Week 7 – Texans At Chiefs: Game Breakdown

Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

Another game and another loss. The Texans came into Arrowhead Stadium and put up a good fight but just fell short against the undefeated Chiefs. Case Keenum did all he could in the losing effort and the Texans lost several players to injuries. Let’s take a look at the good and the bad from the Texans 17-16  loss to the Chiefs.

What Went Right

• Case Keenum – An almost perfect performance by Keenum in his NFL debut. Keenum made a beautiful throw in the first quarter on a 29-yard TD pass to DeAndre Hopkins and threw the ball well all day. There are things he can still learn but a 15/25 day for 271 yards and 1 TD is nothing to sneeze at.
• DeVier Posey – Just 1 catch but it was a 42-yard gain. His speed helped him break free and a few plays later Keenum hit Hopkins for a TD. Posey is a weapon that will likely be featured more in the offense now that Owen Daniels is out.
• Shiloh Keo – Looks a lot better than Ed Reed out there. Made some big tackles and had a key interception late in the game to give the Texans the ball back with a chance to take the lead.
• D.J. Swearinger – Was one of the best defensive players on the field for the Texans actually wrapping up and making tackles. A horrible call on Swearinger helped the Chiefs out though it only lead to a FG. Great first start for the rookie.
• Randy Bullock – 3/3 on FG is exactly what the Texans were hoping for on a consistent basis. Two 40+ yard field goals will go along way for his confidence.
• Elbert Mack – Made big tackles on special teams. Through the first seven games I’d proclaim him the best special teams player outside of Shane Lechler.

What Went Wrong

• Arian Foster – Went down after just a few carries with a hamstring injury and was done for the day. The injury really hurt the Texans and his presence could have definitely changed the outcome of this game.
• Ben Tate – Did not do a great job replacing Foster and also got banged up. His running style doesn’t really fit the Texans which is why many believe he will be gone after the season.
• Keshawn Martin – I and many others just have no confidence when he’s the one returning the football. Makes bonehead decisions and dances way too much for a return man.
• Derek Newton – He went up against one of the best but got beat too many times. Coaches keep talking him up but his pass protection isn’t good at all.
• Ed Reed – Bad angles, missed tackles, and slow-moving. Texans would have been much better off with Glover Quin.
• Pass Rush – So frustrating to watch Alex Smith sit back in the pocket with all day to throw. The Texans racked up just 2 sacks (Watt/Mitchell) but otherwise had little to no pressure the rest of the game.
• Brice McCain – Teams know to throw his way. Different player than in the past and he’s been terrible all year. Made one nice play on a 3rd down late in the game but otherwise it was another terrible performance.
• Officiating – Some rough calls that didn’t go the Texans way all game. It’s not the reason they lost but certainly didn’t help out the ailing Texans.
• Joe Marciano – The special teams hasn’t produced a positive play since Jerome Mathis was in town. This guy just has to go. He’s terrible.
• Jamaal Charles – Forget about his stats, his helmet to Brian Cushing‘s knee has Cushing done for the year (yes, it was legal). Later in the game his helmet into Watt’s ribs caused Watt to miss a play. He’s not making many fans in Houston.
• Gary Kubiak – Arian Foster and Ben Tate listed on the injury report all week but Kubiak decided to just keep two RB’s active and Cierre Wood as inactive. Besides that mishap, Kubiak still failed to make several adjustments as the game went on and was again out-coached.

The Turning Point

A Jamal Charles fumble gave the Texans the ball at the KC 28-yard line early in the 3rd quarter. A Garrett Graham 27-yard reception gave the Texans the ball at the 1-yard line. A failed QB sneak, followed by a Greg Jones 2-yard loss, and then an incomplete pass to Hopkins forced a Texans FG and a terrible missed opportunity. Amongst the Texans many problems, red-zone scoring (for 7) is way on top of the list.

My Final Thoughts

A tough loss. The Texans could have certainly won this game but the same mistakes have yet to be fixed. Some tough penalties in key situations, missed red-zone opportunities, and coaches not making adjustments as the game moves on. This was another missed opportunity and a big loss for the team. The Texans are now 2-5 headed into the bye week with the Colts coming up week 9. The Texans are now three games behind the Colts and will be missing key starters for most if not all of the season. There’s still some promise left but it’s looking less and less likely the Texans will be playing football in January.