O' Brien, the offensive line and the defensive secondary. Don't get it twisted, those were all areas that warranted criticism in the past and deserved plenty of blame again Monday, but I want to talk about a few bright spots to build on as the team goes forward, including turning a few perceived negatives into positives that could pay off in a big way in the final 15 games.
The first bright spot for the Texans was the ability to run the ball effectively against one of the better defensive lines in the NFL. When the Texans lost Lamar Miller to a season-ending knee injury in the preseason there was little hope that the team could replace him and his steady output at the tailback position.
With no one on the roster capable of carrying the load, Bill O' Brien and his staff went outside the organization and pulled off two trades that created the duo that was able to account for 140 of the 180 rushing yards Houston finished the game with. Deshaun Watson scrambled his way for 40 yards while keeping plays alive, but the rest of the runs were compliments of two guys that weren't on the roster midway through training camp.
Duke Johnson joined the squad in a trade with the Browns early in the preseason. Initially, he was looked at as a third down back with more ability in the passing game than running the ball and the hope was that he would compliment Miller while lightening his workload by occasionally picking up some carries.
That all changed when Miller went down and suddenly he was the only experienced RB on the roster that O'Brien could trust. The versatile back rushed for 57 yards on 9 carries and added 33 receiving yards out of the backfield as a safety valve for quarterback Deshaun Watson. He averaged a little over 6 yards per rush and 8 yards per reception and will only get better as he gets more familiar with the offense and playbook.
The other move that was made to add depth to the ground game was a late move to acquire Carlos Hyde from the Chiefs. Hyde had some good seasons early in his career but had struggled of late making brief stops with several teams. The Texans took a flyer on him and he paid off in a big way, rushing for 83 yards on 10 carries as he showed speed, quickness and the ability to make people miss. He too will only improve as he gets more comfortable with his new team and system and the hope is the duo will be able to put up numbers similar to what Miller gave them over the past few seasons.
Another reason for optimism if you're a Texans fan has to be what you saw from two of the other newcomers that came to Houston before the start of the regular season, wide receiver Kenny Stills and left tackle Laremy Tunsil. The two main pieces of the Dolphins trade showed that the sky is the limit for them and their new squad as both made steady, solid contributions to their new team as they helped keep them in the game and gave fans hope for the future. Stills had the big 37-yard touchdown reception with under a minute to play that looked like it was going to be the game-winner as his time on the field was limited as he learns a new offense. He will be a welcomed addition to the receiving core as he showed he is still a deep threat and steady target for Watson to utilize, as well as an insurance policy for the often injured Will Fuller and KeKe Coutee. Tunsil had less than a week to get some chemistry with his new teammates while learning the blocking schemes and playbook and while he wasn't perfect, he showed that he is the future at left tackle and the perfect protector of Watson's blindside.
The biggest takeaway for me when watching the game in New Orleans was how exciting and productive the offense was when they had the ball, regardless of the sacks and QB pressures. O' Brien and his new offensive coordinator Tim Kelly called a pretty good game as they weren't hyper-conservative and predictable, didn't run it into the center of the line on every third and long situation and let their stars shine.
Watson and DeAndre Hopkins were clicking all night long as they constantly put pressure on the Saints secondary. Fuller looked great coming off his serious knee injury as he showed his speed was still there and his hands were better than expected. Johnson and Hyde provided offensive balance while showing the ability to make defenders miss and getting productive yards after contact. Johnson also contributed in the passing game and he will only get better as he gets more familiar with the offense and playbook.
The biggest positive of all was the play of Watson who just gets better and better with each passing game. He continues to prove that no stage is too big and no lights are too bright for the emerging superstar as he led his team all night long, including on the biggest drive of the night when they got the touchdown they needed in the final two minutes of the game. If the line can find a way to prevent him from getting sacked 6 times a game as he was in New Orleans and Watson can stay healthy, this team is going to put up a lot of points while being extremely fun to watch.
Nick Chubb didn’t expect to be a Houston Texan. At least, not until he got the call on a quiet Saturday at home and was on a flight the next day. It happened fast — too fast, even, for the four-time Pro Bowler to fully process what it all meant. But now that he’s here, it’s clear this wasn’t a random landing spot. This was a calculated leap, one Chubb had been quietly considering from afar.
The reasons he chose Houston speak volumes not only about where Chubb is in his own career, but where the Texans are as a franchise.
For one, Chubb saw what the rest of the league saw the last two seasons: a young team turning the corner. He admired the Texans from a distance — the culture shift under head coach DeMeco Ryans, the explosive rise of C.J. Stroud, and the physical tone set by players like Joe Mixon. That identity clicked with Chubb. He’d been a fan of Ryans for years, and once he got in the building, everything aligned.
“I came here and saw a bunch of guys who like to work and not talk,” Chubb said. “And I realized I'm a perfect fit.”
As for his health, Chubb isn’t running from the injuries that cost him parts of the past two seasons, he’s owning them. But now, he says, they’re behind him. After a full offseason of training the way he always has — hitting his speed and strength benchmarks — Chubb says he’s feeling the best he has in years. He’s quick to remind people that bouncing back from major injuries, especially the one he suffered in 2023, is rarely a one-year journey. It takes time. He’s given it time.
Then there’s his fit with Mixon. The two aren’t just stylistic complements, they go way back. Same recruiting class, same reputation for running hard, same respect for each other’s games. Chubb remembers dreading matchups against the Bengals in Cleveland, worrying Mixon would take over the game. Now, he sees the opportunity in pairing up. “It’ll be us kinda doing that back-to-back against other defenses,” he said.
He’s also well aware of what C.J. Stroud brings to the table. Chubb watched Stroud nearly dismantle Georgia in the College Football Playoff. Then he saw it again, up close, when Stroud lit up the Browns in the postseason. “He torched us again,” Chubb said. Now, he gets to run alongside him, not against him.
Stroud made a point to welcome Chubb, exchanging numbers and offering support. It may seem like a small thing, but it’s the kind of leadership that helped sell Chubb on the Texans as more than just a good football fit — it’s a good locker room fit, too.
It appears the decision to come to Houston wasn’t part of some master plan. But in retrospect, it makes perfect sense. Chubb is a player with a no-nonsense work ethic, recovering from adversity, looking to write the next chapter of a career that’s far from over. And the Texans? They’re a team on the rise, built around guys who want to do the same.
You can watch the full interview in the video below.
And for those wondering how Joe Mixon feels about Nick Chubb, check out this video from last season. Let's just say he's a fan.
I’ve seen some speculation indicating that Joe Mixon may not be happy the Texans signed Nick Chubb. If that is what you believe, watch this clip from an interview with @greenlight pod last year & get back to me. pic.twitter.com/3vaip85esj
— Houston Stressans (@TexansCommenter) June 11, 2025
*ChatGPT assisted.
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