Texans Report Card: Grading the performance in Houston's Week 3 loss to Colts
· Yahoo Sports
The Houston Texans had the win with less than two minutes on the clock.
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Of course, one can only assume that when a team can keep a lead for longer than 90 seconds.
Despite having three turnovers, Daniel Jones was able to lead the Indianapolis Colts on the final drive to set up a 53-yard field goal from Spencer Shrader with 19 seconds left, securing the comeback 19-17 victory over Houston.
For the second straight season, the Texans start 0-3. Even if Houston can right the ship, the chances of mounting a surge toward a postseason are marginally thin.
Here's our report card from every position group following a two-point loss on the road.
Quarterback: B
C.J. Stroud still couldn't take over the game as the enforcer fans thought he would become following his breakout rookie season. Of course, right now, due to the offensive line and lack of supporting cast members in the passing game, it feels as if no one can find success off NRG Drive these days.
Stroud finished 16 of 27 passing for 167 yards and threw a 1-yard touchdown to tight end Foster Moreau in the second quarter. He also saved his best drive for the foruth quarter, completing six passes for 42 yards while putting Houston position to win late behind the legs of Woody Marks.
No, Stroud wasn't perfect, but he was also left with limited resources and an elementary-level offensive concept to work with. He's been the lone constant of the offense this season and shouldn't be penalized for having to carry the entire offense through three games.
Running Backs: D
Somehow, the run game has gotten worse this season. Even with the Texans going out to find targets who better fit the offensive play style of Nick Caley's unit, the ground-and-pound attack is more a walk-and-talk approach on the feild.
No, the Texans weren’t as bad as they were against the Bengals, but they still averaged less than 3.4 yards per attempt. And this was against a Colts’ front seven that entered the week ranked 31st in run defense. Woody Marks finished with a touchdown run, but outside of that, his day was quiet.
David Montgomery, the big addition of the offseason, still couldn't get the ball rolling, finishing with less than 40 yards and two first downs. In all honesty, how much blame could either of them have when the offensive line could generate holes?
Wide Recievers: D
It really is Nico Collins and a bunch of dudes, isn't it? With the Pro Bowl wideout out for a second straight game, the Texans relied on a bunch of No. 3 and No. 4s to take on the mantle on playing in place of a No. 1.
It went exactly as one would think. Xavier Hutchnson and Jared Wayne dropped a pair of first-down receptions that would have moved the sticks. Jaylin Noel was seldom used, despite once again leading the team in yards per catch. Kayshon Boutte had one nice reception and was quiet the rest of the afternoon.
Collins needs to come back for the offense to have any sense of life.
Tight Ends: C
At least one tight end showed up to the party. Granted, the Colts knew that Stroud was going to target Dalton Schultz for most of the afternoon, so they bracketed him until he could finally break open for two receptions.
But Foster Moreau was perhaps the most consistent offensive weapon on Sunday. He caught two passes for seven yards, but one was for a 2-yard touchdown reception just before halftime to reignite life into the offense and give some bit of a spark.
You can at least reward that little shred of positivity from Sunday's showdown.
Offensive Line: D-
From the first snap of the game, things were going to be terrible. Even after they settled in, the damage was done. Houston trailed by as much as nine before the offensive line could find a rapport in pass protection. Oh, and Stroud was sacked three times.
It's not just one player being out of position. Every player continues to struggle through at least four quarters.
Defense: B+
If we're just talking about the defensive line, this would be an A. Something must have snapped inside the Will Anderson Jr., because he was playing as if this was a playoff elimination outing and his life depending on making it to Janaury.
The All-Pro defensive end finished with seven tackles, 2.5 sacks and two forced fumbles, including one with 4:40 left in the game that surged Houston right back into potentially winning. A combination of Danielle Hunter, Mario Edwards Jr., Tommy Togiai and Logan Hall also made life hell for Daniel Jones, combining for nine quarterback pressures, seven quarterback hits and two sacks.
But the secondary still allowed far too many explosive plays. Reed Blankenship recorded the team's first interception of the season, but that was more because of an airmail pass from Jones right before he was sacked. On the final drive, Kamari Lassiter allowed Keenan Allen to break free for a first-down gain. Laquon Treadwell was also able to get open in coverage against Jalen Pitre and Calen Bullock for a pickup of 20.
It just wasn't an elite outing. A solid one? Sure. One that will go down in history for the unit? Far from it.
Special Teams: D -
Last season, special teams saved the Texans from losing game. This season, at least in the early stages, it's costing them.
Ka’imi Fairbairn only made one field goal, but that was a coaching decision rather than him shanking one wide right. The problem? He kick in the end zone for a touchback in a one-score lead that immediately led to Indianapolis starting out at its own 35-yard line. With the leg of Spencer Shrader, the Colts didn’t need much to get into range for a game-winning field goal.
Coaching: F
DeMeco Ryans cost the Texans a win. Yes, execution on the field has to be a factor, but the deciscion early on not to take the points while in range of Fairbairn's leg was the difference between a two-point loss and a one-point win.
But that perhaps wasn't even the worst offense of the afternoon from Ryans and his staff. That came with less than two minutes on the clock and the Colts driving.
With 1:05 remaining, Ryans didn't call a timeout to save room for his offense. He eventually pulled the trigger, but that was after 40 seconds had come off the clock, allowing Indianapolis to take their sweet time. If he had stopped the clock with over a minute left, there's a chance Houston loses, but there's also hope that the offense could get into field goal range for Fairbairn to walk it off.
This article originally appeared on Texans Wire: Texans Report Card: Grading the performance in Houston's Week 3 loss to Colts