Houston Texans: Offensive Strategy Continues To Be A Problem

Despite a near inability to score week in and week out, Houston Texans head coach Bill O’Brien could not contain himself Saturday night following a dramatic 12-10 win over the Cincinnati Bengals.

Despite a near inability to score week in and week out, Houston Texans head coach Bill O’Brien could not contain himself Saturday night following a dramatic 12-10 win over the Cincinnati Bengals.

Former Houston Texans kicker Randy Bullock had just completed gift wrapping the 2016 AFC South title for the Texans with an errant 43-yard field goal that sailed wide right as time expired.

The missed field goal snatched victory from the jaws of defeat sending players racing onto the field as if they had just won the Super Bowl in Houston.

It’s possible that they may complete such a feat.

Here’s how O’Brien answered the opening question at his post-game presser.

"“Doesn’t matter Brian [T. Smith Houston Chronicle columnist], AFC South champions two years in a row, Brian,” remarked a jubilant O’Brien.  “Doesn’t matter what it looked like, back in the playoffs … looking forward to the playoffs.”"

The win culminated another mediocre offensive performance with the exception of one series.

Trailing 10-3 with 10:45 left on the game clock, the Houston Texans opened up the playbook staging a game winning drive.

The four-play, 75-yard drive that took just 2:04 off the game clock was capped by 24-yard touchdown run by Alfred Blue.

Here’s on O’Brien on the change of pace in the 2nd half:

"“We went to no huddle. He’s [Savage] a passer. You’ve got to get him into a rhythm and I felt like we got him into a rhythm,” added O’Brien about the game winning drive. “We still are not very good in the red area, that’s going to come back and bite us here if we don’t improve that. We’re going to keep trying to improve it. But, I thought he did a nice job in the second half.”"

Early on, it was the defense that set the tone.

Jadaveon Clowney and Whitney Mercilus created havoc on “Katy Kid” Andy Dalton keeping the teams deadlocked as halftime neared.

Bullock converted on a 43-yard field goal as time expired in the second quarter.

Novak’s 22-yard field goal with 13:31 to play gave Houston its first lead at 6-3.

His career-high 34th three pointer marked the seventh time in the Texans’ last 10 trips inside the opponents 20 that resulted in a field goal.

Even worse, the field goal was the eighth time in the last 10 trips inside the opposition’s 10-yard line that ended in a field goal.

The tie lasted all of 55 seconds before an 86-yard connection from Dalton to a sprinting Houston-native Brandon LaFell, putting the Bengals back up on the board.

Next: Is Tom Savage The Next Tom Brady?

Savage completed both throws on the game winning drive, one to Will Fuller and one to DeAndre Hopkins.

He also had an incredible 11-yard scramble that made him look more like the quarterback fans expected to see.

By the way, Houston ranks 31st in the NFL for red-zone efficiency, better only then the New York Jets.

All the Texans had to do was win this game to clinch a playoff spot and the division title.

Nonetheless, as mysterious as the win was, they were able to take care of business.

Let’s hope the offensive production improves.