Battle Red Blog
Mental health is a thing for football fans. Yes, we aren’t actually participating in the game, but for many fans, their week rides at least in part on the outcome of that Sunday’s game. So, for three hours, the dedicated Texans fans is a bundle of nerves. Sure, it makes us feel more alive, but it takes a toll. Every once in awhile you need a palate cleanser that can help settle the soul. This Sunday was one of those days. The contest was literally never in doubt. The closest it ever got was ten points which was a definite departure from the gauntlet of close games they played during the six game winning streak.
Obviously, the numbers game is a complex one for those of us that play it. On the one hand, these kinds of performances help the bottom line. After all, they have combined for 84 points in just two games this season (Ravens and Cardinals). That has a way of affecting the aggregate. We will get to more of that in a minure. For now, let’s run down the numbers.
This is yet another game where the Texans won the turnover battle. One of the underrated stories of the season offensively has been their ability to limit turnovers. Any full telling of the Nick Caley story will have to include improvement in total turnovers and sacks allowed. It is one of the many reasons why evaluating coaches 99 percent of the time is difficult. There will always be positives and negatives. It is similar on the defensive end. The Texans are one of the league leaders in penalties. Again, there are positives and negatives to their style of play. Evaluating coaches is all about playing a balancing act of both the positives and the negatives.
This game was won by the offense. Let me repeat that again. This game was won by the offense. I cannot overstate how much of a shock it is to say that. I included the punts above because it seems unfathomable for a Nick Caley coached outfit to punt only one time in a football. This team moved the ball at will and did so on the ground and in the air. This one was not Stroud’s best game this season, but it was in the top three. He completed a high percentage of balls and did so within the flow of the offense.
In particular, Jawhar Jordan was elevated just before the game from the practice squad and went on to have 15 carries and 107 yards....
