Battle Red Blog
There was very little drama to Sunday’s game between the Houston Texans and Tennessee Titans. In the grand scheme of things, it feels good to know that you aren’t a complete dumpster fire. That would be the team on the opposing sideline today. So, looking at the numbers doesn’t really tell us anything earth shattering. It was a 26-0 football game. There isn’t a ton that needs to be revealed.
We still look at the numbers anyway because it is another data point. When the season is over and we are looking back at the total team numbers, this one will be one of the ones we look at. We also want to study the relevant numbers to see which ones correlate most strongly with winning and losing. I’m guessing we will see the usual suspects.
I don’t want to overstate this. We will see the Titans again and there is always the risk of giving people proverbial bulletin board material. So, any statement that follows should be interpreted as what we have seen through week four. Things could change. Cam Ward will get better and the Titans offense should get better. However, through week four the Titans are visually and statistically the worst team in football. It isn’t even particularly close.
There are other winless teams. However, only the Saints have surrendered more points as I write this and no one has scored fewer points. By the way, the Jets and Dolphins have yet to play as I write this. So, that separation will be even more stark once all of the games are in books. They sit at nearly -70 on the season. For the math impaired, that is an average of nearly 18 points a game. They aren’t just losing. They are getting their doors blown off. Absolutely give credit to the Texans for doing what they should do. That’s where these things get started. Just don’t delude yourself into thinking they are back yet.
No matter the quality of opponent, you have to show up and play. The defense showed up and played again. They have surrendered the fewest points of any team in the AFC. Yes, this was a terrible football team today, but they have also played three other teams with three wins on the season. If the season ended today, three of their four opponents would be in the playoffs. This is a championship level defense and that might be even more so once C.J. Gardner-Johnson was released.
Presumably, there are reinforcements on their way in the secondary. As long as the defense is playing this well, this team has a heartbeat. Jacksonville...
