If there were any remaining questions the Texans answered them Monday night. The 2016 Houston Texans simply are not ready for prime time.
In fact they are not ready for any time when playing a quality opponent. That will be proven out over the remainder of the season. Currently they are 4-0 at home, 0-3 on the road, but the quality of the opponent, not the location of the field, is the main determining factor in victories or defeats.
When evaluating a Super Bowl contender a key question is, “Who did they beat?” The Texans’ answer now and at the end of the season is the same, “No one”. The Texans can compete in the AFC South, but they are not dominant even there. Winning the division is not a lock. One and done in the playoffs appears as the Texans best hope. Harkening back to the “Good, Bad and Ugly” series, “The Bad” appears inevitable, and the Texans are on the brink of “The Ugly”.
Injuries are a reason…but not THE reason. Duane Brown’s slow recovery, Nick Martin’s season ending ankle surgery, J.J. Watt’s second back surgery, Brian Cushing’s knee, various hamstrings and concussions, and now Derek Newton’s season ending knee injuries have taken a toll. While all teams have injuries, few teams have the depth to overcome what the Texans have experienced.