In what was a critical divisional matchup for this young group, the Houston Texans dropped their home opener against the Indianapolis Colts. Though the loss certainly stings, there are some important observations to be made from this performance.
From continued momentum on the offensive side of the ball to the continued positive trajectory of Houston’s prized rookies, there are certainly some positives to be made from a challenging situation. However, there were some recurring negatives that once again hindered the Texans’ chance of coming away with a needed victory.
Here are three important takeaways from the Texans' Week 2 defeat.
C.J. Stroud increases his stock
Every single time the Houston Texans take the field, rookie signal caller C.J. Stroud is the talk of the town. What did the second overall pick do today? Will he show major signs of improvement?
With rookies, it is important to preach patience but it is hard not to be impressed with Stroud’s resolve earlier this afternoon. The rookie came out firing on all cylinders and left the day as one of the more impressive players on the field.
With the Texans falling behind early, the passing game became a point of emphasis. Stroud responded by completing 30 of his 47 passing attempts for 384 yards and two touchdowns.
Nico Collins was once again the primary beneficiary, finishing the contest with over 146 yards receiving. Compared to last game Stroud was able to spread the ball around more, with four different receivers being targeted seven or more times and eight receivers recording at least one reception.
The best signal callers are able to keep the defense on their heels by spreading the ball around to multiple different playmakers. Stroud showcased that potential in this contest.
Where is the offensive line?
For all the talk about C.J. Stroud’s prominence in this contest, it did not come without its fair share of challenges. The Houston Texans' offensive line was once again at the forefront of their demise, allowing six sacks on their rookie signal-caller.
Additionally, the run blocking has been absolutely porous through two weeks. As a team, the Texans finished with 52 rushing yards, with running backs Dameon Pierce and Devin Singletary again averaging less than four yards a carry.
While a certain degree of blame can be shifted towards the backs, the rushing attack will only go as far as the offensive line takes them. The Texans' offensive line failed to create holes in the defense for their rushers to exploit, leading to quick stuffs behind the line of scrimmage.
Simply put, for the Texans to have a chance at victory, they need their offensive line to perform up to par. That has not been the case thus far.
Could Nico Collins be the wide receiver one for Houston?
For the second straight week, veteran wideout Nico Collins has shown off his impressive skills. The 24-year-old had his most impressive game as a pro, tallying 146 receiving yards on seven catches and a receiving touchdown.
Previously at Toro Times, we broke down the burgeoning chemistry between Stroud and Collins and its positive impact on the Texans' passing attack. More of the same was shown in the team’s home opener.
Through two games played, Collins has emerged as a legit breakout candidate, amassing 13 catches for 222 yards and a touchdown. At this current pace, beating previous career highs of 481 receiving yards and two touchdowns is easily attainable for the talented wideout.
It is no question that the Texans are in desperate need of a number one option to boost their young offense. Could the team perhaps have found their in-house solution?
The season is still young and there is plenty of football yet to be played, but Collins has looked like that guy thus far.