Texans morning huddle: O’Brien sticks with Hoyer, big offseason looms

Jan 9, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; A Houston Texans fan reacts during the fourth quarter in a AFC Wild Card playoff football game against the Kansas City Chiefs at NRG Stadium. Kansas City won 30-0.Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 9, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; A Houston Texans fan reacts during the fourth quarter in a AFC Wild Card playoff football game against the Kansas City Chiefs at NRG Stadium. Kansas City won 30-0.Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

The Houston Texans fell 30-0 to the Kansas City Chiefs to end their season, the morning huddle has all the news you need in wake of the tough loss


It was a tough game, and a sad way to end the 2015 NFL Season as the Houston Texans lost to the Kansas City Chiefs 30-to-nothing. Looking ahead is one of the key themes to today’s huddle. Here is what you need to know:

Arnold Schwarzenegger has a message for J.J. Watt after Texans’ loss – ESPN Staff

"Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt on Saturday night apologized to fans after his team’s shutout loss to the Chiefs, and he got a message back from Arnold Schwarzenegger.More from Toro TimesHouston Texans: Can Sean Payton really be the next head coach?Houston Texans Draft: Michael Mayer should be a no doubter at pick 12Houston Texans already telling fans the Davis Mills era is overHouston Texans have hand forced, waste no time in firing Lovie SmithHouston Texans: Pros and Cons of keeping Head Coach Lovie SmithWatt, who had one tackle, aggravated a groin injury and left the game in the third quarter. After being examined, he lobbied the medical staff to let him continue playing, but they wouldn’t allow it."

Texans’ Bill O’Brien felt ‘right thing to do’ was stick with Brian Hoyer – by Tania Ganguli, ESPN

"The Houston Texans ended their season on Saturday night with the same problem that has haunted the franchise for most of its 12 years: an unsettled plan at quarterback.Brian Hoyer threw four interceptions and lost a fumble in Houston’s 30-0 wild-card loss to Kansas City. Three of the picks and the fumble occurred on the Texans’ first six possessions, yet coach Bill O’Brien said after the game that he didn’t consider a quarterback change."

Brian Cushing’s best season since 2011 produces emotional playoff return – by Brian T. Smith, Houston Chronicle

"Brian Cushing was J.J. before Watt broke the stratosphere.As the Texans turned 2-5 into 9-7 and the AFC South title, Cushing led the third-best defense in the NFL with 110 tackles and played in all 16 regular-season games for the first time since 2011.But with all the talk about Whitney Mercilus’ 2015 ascension, Watt’s fourth All-Pro year and Romeo Crennel’s in-game creations, Cushing continues to be the forgotten man leading the Texans’ D."

Five questions facing the Houston Texans this offseason – by Tania Ganuli, ESPN

"Who is the quarterback of the future? Brian Hoyer was a major part of the Texans’ debacle against the Chiefs (four interceptions and one lost fumble), but his performance really emphasized the Texans’ need to find a solution at the position. The Texans had constant questions at the position, even when Hoyer was healthy. They yo-yoed between Hoyer and Ryan Mallett at the start of the season and became the first team since 1950 to have four different quarterbacks win a game in the same season and make the playoffs. It’s fine when the defense can pick up the offense, but when the turnovers become as plentiful as they were Saturday, there’s not much the defense can do."

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