To the Houston Texans’ credit, they were aggressive in their 42-36 overtime loss to the Tennessee Titans. They didn’t play not to lose when squaring off with the 4-0 leaders of the AFC South.
However, interim coach Romeo Crennel’s gamble to go for two after quarterback Deshaun Watson’s 1-yard fourth-down touchdown pass to receiver Brandin Cooks did not pay off. Houston led 36-29 with 1:50 to go.
Watson explained why the two-point conversion did not work.
“We wanted to get one-on-one coverage with [running back] Duke (Johnson),” said Watson, who went 28-of-37 for 335 yards and four touchdowns. “Then, they played it, jammed them up and I came and had to move a little bit and Brandin was coming open and after looking I think he was the only guy that was really open.
“And right when I threw it, I got around [Rashaan Evans] but [Jeffery Simmons] was coming back, and I think he got a shoulder pad or something tipped off of him, but [Randall] Cobb said it was right there but he just got a hand on it.”
Watson acknowledges that the conversion would have made it a two-score game and would have effectively ended the game as Tennessee had one timeout remaining. However, there were other plays where the Texans could have put away the Titans.
“It could have been the possession to put them away for good, but we still had opportunities and we just didn’t capitalize as a whole team,” Watson said.
The Texans fall to 1-5 on the season with a 1-4 record in the AFC and a 1-1 division record. The Texans will have to find ways to capitalize on other opportunities throughout the rest of the season if they hope to rescue their disastrous record and make the playoffs for the third straight season.