Tag: Texans

Bills playoff picture: Post-Week 10 recap of AFC teams ‘in the hunt’

The Bills’ loss to the Cleveland Browns hurt. All loses tend to do that in the NFL, but this one hurt a little more. The feeling that Buffalo let this one get away, combined with other teams around the AFC playoff picture scoring some wins of their …

The Bills’ loss to the Cleveland Browns hurt.

All loses tend to do that in the NFL, but this one hurt a little more. The feeling that Buffalo let this one get away, combined with other teams around the AFC playoff picture scoring some wins of their own, things didn’t go well for Western New York in Week 10.

Here’s a recap of the latest happenings in the AFC playoff picture:

AFC seeding:

  1. New England Patriots (8-1)
  2. Baltimore Ravens (7-2)
  3. Houston Texans (6-3)
  4. Kansas City Chiefs (6-4)
  5. Buffalo Bills (6-3)
  6. Pittsburgh Steelers (5-4)
  7. Oakland Raiders (5-4)
  8. Indianapolis Colts (5-4)
  9. Tennessee Titans (5-5)
  10. Jacksonville Jaguars (4-5)

In the hunt teams recap:

10. Jacksonville Jaguars (4-5)

Week 10:

Bye

Next game:

at Indianapolis Colts (5-4)

9. Tennessee Titans (5-5)

Week 10:

Titans block late FG attempt, stun Chiefs 35-32.

Next game:

Week 11 bye

8. Indianapolis Colts (5-4)

Week 10:

Backup QB Brian Hoyer can’t overcome Dolphins in 16-12 loss.

Next game:

vs. Tennessee Titans (5-5)

7. Oakland Raiders (5-4)

Week 10:

Raiders win back-and-forth Thursday game vs. Chargers, 26-24, with Josh Jacobs’ 18-yard rushing TD with one minute remaining.

Next game:

vs. Cincinnati Bengals (0-8)

Playoff teams recap:

6. Pittsburgh Steelers (5-4)

Week 10:

Steelers hold Rams (5-4) offense without TD in 17-12 win, their fourth-straight victory.

Next game:

at Cleveland Browns (3-6)

5. Buffalo Bills (6-3)

Week 10:

Bills miss game-tying kick late, fall 19-16 to Browns (3-6).

Next game:

at Miami Dolphins (2-7)

4. Kansas City Chiefs (6-4)

Week 10:

In Patrick Mahomes’ return from injury, Titans use late FG block for upset, 35-32.

Next game:

at Los Angeles Chargers (4-6)

3. Houston Texans (6-3)

Week 10:

Bye week.

Next game:

at Baltimore Ravens (7-2)

2. Baltimore Ravens (7-2)

Week 10:

Ravens routed winless Bengals (0-9), 49-13.

Next game:

vs. Houston Texans (6-3)

1. New England Patriots (8-1)

Week 10:

Bye week.

Next game:

at Philadelphia Eagles (5-4)

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Texans must tighten up their tackling against the Ravens

To beat the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday, the Houston Texans will need to have sound tackling from the defense, according to Bill O’Brien.

If the Baltimore Ravens can make someone slip, they will. Lamar Jackson, Marquise Brown, Mark Ingram, Willie Snead and Mark Andrews have torched defenses all season long with the ball in their hands.

On Sunday, Nov. 17, the Houston Texans will witness the slippery Ravens as they face them in Maryland at noon CT. The NFL’s top-ranked rush-offense (197.2 yards per game), Baltimore is capable of giving the Texans problems. Houston can negate that with sound-tackling and clean play.

“If you look at the games, whether it was the NFL or college, I do think that these games are coming down to mistakes – turnovers, bad tackling, penalties,” said coach Bill O’Brien on Monday.

The Texans are eighth in the NFL in missed tackles (68), as of Nov. 9, per Pro Football Reference. They have allowed the NFL’s most yards after the catch (1,205). That has to change against the Ravens.

O’Brien has three names in mind who will help the Texans’ tackling woes: Safety Justin Reid and inside linebackers Benardrick McKinney and Zach Cunningham.

