Playing it safe is no longer an option for the Houston Texans

Sep 29, 2013; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt (99) reacts in the fourth quarter as blood drips down from his nose against the Seattle Seahawks at Reliant Stadium. The Seattle Seahawks beat the Houston Texans 23-20. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

Greetings Texans Fans!

In the second quarter, when the Houston Texans were in position to score another touchdown and put the Seattle Seahawks away, they played predictable small ball again. Result, field goal. That is the story of this game.

The first quarter was so so, the second quarter the Texans were in a rhythm, they were explosive and going down field. But as the lead grew, the Texans quit taking chances, reverted to the Texans of the last nine games.

What did we get?

A heartbreaking loss that should never have happened. Last week, I called for benching Matt Schaub. I also said Gary Kubiak needs to get out of his comfort zone and let it all hang out. We saw that, for an entire quarter. But that wasn’t enough. After taking a lead it was safe short plays and very little moving the ball up the field.

Kubiak went soft.

No killer instinct, no drive to put the game away it was just take the lead and go small.

Trust your offense, let the dice roll a little. The defense was doing pretty darned well till Brian Cushing went down.

Trust them.

DeAndre Hopkins’ first catch coming with 53 seconds in the FOURTH QUARTER was unacceptable to the extreme. I didn’t see him covered all that well, so why are you not unleashing him?

“Gee, we’ve been pretty weak offensively most of the young season … we got this great young receiver that has shown he can get it done. I know … let’s run the ball up the middle and control the clock against the best team in the NFL! Yeah that’s gonna win this game!”

Seriously, you get ahead and put the game out of reach, not get a lead then manage it, cause everyone is expecting that! That’s part of why Seattle was able to defeat the play action roll out for a pick six!

They saw it coming!

Schaub made a piss poor throw, that certainly didn’t help at all.  One quarter you had us, you had us cheering, high fives and faith soaring that maybe the Texans coaching staff got the picture. Get creative, get aggressive, be the team we all know is ready to make a run at the Super Bowl.

Now?

Good luck at not hitting the bye week with a losing record.

The defense is doing it’s job.  J.J. Watt and Antonio Smith double Ninja/Salute on a sack was a defining moment. Whitney Mercilus was a beast out there. Cushing, prior to the concussion, played in a way that exemplified why he got paid 56 Million. You couldn’t ask for better defense through pretty much the entire game.  They can’t win every game for you, a little bravado from the offense is sorely needed.

Three points in the first half, the high-flying Seahawks shut down. The defense was out there too much, and when the offense is giving away points they will lose.

This loss rests solely on the shoulders of Kubiak. Bottom line!

The read option, scourge of the NFL last year is being contained fairly well this year. Why is that? Because defenses are keying on it. You think if they can figure that out, they can figure out the Texans predictable offense. You can only keep doing the same things over-and-over so many times before you start getting beat. That’s exactly what is going on here.

Bill Belichick figured this out last December, and every team has been playing the Texans on those lines. It’s time to shake it up, it’s time to get crazy. It’s time for Kubiak to get an injection of Wade Phillips machismo and risk taking.

Playing it safe is no longer an option for the Texans, go big, or go home.