Houston Texans

Houston Texans vs. Minnesota Vikings: Houston, We Have A Problem!

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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Oct 2, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Texans wide receiver Will Fuller (15) returns a punt for a touchdown during the third quarter against the Tennessee Titans at NRG Stadium. The Texans won 27-20. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sportsv

The Texans that played the first 17 minutes against the Titans can give the Vikings a game. The Texans that played the last 43 minutes have a big hill to climb. Consequently, this was a win that feels like a loss.

To consider prospects against the Vikings we must review the Titans game. For the first 17 minutes the Texans looked like the offensive force that fans hope they are. They had three possessions, scored three times and led 17-3. The Texans dominated every aspect of the first quarter. They made the Titans look like what they are, a mediocre team with many holes to fill.

However, that mediocre Titans team spent the last three-quarters demonstrating why the Houston Texans can’t play with the elite teams. The Texans began the game with two legitimate touchdown drives.

After that it took a Tennessee penalty to enable the Texan’s first field goal. Another senseless Titans penalty with seconds to go before halftime turned a prospective Texans punt into a second Texans field goal. That’s six gift points.

From 17-3 very early in the second quarter the Titans outscored the Texans 17-10 for the rest of the game. The Texans’ 10 points came from the second gift field goal and a 67-yard punt return by Texans rookie Will Fuller. For the last 3 quarters the Texans offense struggled.

What changed after the first quarter? The Titans decided to pressure the passer. When the Titans turned up the heat the Texans weak offensive line was exposed. Brock Osweiler was under constant pressure, and under pressure he is a completely different passer.

Oct 2, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Tennessee Titans cornerback Perrish Cox (20) intercepts a pass intended for Houston Texans wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins (10) during the second half at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

The only real mystery is why it took the Titans a whole quarter to figure out that pressure is all it takes to overwhelm Osweiler and his line. The Kansas City and New England games made that obvious. Apparently the Titans didn’t watch the tapes. The Vikings have.

The real problem against the Vikings is that the Texans don’t control which team shows up, the first quarter Texans or the Texans that finished the game. That’s all up to the Vikings. Turn up the heat and shut down Houston. “Clean pocket” Osweiler is franchise material. Harassed Osweiler…not so much.

For poor and average teams to turn up the heat they have to blitz, committing five and six defenders or more to the pass rush. Their then undermanned second and third defensive levels defense can be exploited by franchise quarterbacks.

A Houston team with many explosive players should thrive against blitz generated pressure with what Bill O’Brien calls “chunk plays”.

Against average opponents these big plays can produce enough points for the Texans to ride their solid defense to victory. However, elite teams don’t go “all in” to create pressure.

Their players are skilled enough and their systems sound enough that chunk plays are hard to come by . Then the Texans defense, especially a defense without J. J. Watt, is insufficient to carry the day.

The Vikings present a special problem. They create as much pressure as Osweiler will see all year, but they do it by rushing only four. The Vikings don’t have to gamble to beat the Texans line and disrupt Osweiler. They just have to play their signature game. That spells trouble for the Texans.

Oct 2, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Texans quarterback Brock Osweiler (17) throws during the game against the Tennessee Titans at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

There are two solutions to the Texans ineptitude against pressure. One can happen this week. The other must happen soon if the Texans still have high hopes for this season.

The first solution is for Brock Osweiler to up his game. That rests squarely on his back and the Texans coaching staff that must coach him up and install a game plan that effectively counters defensive pressure. Don’t hold your breath.

Yes, Duane Brown may be back. Hopefully, Braxton Miller will return to add more firepower for the short dump routes. But the Texans line is not good enough, even with Duane Brown, to keep Osweiler clean.

And an Osweiler under pressure is a very challenged quarterback. This week, “Houston, we have a problem.”

To consider the second, more permanent, solution we can compare how the Vikings and Texans front office react to season threatening weaknesses. The Vikings weakness came when quarterback Teddy Bridgewater went down with a season ending injury. The Vikings had the choice of adopting a wait until next year strategy or fixing the problem at whatever the cost.

Oct 3, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Bradford (8) throws during the third quarter against the New York Giants at U.S. Bank Stadium. The Vikings defeated the Giants 24-10. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports

They chose the latter. The Vikings traded for Sam Bradford, arguably a better quarterback than the fallen Bridgewater. They paid a high price, future 1st and 4th round draft picks. But the Vikings see their future as now.

They refused to wait for Bridgewater to heal and 2017 draft choices to develop. They are a better team today than before Bridgewater’s injury, and that will continue into 2017 and beyond.

The Texans should be in the same “win now” mode. They have a talented roster with one glaring weakness, the offensive line. Granted it’s easier to replace one player than to improve a 5-man position group, but one high quality player added to the Texans offensive line, plus the return of Duane Brown, can do wonders.

And next year, with the return of Nick Martin, the Texans line will be even stronger. Getting him back is like getting a high draft choice, so why not spend one now? It is like having the best of both worlds now and in the future.

Oct 2, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Texans quarterback Brock Osweiler (17) runs with the ball on a keeper during the fourth quarter against the Tennessee Titans at NRG Stadium. The Texans won 27-20. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Wait until next year.

While not admitting it the Texans appear resigned to waiting until next year. J. J. Watt and Nick Martin will be back. Brock Osweiler will have another year of experience. All the young guns will have become vets. Next year looks good. Next year always looks good to the Texans’ management.

Unfortunately, the problem with always waiting until tomorrow is that often tomorrow never comes. The Texans can win now without mortgaging the future, but they do not seem inclined to do so. They will keep doing the same thing over and over hoping for better results.

However, look at the schedule. After what is a likely debacle in Minneapolis the Texans still have to play the Broncos, Raiders, Packers and Bengals. With Brock Osweiler behind this offensive line pencil in 5 losses, plus the Texans still have to play the rest of the schedule.

Sure the Texans can still win the AFC South, but the teams they must face in the playoffs are all elite quality, not AFC South quality. Without a fix now it’s “one and done” all over again.

I know I’m beating a dead horse once again, but I’m getting old. How long is it going to take the Texans to put it all together? Long suffering fans want to know.