Post game Autopsy: Texans over Titans in a needless thriller.
Sep 15, 2013; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Texans receiver DeAndre Hopkins (10) catches a touchdown pass in overtime against Tennessee Titans cornerback Jason McCourty (30) at Reliant Stadium. The Houston Texans beat the Tennessee Titans 30-24 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
Greetings Texans Fans!
Well, now that was certainly a maddening win wasn’t it? That game embodies why fans watch the game. Drama, heartache, failure and redemption. The roller coaster was, hard to watch and harder to take your eyes off the field. The Tennessee Titans returned to the city that gave birth to them, only to lose terribly in overtime.
Let’s start with our Zero to Hero. DeAndre Hopkins. Late in the fourth quarter, DeAndre blew his route, missed that it was blitz coverage and Schaub suffered his first pick six in over a thousand passes. That moment brought elation to Nashville and false hope to a one Bud Adams. It wasn’t looking good, but Kubiak and Schaub believed in Hopkins. A dropped pass, missed route then redemption. DeAndre ended up leading the Texans and after one amazing catch with a defender hanging on him like a bad coat he hauled it in. A couple of plays later, falling back he managed to haul in the game winner as he fell out of bounds. I wonder how long the roof of Reliant can handle the amount of noise such a win creates?
Well, despite the drama, the heroics in the end, it was entirely unnecessary. Enter our Hero to Zero. Mr. Randy Bullock. During the preseason he was amazing, flat out amazing. Nailing long kicks like a pro. Then came the real deal in San Diego. 51 yards? Yawn, he’s got this… NO!!! A shank! Well rookie mistake, nerves, first kick in a real NFL game. His next kick made him the winner, the hero that ended an amazing come back. Today, he caused the come back by missing every, single field goal that was for more then 1 point. Sure Mike Munchak was being a tool with the multiple time outs, but hey wanted the win and so he did all he could and it worked. Houston was forced to march down the field for the big win. He needs to settle down, or learn about this amazing thing called “the waiver wire”. That’s not a place you want to be.
The offense started off fast, 2:30 from kick to score. Things were looking up. The defense was beat, but it was a long drive for the Titans to get their first seven up and so we all settled in for a slogfest that only an inter-division rivalry can create. JJ Watt, could you ask more of two sacks, a batted pass and oh a couple of stops for losses? How about Brian Cushing showing that hey, he IS back and better then ever. A sack, a key stop on like the two yard line. It was beautiful. Whitney Merciless, Earl Mitchell and the rest of the defense did very well, but still the Titans managed to take the lead. To put Houston into a situation they didn’t want to be in. Kareem Jackson was picked on in the second half, and boy did he look bad, like Kareem of two years ago bad. Fortunately he shook that off and got his back on straight.
Now let’s talk why Houston’s offense was so bad for stretches of the game going three and out repeatedly, getting embarrassed on third and long over and over again. Before the game, the talk was how dangerous the Texans Tight Ends were going to be for Tennessee. But really, for stretches of the game it was run, run pass to Andre Johnson, run, run pass to Andre. You get the picture, we know it’s coming, the offense knows it’s happening and so did the Titans. Kubiak has more weapons, Schaub has more targets. Let’s make it happen.
Still, fourth straight 2-0 start, two heroic comebacks, two heartbroken opponents with spirits crushed and fans weeping. Good stuff, but really next week is in Baltimore, and frankly it’s time for a good old fashioned blow out. Not for me, or the other fans. No, do it for Randy, so he doesn’t have to kick field goals, just point after attempts. Once again I was perfect in the prediction department, 2-0. Okay, okay all I really got right was Houston won, but still.
Keep your browsers here to the Torotimes.com for all your Texans needs!