Coach Bill O’Brien still has considerable input in the Houston Texans’ offense. As such, he doesn’t get to spend every down watching the defense.
Take Sunday’s 24-21 win over the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium for example. With the Titans driving for a touchdown and about to start a first-and-goal from the 5-yard line, O’Brien knew the Texans’ next possession was nigh. May as well meet with offensive coordinator Tim Kelly and quarterback Deshaun Watson to go over the snapshots from the series before to execute a better drive.
As such, O’Brien only heard the crowd’s reaction when safety Justin Reid blasted tight end Anthony Firkser and outside linebacker Whitney Mercilus returned the takeaway 86 yards to the Titans’ 12-yard line.
“I just heard the reaction and then I turned and saw Whitney running,” O’Brien told reporters Monday. “It was a great play. Really a great play by Justin and Whitney did a nice job getting us down there on that 80 however long he ran, 80-plus yards. It was a great play.”
Watson capped off the abbreviated drive with a 12-yard touchdown pass to receiver Kenny Stills, who caught two on the afternoon to aid Houston’s improvement to a 9-5 record.
“It got the ball down there in the red area,” said O’Brien. “It was a big play because they were going in to score. I mean, it was a very opportunistic play. Justin made a great play and then the ball popped to Whitney and he turned and became a ball carrier, which we talk about a lot, and try to drill that sometimes, relative to tackling drills and things we do in the offseason.”
In addition to Mercilus taking lessons from the offseason all the way to a hostile venue in December, O’Brien was appreciative that the offense cashed in with a touchdown rather than field goal.
Said O’Brien: “I think if you have a play like that and then they hold you to a field goal, there’s a little bit of wind out of the sails on that. So, we were able to turn that into a touchdown on the throw to Kenny, so it was a good part of the game.”
Because of Mercilus’ big play and its significance in the win, Houston will be able to clinch the AFC South with a victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Saturday in Week 16.