Houston Texans: Tom Savage Is The Spark The Team Needs
By Louis Roesch
Tom Savage, our back-up quarterback engineered four second-half scoring drives rescuing the Houston Texans and Brock Osweiler from the jaws of defeat on Sunday afternoon at NRG Stadium.
Tom Savage, our back-up quarterback engineered four second-half scoring drives rescuing the Houston Texans and Brock Osweiler from the jaws of defeat on Sunday afternoon at NRG Stadium.
Bill O’Brien benched his $72 million signal-caller after Osweiler committed his16th interception of the season propelling the Jacksonville Jaguars to 13-0 lead.
Osweiler watched from the sidelines as Savage took control of the Houston Texans’ offense, he put together five scoring drives leading to an eventual 21-20 win and maintaining a share of the AFC South lead.
Here’s what O’Brien had to say about the decision he felt justified to make:
"“At that point in time, I just felt like it that was the best decision for the team,” O’Brien said. “I think we’ve got three really talented quarterbacks here. I really do.”"
O’Brien was placed in a no-win situation by his third hand-picked starter (Brian Hoyer and Ryan Fitzpatrick) in three seasons as the approximate amount of 72,000 in attendance booed Osweiler off the field with 10:09 left in the first half.
Savage entered amid a pandemonium of cheers and immediately went to work driving the Houston Texans down the field.
The third year-pro engineered a 75-yard drive that stalled at the Jacksonville half yard line after a fade to DeAndre Hopkins on fourth and one.
Jacksonville with a hold in the end zone on a fourth down punt put the Texans on the scoreboard with a safety.
Savage then drove from the Houston 38 to the Jaguars 22 where the first of four Nick Novak field goals made the halftime score 13-5.
Savage and the Texans began with the ball at their own 16, wit their first possession of the second half.
After 11 plays, a Novak field goal split the uprights from 45 yards away and Houston was in Business trailing 13-8.
Our special teams though let Jacksonville kick returner Marquise Lee free for a 100 yard kick-off return and the lead was twelve at the 7:02 mark of the third quarter.
Osweiler’s counterpart would have one more third quarter scoring drive left as he drove the Texans from their own 30 yard line to the Jacksonville 25 where Novak did the rest, kicking another field goal from 45 yards.
A Novak 27-yard field goal culminated a 14-play, scoring drive for the Texans to start the fourth quarter. The 58-yard drive sparked hope of a comeback win that had seemed all but unlikely earlier in the game.
A short field set the Texans up to seal the comeback on their very next series. It was a drive that saw Savage complete four of eight for 32 yards.
Throw in a couple of pass interference penalties and the Texans found themselves at the Jacksonville one-yard line with 2:58 left on the game clock.
One play later, Lamar Miller got behind behind a valiant-block by left guard Xavier Su’a-Filo dashing into the endzone with the game tying score.
Novak converted the point after and the comeback was complete.
Texans’ strong safety Quintin Demps interception on Jacksonville’s final series gave Savage and company the opportunity to kneel down the win.
Savage finished 23-for-36 for 260 yards and no turnovers.
Here’s what Savage had to say post-game:
"“It was nuts, but I think the guys did a good job of rallying around me and making some plays for me,” Savage said. “I’m happy to be a part of this team.”"
The Texans are certainly trending in the right direction with the switch made under center, let’s hope that it continues.