Five things we should keep an eye out for when the Texans play the Browns and the Colts
The Texans (10-7) are in the playoffs as the No. 4 seed after defeating the Colts 23-19 on Saturday night. The team finished last in the entire AFC in 2022. On NBC, they will take on the Browns at NRG Stadium on Saturday at 3:30 p.m.
It all came down to a win-and-get-in game in the regular season finale. The Texans had talked about seizing the moment the entire week.
That is what they did. They now stand a strong chance of qualifying for the playoffs.
Five things to remember after the Texans victory:
In the second half of an NFL football game on Saturday, January 6, 2024, in Indianapolis, Houston Texans defensive tackle Khalil Davis (94) tackles Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor (28) for a 4-yard loss.
In the second half of an NFL football game on Saturday, January 6, 2024, in Indianapolis, Houston Texans defensive tackle Khalil Davis (94) tackles Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor (28) for a 4-yard loss.
The staff photographer, Brett Coomer
1. Run defense retreated a bit.
The Texans allowed 88.5 yards per game of run defense, good for third place in the NFL, prior to Saturday’s contest.
Up until Saturday, they had not let a single back gain more than 88 yards on the ground.
Jonathan Taylor, the running back for the Colts, more than doubled that. Taylor carried 30 times for 188 yards. He was able to find openings in the defense early and often. In the third quarter, he tied the score at 14 with a 49-yard run. Just in the third quarter, he accumulated 84 yards.
Zack Moss added six carries for thirty yards.
After defeating the Indianapolis Colts 23-19 to secure a postseason berth, Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud (7) talks with supporters during an NFL football game on Saturday, January 6, 2024, in Indianapolis.
After defeating the Indianapolis Colts 23-19 to secure a postseason berth, Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud (7) talks with supporters during an NFL football game on Saturday, January 6, 2024, in Indianapolis.
The staff photographer, Brett Coomer
The Colts’ 6.1 yards per carry average was worrisome. They appeared to get whatever they desired.
According to Texans coach DeMeco Ryans, missed tackles were the main issue.
“We did not play the running game at our best,” he remarked. There, we allowed a few to run loose. It was not a very good tackle.
The Texans failed to make enough tackles. The Texans have not looked that bad since 2022, but Taylor did a great job of avoiding them.
Taylor raced up the left sideline, dodging linebacker Blake Cashman, who had a shot at him close to the line of scrimmage, on that 49-yard touchdown, the longest run the Texans have allowed all season.
In the fourth quarter, the Texans outperformed Taylor. Though the Texans made better tackles and the defensive line did a fantastic job of sealing the holes, there were still some.
Additionally, Taylor’s brief exit from the game due to an ankle injury preceded this. However, in the fourth, Taylor gained 23 yards on eight carries. In the end, the Colts ran for 227 yards.
Jerry Hughes, a defensive end for the Texans, stated, “We knew we had to keep gang-tackling, making it a tough down for him, and the rest is history.”
2. Texans are more productive in the red zone.
The Texans were unbeaten against the Colts, following a week in which they had failed to capitalize on two trips inside the 20 against the Titans.
Twice the Texans offense entered the red zone and converted both opportunities into touchdowns.
For the Texans, efficiency in the red zone is crucial. Their objective has been to score six points rather than having to stop at three and give the ball to the opposition.
Their ability to run the ball effectively made a difference this time. Devin Singletary gained more yards than he probably should have on several occasions.
The Texans faced second-and-goal from the Colts’ 4-yard line on their first red zone possession. Despite coming up against a wall, Singletary showed patience and cut back to the left, breaking at least one tackle and gaining three yards.
For his second touchdown catch of the year, C.J. Stroud found fullback Andrew Beck wide open in the end zone on the following play. Two defenders attempted to close in on Singletary, who was running a route to the flat, but there was no one around Beck.
The Texans were strong on defense in addition to their offensive prowess in the red zone.
In terms of red zone touchdown opportunities, the Colts went 0 for 3. Late in the game, the Texans either stopped them or forced them to settle for field goals.
It will be crucial for the Texans to perform well in the red zone come playoff time.
The Texans have let opponents score a touchdown on just 40% of their red zone possessions in their last three games. In the NFL during that time, that is fifth.
In the second half of an NFL football game on Saturday, January 6, 2024, in Indianapolis, tight end Dalton Schultz (86) of the Houston Texans turns up field as linebacker E.J. Speed (45) of the Indianapolis Colts closes in.
In the second half of an NFL football game on Saturday, January 6, 2024, in Indianapolis, tight end Dalton Schultz (86) of the Houston Texans turns up field as linebacker E.J. Speed (45) of the Indianapolis Colts closes in.
3. More receivers need to step it up
On national television, Nico Collins had the best game of his life on Saturday, completing with nine receptions for 195 yards and a touchdown.
As a top receiver, he is starting to emerge.
But the Texans need someone else to take the field.
Collins will become more visible at some point, probably this week against Cleveland. Some of the NFL’s top cover cornerbacks are on the Browns roster. This season, shutdown corners Denzel Ward, Martin Emerson Jr., and Greg Newsome have all been effective.
The Browns have caused difficulty for opposing quarterbacks, who have only averaged 164.7 passing yards per game and a 74.7 passer rating.
Someone will need to step up, whether it is rookie Xavier Hutchinson, second-year receiver John Metchie, or tight end Dalton Schultz.
After the game on Sunday, Schultz had five receptions for 42 yards. During the game-winning drive in the fourth quarter, he made four catches. To move the Texans into Colts territory, he had a pivotal 17-yard reception on second-and-20, a 5-yard reception for a first down on the following play, a 6-yard reception two plays later, and a 9-yard reception on first down a few plays after that.
He is able to have a significant effect. It will also be up to Schultz and others if the Browns concentrate on Collins.
No other Texans receiver had more than nine yards receiving after Collins and Schultz.
That is not ideal.
4. Motivation from 50 Cent
The Texans welcomed a guest speaker to speak to the team on Wednesday. 50 Cent, an actor, rapper, and businessman, made his debut with his popular 2003 song “Many Men.”
Along with the lyrics, the players were rapping and singing.
However, 50 Cent’s advice to the players was to remain calm no matter what.
Hughes stated, “He warned us that the game would be difficult, but you have to drag them out there in that deep water.” Few men are able to stay in that deep water.
Put another way, make a big impression during that fourth quarter. Have fun as if there is not tomorrow.
According to Hughes, the players adopted that mindset. They had trouble stopping Taylor, but they persisted and won with a crucial fourth-down stop.
Hughes stated, “We knew it was going to come down to a fourth-quarter brawl.” “Indy loves to run the ball, as we all know. We were aware that 28 would receive it. We were not expecting pass to show up, but all we had to do was gang-tackle, and the rest was history.
The Texans and Grammy winner 50 Cent inked a multiyear deal in 2022 whereby beverages from his upscale wine and spirits company will serve as the official cognac and champagne of the team.
5. Weekly Stats
75.8% is a statistic to be happy about.
In the two games since he returned from a concussion against the Titans, Stroud has completed 75.8% of his passes. The Texans will need him to be as effective as he has been all season against the Browns on Saturday.
There is one statistic to be wary of: eight.
The Texans defeated the Bengals 30-27 on November 12; since then, they have not scored 30 points in eight weeks. They had scored 30 points or more four times prior to that.
The Texans have not been the same without Tank Dell, one of their major deep-play threats, who finished the season as the team’s second-leading receiver despite missing seven games. Despite this, the offense has done enough to win. Before breaking his leg on December 3 against the Broncos, he was well on his way to a 1,000-yard receiving season.
