Playoffs? Playoffs? Why, yes! Let’s review how Houston clinched their playoff berth.
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 17:
The totality of Special Teams decides games, if not seasons: In match-ups between teams with similar strengths (strong defenses) and weaknesses (offensive line issues), how a team executes on special teams can be the difference between victory and defeat. In this one-score game, the superior play of Houston’s special teams proved that difference. Just look at the punting game. For the Texans, Tommy Townsend averaged 50.4 yards/kick, placing four of his punts inside the Chargers’ 20. Additionally, Houston limited LA’s punt returns to only 2 for 13 yards, neutralizing a dangerous player like Ladd McConkey. As for the Chargers, JK Scott only 39.0 yards per punt on 7 attempts. More importantly, Scott had two of his worst punts in the 2nd half. A 22-yarder in the 3rd Quarter and a 34-yarder in the 4th Quarter set Houston up with great field position, both leading to FGs, which were the only 2nd half points Houston scored and enabled Houston to maintain its wire-to-wire lead. Not all was perfect for Houston’s special teams, but they far-outplayed LA.
A much needed-bounce-back games for the Texans’ LBs: Most of the attention for Houston’s defense goes to the DL (especially the NFL’s version of Scylla and Charybdis, Hunter and Anderson) and its secondary (where Stingley, Lassiter, Bullock and Pitre run some of the best air-defense this side of a totalitarian capitol). However, on a day when Houston needed its defense to step up to counter a run-first squad, the LBs stepped up big-time. After allowing Ashton Jeanty to gash them for over 120 yards the last game, Houston held the Chargers to 74 yards on 22 carries, even factoring Justin Herbert’s team-leading 33 yards on 6 scrambles. You do that to a Greg Roman offense, you are likely gonna win. In particular, Al-Shaair proved how much Houston missed him defensively. He tormented Chargers’ backs and made life difficult for the Chargers’ TEs. To’oTo’o and Speed also did their part to limit the offensive options for the Chargers.
Yet, the defense does have a weakness, the scrambling QB: It is probably not a coincidence that the Chargers’ offense started to show signs of life when Herbert made some big plays with his legs. This was highlighted when Herbert unleashed a 28-yard run on a 3rd and 14. This put the Chargers deep into Houston territory, which in turn allowed them to score their first TD. For most of the game up to that point, Houston had limited Herbert’s scrambling. However, a guy like Herbert can go off at any moment, and such was the case in this game. Unfortunately, mobile QBs can and do give this defense fits (see Mayfield, Allen, Nix). Even as the defense can keep them mostly in check, a good QB scramble can undermine much of the good work that unit usually performs during the game.
Big Road Game, Big Flag Numbers: Another staple of the Ryans’ regime: In big road games, the Texans putting up big flag numbers. 8 penalties for 70 yards, and many of them proved particularly impactful. The ill-timed Schultz Personal Foul that stymied another good 1st half offensive drive, the tripping penalty that wiped out an Autry sack, back-to-back defensive penalties that allowed the Chargers to score their 4th quarter TD…all of these proved especially frustrating in a game that Houston did much to control. Ironic that they got bailed out by a couple of Chargers’ penalties in the 4th quarter, but as Houston looks to progress in the playoffs, they can’t afford to make those kind of mistakes.
The Decisive Plays:
- 1:12, 2nd Quarter, LAC Ball at HOU 14, 1st and 10; Herbert pass deflects of TE Gadson and intercepted by Al-Shaair at the HOU 1.
- 0:14, 2nd Quarter, LAC Ball at HOU 14, 4th and 13; Dicker misses 32-yard FG attempt wide right
The Chargers will rue those two plays run from the HOU 14. Despite Houston jumping out to a quick 14-point lead, the Chargers seized momentum in the 2nd quarter. They turned one Stroud INT into points, and inside the 2-minute warning, converted a massive 60-yard bomb to Quentin Johnson to set up the Chargers with a prime opportunity. With the Chargers getting the ball back to start the 2nd half, they realistically envisioned themselves getting the led by the mid-point in the 3rd quarter. On the 1st decisive play, Herbert received the snap and found a wide-open Chargers TE Gadsden running across the field at the HOU 2. The pass was a touch behind him but catchable. Unfortunately, the ball deflected off his hands and right into the arms of Al-Shaair, who went down at the HOU 1. A major missed red zone opportunity for the Chargers.
Yet, they found themselves given a late Christmas present. On the subsequent drive, Stroud produced the second INT of the quarter, giving the Chargers a second chance to at least cut into the Texans’ lead. Even after given a gift of a tripping penalty, the Chargers could not get any closer than the HOU 14. So, on a 4th and long, LA could at least set themselves up to cut into the Houston lead, but with the knowledge they would start the 2nd half with the ball. Then, the Pro Bowl selected kicker missed a virtual gimmie kick, keeping the Houston lead to 11. Given that the Texans won by 4, those two plays loom incredibly large. Two Red Zone visits, ZERO points. In a playoff-type game, that type of ineptitude costs you games, if not seasons. The Chargers get points on one or both of those drives, this is a different conversation.
FUN WITH NUMBERS
2:Times Houston started 0-3 and still made the playoffs. Only 7 teams since 1990 have started a season 0-3 and made the postseason. Houston has done it twice. The 2018 and 2025 Texans are the only teams to do this since 2000.
8, 6:Active Houston streaks (winning overall, winning one score games). Houston started the season 0-3 and 0-5 in one score games. You know about the 8-game win streak, but after Saturday, Houston has won its last 6 one-score games.
GAME BALLS
LB Azeez Al-Shaair: Welcome back Mr. Al-Shaair. We’ve missed you. 6 total tackles (2 solo), 1 PD, 1 INT. He brought back the fury to the LB position that Houston sorely lacked last week.
PK Ka’imi Fairbairn: 2 for 2 on XPs and PKs. Appreciate the troll of the Pro Bowl Alternate vs. the selectee Dicker.
ISU Alum WRs: This game should be part of the Iowa State WR recruiting video, or at least WR coach Noah Pauley, whether he stays at Iowa State or goes to Penn State. Between Jayden Higgins, Jaylin Noel and Xavier Hutchinson, they combined for 7 receptions/163 yards/2 TDs.
SHOULD BE FORCED TO LISTEN TO ALL OF JIM HARBAUGH’S PRESS CONFERENCES AND HIS INANE COMPARISONS ON REPEAT WHILE PRESSING HIS ENTIRE COLLECTION OF WALMART KHAKIS
TE Dalton Schultz: Good thing Houston won this game, otherwise his gaffes could have been far, far worse. His needless personal foul in the 2nd Quarter turned a potential scoring drive into another drive to nowhere. (Sure, the Chargers’ player was acting dumb, but Schultz needs to know better.) Then, on the Texans’s second offensive snap of the 2nd half, he almost had a game-changing turnover. Fortunately for him and Houston, that ball was fumbled out of bounds.
Chargers Special Teams Coach Ryan Ficken: This was a bad, bad day for the 1st year Chargers coach. We’ve discussed the punting woes, but then you factor in Dicker’s day from [KITTEN] (a missed FG and XP in a 4-point loss). It may not be enough to fire him, but the Chargers’ special teams haven’t been consistent all season, and this game might been the nadir.
With that win, Houston moves to 11-5, with one more game in the regular season. The division is still in play, but at a minimum, Houston must beat the Colts next week at NRG, along with a Jacksonville loss against the Titans. Kickoff slated for noon CST at NRG on CBS. Might want to have two screens ready, as Jacksonville goes to Nashville for a noon CST game on Fox.
Category: General Sports
