A closer look at the Houston Texans loss to the Baltimore Ravens

Sep 22, 2013; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Ravens fullback Vonta Leach (44) loses his helmet during a fourth quarter run against the Houston Texans at M

The Houston Texans didn’t look like a Super Bowl contender in their 30-9 loss to the Baltimore Ravens, Sunday.

In fact, they didn’t even resemble the best team in the AFC South, as they dropped to 2-1 overall Sunday after being held without a touchdown for the first time this season.

Houston had too many mistakes offensively and on the special teams, which in-turn put their defense behind all day with 14 of the 30 points scored by the Ravens coming off the interception and punt return for touchdowns. Baltimore also scored 12 points from field goals, and three more points from extra points all by Justin Tucker.

How good are the Texans? Really, how good are they? I want to know.

Sep 22, 2013; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh (right) shakes hands with Houston Texans safety Ed Reed (left) after the game at M

They squeaked out two wins to start the season, rallying against a San Diego Chargers team that can’t hold onto a lead in the fourth quarter, and had to play into overtime against the Tennessee Titans.

Do you realize the Ravens’ defense have held opposing offenses scoreless for two straight weeks now.

The Texans had 18 first downs and here is something to ponder … their third down efficiency was 25-percent (3-for-12) and they were 0-for-1 on fourth down. In just 61 total plays, the Texans averaged just 4.3 yard per play with a net total of 94 rushing, and 170 net passing (lost 24 yards due to three sacks).

Houston finished with a net total of 264 yards of offense.

That won’t win games in the NFL.

Compare that to the Ravens who weren’t any better, in fact, worse on offense. They had just 236 net yards of offense with 31 rushing plays, with an average gain of 4.1 yards per play on offense.

Look at this stat … the Ravens had 75 yards of rushing (2.4 ypc) as a team, and 161 net passing yards (Houston sacked Joe Flacco twice for a loss of 10 yards).

So it is not like the Texans defense played terrible, because they did their job (they allowed just one touchdown drive) … the problem for Houston is either the Ravens defense and special did their jobs, or you can look at it as the Texans’ offense not doing their job.

I think it is a mixture of the latter two theories.

Three rushers for the Texans combined for under 100 yards at 96, but the Ravens were held to their running backs getting 75 yards (remember Ray Rice didn’t play).

I want to just look at the Texans team as an overall product.

They had much better kicking from Randy Bullock, but what I’ve noticed from the Texans is their inability to put together a game where the offense, defense and special teams are all on the same page. Am I wrong there?

Do I believe the Texans are a better team that what I’ve seen through the first three games, yes, but they sure aren’t playing like they have the ability to as a group.

Once this team puts everything together they can be a dangerous football team, but they have a tough schedule awaiting them the next couple weeks to prove it. Though, if they are a good team, a Super Bowl contender, they will play competitive against those two teams, because that’s what Super Bowl contenders do.

Next week the Texans host the Seahawks, then travel to San Francisco to face the 49ers on Sunday Night Football.

Those two games will go a very long way in seeing what this team is made of and just how good they are against two of the better teams in the NFL.

Will the real Houston Texans please stand up.