Texans revert to terrible play in 31-3 rout by Jaguars
The Houston Texans had one of their worst performances of the season a week after ending a nine-game skidJANUARY 2 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
HOUSTON TEXANS
3-13-1 · 4TH IN AFC SOUTH
Ka'imi Fairbairn - Logs lone points in loss Fairbairn converted his lone field-goal attempt in Sunday's 31-3 loss to Jacksonville in Week 17.
Impact Fairbairn's 56-yard field goal in the third quarter prevented Houston from being shut out. The veteran placekicker has bounced back from an injury-marred 2021 to make 93 percent (28 of 30) of his FGAs, including all six from 50 and beyond.
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Brevin Jordan - One catch in loss Jordan caught one of three targets for 20 yards in Sunday's 31-3 loss to Jacksonville in Week 17.
Impact Jordan was more involved with Teagan Quitoriano (knee) inactive, but there wasn't much happening in the passing attack, which was held to under 200 passing yards for the eighth time. He entered the game with just three targets over the previous three weeks.
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Amari Rodgers - Remains in rotation Rodgers caught both of his targets for 12 yards and ran once for four yards in Sunday's 31-3 loss to the Jaguars in Week 17.
Impact Rodgers has been given a fresh start in Houston after the Packers released the 2021 third-round draft pick in November. He's made a couple of big catches for the Texans -- a 28-yard touchdown reception in the near-upset of Dallas and 37-yarder on the go-ahead drive in Week 16's win over Tennessee. Rodgers has nine catches (13 targets) for 132 yards (14.7 YPC) over the last four games.
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Phillip Dorsett - Season-high targets in loss Dorsett caught three of a season-high six targets for 14 yards in Sunday's 31-3 loss to Jacksonville in Week 17.
Impact Dorsett, who played 39 snaps, has benefitted from Nico Collins' season-ending foot injury and racked up 16 targets over the last five weeks while averaging 44 snaps. His playing time dipped the last two weeks with Brandin Cooks' return from a calf injury, but Dorsett remains a potential option.
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Rex Burkhead - Targeted five times in loss Burkhead caught three of five targets for 10 yards and did not have a rushing attempt in Sunday's 31-3 loss to the Jaguars in Week 17.
Impact Burkhead maintains a minor presence in the backfield, largely due to his ability has a receiver. He has a career-high 49 targets in 2022, which is not surprising given that Houston often plays from behind. As for rushing, Burkhead hasn't carried the ball in the last three games, as Royce Freeman and Dare Ogunbowale have been the main fill-ins for Dameon Pierce (ankle).
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Dare Ogunbowale - Plays Week 17 Ogunbowale had seven carries for 21 yards and caught two of three targets for four yards in Sunday's 31-3 loss to Jacksonville in Week 17.
Impact Ogunbowale was on the injury report all week with a knee injury, but he was available to play 26 snaps in the loss. He and Royce Freeman (30 snaps) were co-leaders in the backfield and should be once again Week 18 against Indianapolis.
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Royce Freeman - Leads backs in snaps Freeman had seven carries for 19 yards and caught three of five targets for 20 yards in Sunday's 31-3 loss to the Jaguars in Week 17.
Impact Freeman (30 snaps) and Dare Ogunbowale (26 snaps) once again were the top backs on offense, but neither had a productive day. Freeman's 39 combined yards paced the backfield. Expect a similar backfield mix, with a bit of Rex Burkhead thrown in, for next week's season finale against the Colts.
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Jeff Driskel - Still part of gameplan Driskel completed three of four passes for nine yards and ran twice for seven yards in Sunday's 31-3 loss to the Jaguars in Week 17.
Impact Offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton continued to work the two-quarterback system with Driskel and Davis Mills, which yielded good results Week 14 when the Texans nearly upset the Cowboys, but the surprise factor waned in successive weeks. As Jacksonville built a 28-0 lead, Houston averaged 2.1 yards per play with Driskel under center compared to 4.9 yards with Mills, per Brooks Kubena of the Houston Chronicle. Neither Driskel nor Mills were effective, and it appears the organization will be looking for a quarterback in the draft.
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Davis Mills - Struggles badly again Mills completed 22 of 40 passes for 202 yards against Jacksonville on Sunday.
Impact It's been a brutal season for Mills, who once again rotated with Jeff Driskel (3 of 4 passing for nine yards, two carries for seven yards). When he took the snaps, Mills just couldn't get the ball downfield. The Texans play the Colts in Week 18, so Mills will look to get on track against the team he threw for 240 yards and two touchdowns against in Week 1.
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Jordan Akins - Makes two receptions Akins caught two passes for 38 yards on three targets against Jacksonville on Sunday.
Impact Akins has been productive on a per-snap basis in 2022, but he hasn't been able to scale up that production over a bigger workload. It's possible that Akins could do more if the Texans gave him more snaps, but (A) he might not be able to play more snaps and (B) the Texans also have OJ Howard (two targets Sunday) and Brevin Jordan (three targets) blocking the way for Akins to prove himself further.
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Chris Moore - Only three receptions Moore caught three passes for 21 yards on five targets against Jacksonville on Sunday.
Impact Moore had some success in Weeks 13-through-16 when the Texans gave him more reps outside as opposed to the slot, but the inside/underneath game has never been a productive part of Moore's repertoire and in the past two weeks the Texans have reverted to lining up Moore in the slot and underneath rather than outside and downfield. If the Texans continue to misuse Moore then he might be hard-pressed to bounce back against Indianapolis in Week 18.
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Brandin Cooks - Reels in four receptions Cooks caught four passes for 39 yards on seven targets against Jacksonville on Sunday.
Impact Cooks remains one of the league's better receivers in real life, but in fantasy football his impact is dulled by Houston's consistently poor quarterback play. The Texans attempted 44 passes Sunday but produced just 193 yards passing, and it's not easy for any receiver to thrive in circumstances like those. Cooks will hope to finish strong against Indianapolis in Week 18.
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Jags rout Texans 31-3 to end 9-game skid vs. Houston
Travis Etienne ran for 108 yards and a touchdown before halftime, Tyson Campbell returned a fumble for a score and the Jacksonville Jaguars snapped a nine-game skid against Houston...JANUARY 1 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Dare Ogunbowale - Available Sunday Ogunbowale (knee) is officially active for Sunday's game versus the Jaguars.
Impact The 28-year-old is dealing with a knee injury and practiced as a limited participant Thursday and Friday, but he's been cleared to take the field for Sunday's divisional contest. Ogunbowale should again work as the top backup to Royce Freeman with Dameon Pierce (ankle) lost for the season.
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