On Sunday, the Houston Texans had the prime opportunity to show off their chops and extend a pair of wins into a three-game winning streak.
They folded, losing to the Denver Broncos 38-24, dropping their record to 8-5, and their AFC South first place spot hanging in the balance.
In Weeks 12 and 13, Houston beat good teams in the Indianapolis Colts and New England Patriots. Both were in the playoffs in 2018; both also beat the Texans in 2018.
Meanwhile, the Broncos have not been to the playoffs since 2015, starting a rookie quarterback in their second game, aren’t a playoff team in 2019, and handily thrashed the Texans.
Though still on track for the postseason, the Texans’ loss was a disheartening one. They can play up to their opponents and play down to them.
“We’re not consistent,” said coach Bill O’Brien after the loss.
Though the Texans lost by two scores, it wasn’t that close. They entered halftime down 31-3. A handful of scores against a more lackadaisical defense doesn’t mask the truth that Denver took their lunch money.
“Again, I feel like we — you know, I feel like we have a ton of consistent people on the coaching staff and on the team, but we don’t play consistently. We have more wins and losses this year, but I think that’s a fair criticism of this team. That’s a reflection of the head coach. We’ve got to get the team to play more consistently,” concluded O’Brien.
Houston is consistent in some fashion, however. Each of their five losses has been rebounded with two wins. At that rate, the Texans will lose in the AFC Championship, theoretically losing to the Tennessee Titans in Week 17.
The Texans, if they are serious about contending, must find that consistency they so desperately seek. Losing to bad teams are the typoes on an otherwise great resumé the Texans have composed with their wins over good teams.