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Houston Texans: 5 ways to end a 300-plus day losing streak

By Stephen Forsha

FOXBOROUGH, MA - SEPTEMBER 09: DeAndre Hopkins #10 of the Houston Texans reacts on the sideline after Stephon Gilmore #24 of the New England Patriots (not pictured) intercepted a pass during the first half at Gillette Stadium on September 9, 2018 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
FOXBOROUGH, MA - SEPTEMBER 09: DeAndre Hopkins #10 of the Houston Texans reacts on the sideline after Stephon Gilmore #24 of the New England Patriots (not pictured) intercepted a pass during the first half at Gillette Stadium on September 9, 2018 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /
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NASHVILLE, TN – SEPTEMBER 16: J.J. Watt #99 of the Houston Texans tackles Derrick Henry #22 of the Tennessee Titans during the first half at Nissan Stadium on September 16, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TN – SEPTEMBER 16: J.J. Watt #99 of the Houston Texans tackles Derrick Henry #22 of the Tennessee Titans during the first half at Nissan Stadium on September 16, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images) /

2. Step up the pass rush

Where is the great pass rush this Houston Texans team is capable of having? When a team allowed Blaine Gabbert to defeat them with a makeshift offensive line, there aren’t many viable excuses to be heard or believed.

Jadeveon Clowney didn’t play last Sunday due to a back injury, and the Texans’ defense has sacked the opposition a total of three times in their first two games, and that is with the Tennessee Titans having both starting tackles out of the lineup.

Having sacks this season are nose tackle D.J. Reader with two and outside linebacker Duke Ejiofor with one sack. Missing from that list are the likes of J.J. Watt, Clowney and Whitney Mercilus, who have totaled 15 combined tackles, no sacks and one forced fumble.

Those numbers just won’t cut it if the Texans want to end their losing streak, and for that, the old Watt, Clowney and Mercilus need to show up this weekend. If all three are healthy for this game, the Texans could achieve or possibly exceed what the Dallas Cowboys did last Sunday night when they sacked Eli Manning six times and held Saquon Barkley to 28 yards on 11 carries. For the season, the Giants have allowed eight sacks.

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