Battle Red Blog
“We let ‘em off the hook!”
Let’s get this out of the way up front: the Detroit Lions are currently one of, if not the, hottest teams in the NFL. Kudos to them for finding a way to win. Especially after coughing up 5 turnovers.
Now that’s out of the way, cue the old Dennis Green “We let ‘em off the hook” post game tirade.
Midway through the 2nd quarter, the offensively offensive line gave up a 12 yard sack on C.J. Stroud. Facing a 2nd and 22, OC Bobby Slowik calls the old draw play everyone who has ever seen an NFL game expected - because mediocre coaches have no option in their playbook for 2nd and 22. Mixon goes nowhere.
The following play, Detroit’s defense presses the line of scrimmage, as they had been most of the game. Slowik then calls a quick screen, counting on back up wide receivers to block Lions starting defenders.
The pass was completed to Xavier Hutchinson for -4 yards.
This inability to read and react to what the Detroit’s defense was doing plagued the entire game, and was on full display for the scoreless 2nd half. Houston hit the locker room at halftime leading 23-7 and lost 23-26.
The inability to get the offensive line functioning like a pro unit is on the coaching.
The inability to matriculate the ball into the end zone in the entire 2nd half is on the coaching.
The lack of halftime adjustments, the obvious loss of confidence on display with C.J. Stroud, Joe Mixon’s 25 carries for 46 yards, all on the coaching.
Sure there are injuries, sure the Lions are on a hot streak, sure (insert excuses here). In the end, the coaching staff failed to correct the problems with the offensive line, failed to take advantage of what Detroit was doing once exposed and found a way to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.
The 2024 Houston Texans are a better team than the New York Jets. Good enough to beat the Detroit Lions and a far sight better than the Dallas Cowboys. If they lose to Jerry’s Kids next Monday, you can cue the fan mutiny.
Demeco Ryans, Slowik, Matt Burke, Frank Ross and the rest of the coaches have a lot of work to do.
#InDemecoWeTrust?
