Battle Red Blog
Then get the added bonus of clinching the AFC South thanks to the Colts losing in Denver.
The Day After the Day After...when the raw, immediate emotions from the aftermath of a game diminish into the realm of clarity and the proverbial (or literal) hangover no longer haunts the mind. With that, a review of Week 15:
The Houston Texans will never, ever, ever give up on playing Tytus Howard at guard...ever. Between injury and incompetence, Kenyon Green, Juice Scruggs and Jarrett Patterson all manned the left guard spot, to varying degrees of success. The last couple of weeks saw Juice Scruggs as the main LG starter. However, a foot injury ruled him out, so to man the spot: Tytus Howard. Blake Fisher took over at right tackle. Last season, for a few games before Howard went out for the season, he did okay at left guard. This past Sunday, against a feisty Miami Dolphins defensive front...181 total yards of offense (and that number includes a major special teams play (more later)), four sacks allowed and only mustering 42 yards rushing on planned offensive runs. Offensive execution...few would argue against it after this game, and first up, the offensive line, regardless of whether Howard plays at tackle or guard.
Dare Ogunbowale to the rescue yet again: Once again, a game-winning play came off the legs of Ogunbowale on special teams. This one was more akin to his primary profession of running back. On a third and two from the Miami 44 yard-line that failed when Stroud and Metchie couldn’t connect on a potential TD, Houston lined up for a punt, looking to pin the ‘Fins deep in their own territory. As the play clock wound down, Tommy Townsend engaged in a bit of acting, gesticulating to the sideline. While that was going on, Weeks direct snapped the ball to MJ Stewart, who ran to his left, only to hand the ball off to Ogunbowale, who ran to his right, outside the Texans line. His 35-yard run put the ball at the Miami 9-yard line. Initially ruled a fumble, Ogunbowale was downed before the ball came out, and by virtue of Miami penalty, Houston got the ball at the Dolphins’ 4-yard line. Stroud found Collins for a 6-yard TD two plays later and Houston went up 20-6. This gave Houston more than enough room to hold on for the win.
The Three-Headed Monster in the Texans Secondary. Whether you want to compare them to Cerberus, the legendary guard-dog of the Underworld, or King Ghidorah, the violent dragon-alien that gave Godzilla so much trouble, the trio of Derek Stingley, Jr, Kamari Lassiter and Caden Bullock are turning the Texans’ defensive back-field into a real monstrosity for opposing players. Certainly it helps to have a couple of pass-rushing nightmares like Will Anderson, Jr and Danielle Hunter up front, but these three did their part to hound Tagovailoa into a day to forget in Houston. The trio combined for three INTs, 17 total tackles,...
