Tough to lose a game when a team has a 4-point lead, a first down, and two minutes left on the clock. Our Houston perspective is of course that the Texans blew this - and no doubt they absolutely did - but that team on the other sideline played their asses off to execute.
O'Brien accepted all of the blame for the offensive playcalling - three straight runs burning off just 11 seconds of clock - but it was far from some of the worst playcalling he's ever made. Running Lamar Miller in the short yardage offense is still a headscratcher, but dropping back Watson to pass is no guaranteed success, and we'd all rail him if it resulted in an incomplete pass.
Tough to blame an offense that scores 38 points. Watson was amazing, but the first two picks were not great decisions. The last hail mary throw to end the game was simply underthrown. Maybe he was tired. Had the pass enough air underneath it, maybe Will Fuller grabs it and who knows what happens.
But the defense was abused. (Literally... Clowney absorbed a chop block.) I'd argue losing Mercilus has been far worse than losing Watt. Pass rush beyond Clowney has been spotty. And playing in Seattle is no joke. Glad the Texans only have to go up there once every eight years. Such an annoying place to play... kinda how I feel when the Astros have to play in Oakland.
Remaining schedule gets easier. If the team can keep focus and composure, no given what with the potential for more casual racism, there could be some fun times ahead this season.
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