Rough start for the Houston Texans in 34-20 loss at Kansas City

Photo by
Darla S Tamulitis, La Vita Loca Photography
Copyright 2020 All Rights Reserved

By Lou Roesch
Copyright 2020 All Rights Reserved

KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI (September 11, 2020)  The Houston Texans opened the 2020 football season with a 34-20 loss to the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs. It was a game that everyone from the top of the organization to the fanbase had waited  for for nearly nine months. It was the start that fans feared would happen but hoped they would not have to endure. After another flat showing on national television, Houston head coach Bill O'Brien has no one left to blame but himself.

The Texans came out strong scoring the opening touchdown salvo on their second drive and then much like last January the Chiefs took over scoring 31 unanswered points and just like that the game was over. Houston quarterback Deshaun Watson ran for his life nearly all night as the highly touted offensive line looked more like a sieve then a wall. Oh there were a few moments where the Texans showed some flash but never sustainable until the game was out of reach midway through the fourth quarter.

Texans game notes touted the fact that defense held the Chiefs scoreless in the first quarter for the first time since November of the 2019 season but what about the other three quarters of football. Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes threw for his third lowest yards per attempt yet still he was good enough to throw three scoring strikes. The Texans held the Chiefs offense to just 203 net total yards but where it mattered most, Kansas City still put up 34 points.

Houston's David Johnson ran for 77 yards on 11 carries but maybe we should talk about the play calling. Offensive coordinator Tim Kelly's play calling after the initial scoring drive looked more like O'Brien was calling the plays. Probably a good thing BOB was wearing a mask on this night because we can only imagine the grimaces he wore. The Chiefs rookie running back Clyde Edwards-

Hellarie rushed for more yards then the entire Houston offense 138 to 118 on just three more carries. If Johnson is healthy and running hard like he was, let him be the stud running back they tell us he is and not only control the clock but maybe the tempo too. A vaunted running game relieves the pressure off Watson and the O-line even us armchair Friday afternoon quarterbacks know that. Instead the braintrust throws the ball under pressure (2.59 seconds per attempt)on 68% of the team's plays costing #4 seven QB hits and four sacks. SMH.

It doesn't get any easier for the Houston Texans. In 10 days, the Baltimore Ravens and Lamar Jackson come calling at NRG. Only time will tell if things get better.