“So, I think any time you have guys that can tackle, which Justin (Reid) can do. We have guys that can tackle – (Benardrick) McKinney and Zach (Cunningham) and all the other guys out there,” said O’Brien. “We feel like we have a pretty good tackling team. I think that’s important, especially against a team like this.”

Reid, McKinney, and Cunningham have combined for 176 total tackles to 19 missed tackles on the year. They are not the problem. However, they also aren’t the entire solution for containing the Ravens’ defense. The three are second-level defenders.

To truly contain the electric Ravens’ offense, Houston must play with sound gap-control upfront while simultaneously setting the edge consistently. It won’t be easy without J.J. Watt.

However, that’s football. Adapt and survive or perish; it’s as simple as that.

Report: Texans work out journeyman DL Caraun Reid

The Houston Texans worked out journeyman defensive lineman Caraun Reid on Monday, giving him a physical after.

With the bye week over with, the Houston Texans are molding their roster for the stretch run. On Monday, they worked out defensive lineman Caraun Reid, according to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle.

Reid, 27, last played with professional football with the Dallas Cowboys. In 2018, the 6-2, 292-pound lineman tallied 10 combined tackles, a half-sack, a tackle for loss and three QB hits in 10 games, one start, for the Cowboys.

Reid was a Detroit Lions fifth-round selection out of Princeton in 2014. He spent two seasons in Michigan — starting 12 games in the second — before waiving him in the preseason. The then-San Diego Chargers claimed him, only to see him play seven games before tearing his ACL.

The Lions claimed Reid off of waivers after the 2017 preseason. From there, he spent short visits with the Washington Redskins and Indianapolis Colts before landing in Arlington. The Cowboys released him on Sept. 1, leading the Colts to sign him and waive him two months later.

Texans re-sign DL Joel Heath, waive OL Dan Skipper

The Houston Texans are bringing back defensive lineman Joel Heath. They waived offensive tackle Dan Skipper to sign him.

The Houston Texans have brought back a familiar face. The organization they have re-signed defensive lineman Joel Heath. In a corresponding move, Houston waived offensive lineman Dan Skipper.

Heath, 26, was waived by the Texans on Aug. 31 during final cuts. He previously signed with Houston in 2016 after going undrafted out of Michigan State.

In his three seasons as a Texan, Heath logged 30 games, including 15 starts. A 6-6, 310-pound lineman, he amassed 34 combined tackles, three sacks and three tackles for loss in his first stint in Houston.

Heath struggled with knee injuries over the last two seasons. He worked out with the New England Patriots on Oct. 31.

Skipper, 25, signed with the Texans off the Patriots’ practice squad on Oct. 16. A 6-10, 320-pound lineman, he saw the bulk of his snaps with the Texans — in three games — as a jumbo package tight end. If he clears waivers, he is eligible to sign with the Texans’ practice squad.

Special teams unit trying to be a turning point for the Texans

The Houston Texans’ special teams unit is trying to be a turning point for the team in 2019. Though less flashy, they are putting in work to win.

The offense and defense may get the credit for a team’s success. However, a lack of competency on special teams can be the ultimate restraint. The Houston Texans employ that train of thought; it’s visible in their recent improvement since special teams coordinator Brad Seely’s arrival in 2018.

Under Seely, the Texans have elevated from 29th in Football Outsiders‘ special teams rankings in 2017 to seventh in both 2018 and 2019 (through Week 9). For long-time Texans long snapper Jon Weeks, that improvement comes via a group that puts their collective heads down and works.

“I think we have a great special teams unit. I think we have a lot of great guys that understand their role on the team,” Weeks told The Texans Wire Monday. “They work very hard to better themselves each day. I think that we understand that there is always room for improvement.”

From Weeks to kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn to punter Bryan Anger to returner DeAndre Carter, the goal is simple for the Texans’ “third-team”: be a turning point, and, subsequently, make plays.

“We can be a turning point for this team,” Weeks continued. “We can help this team with explosive plays, whether its kickoff or punt returns or just making a big tackle on our kickoff coverage.”

Under coach Bill O’Brien, the Texans have taken a Bill Belichick-like approach to their special teams. Their 53-man roster contains a handful of specialized special teamers; including running backs Buddy Howell, Taiwan Jones, linebackers Barkevious Mingo, Tyrell Adams, Peter Kalambayi and safety A.J. Moore.

There is one consistent in the Texans’ special teams unit: hard work. Like the defensive line’s “Lunch Pail Crew,” the group takes pride in constant improvement and grinding out the less-flashy snaps.

“We understand the group of guys in our locker room,” said Weeks. “We understand that we can be special. But, we also understand that we have to put the work in to do it. Which is why I think everyone has seen the improvement because we have a bunch of guys that are willing to come in every day and put in work and make sure we are getting the best out of each other.”

Moving forward, the special teamers of the Texans may not be the superstars you tune into on Sundays. However, without them, Houston may not boast their 6-3 record and current AFC South first-place ranking.

4 Texans who have to step up after the bye

With the bye week done, the Houston Texans will rely on a few players to get to the playoffs, including Gareon Conley and Charles Omenihu.

The bye week is behind the Houston Texans. With a week of rest in the books, Harris County’s finest now have their eyes set on the playoffs, and potentially more. However, getting there won’t be easy.

With the Texans’ defense a shell of what it used to be, Houston has reverted to becoming an offensive team. While Deshaun Watson and Co. can put up points in bunches, the defense must have some sort of reliability to backup the dynamic offense. Therefore, there are four Texans who have to step-up after the bye, with an emphasis on defense.

1. CB Gareon Conley

3-texans-must-step-up-place-j-j-watt
(AP Photo/Michael Wyke)

With the offensive line no longer acting as Houston’s kryptonite, the cornerback room becomes a prime position group in-position. The Texans, before the trade deadline, addressed the issue by bringing in 24-year-old and former Raider Gareon Conley in via trade.

The Texans have seen better cornerback play in Conley in the mix. In his two weeks of defending opposers’ No. 1 wide-outs, he has allowed a 50% completion rate, 136 yards, a touchdown and a 93.7 passer rating, per Pro Football Reference — stark improvements from his days in Oakland.

Houston needs a true lock-down cornerback. That only gets emphasized considering their lack of pass-rush with J.J. Watt out for the year. Conley is their top-option to do so. Though they don’t need Darrelle Revis, he can’t be Kevin Johnson either.

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Texans eager for imminent return of receiver Will Fuller

The Houston Texans could be receiving wide receiver Will Fuller back into the lineup again. Naturally, they are excited about that.

The Houston Texans have adjusted well to the absence of wide receiver Will Fuller. Since the speed merchant suffered a hamstring injury in Week 7, Houston has won back-to-back games, averaging 413 yards per in the process.

However, when Houston can get Fuller back, they will. Though oft-injured and prone to drops, his speed, chemistry with Deshaun Watson and route-running adds an extra dynamic to the offense.

“Having a healthy a Will Fuller is no question a positive for the Houston Texans. Helps everybody in the room. Helps the team,” said wide receivers coach John Perry on Nov. 5.

On the season, Fuller has recorded 34 receptions for 450 yards and three touchdowns. His 17 deep targets rank second in the NFL, per PlayerProfiler, despite the missed time while his average target distance of 15 yards sits at 12th.

“It’s just good for him,” Perry continued, “because he’s such a good person who’s worked so hard. You just hate to see guys be injured at all. We’re excited to get the opportunity to have him back in the second half of the year.”

Fuller’s hamstring injury suffered in Week 7’s loss was expected to sideline him for a few weeks. However, his time table to return did not warrant a placement on the injured reserve.

Houston has employed the help of Kenny Stills to fill-in for Fuller. In his two weeks in the starting lineup, Stills has eight receptions for 74 yards.

Houston’s Week 10 bye may have allowed Fuller the adequate time to return to the lineup. Before the team went mute for the week, coach Bill O’Brien alluded to him trending in the right direction for his return.

Whether or not Fuller does return for Week 11’s tilt with the Baltimore Ravens will be known throughout the week. The first indication of his availability will be Wednesday’s practice, followed by reports on Thursday and Friday.