Disaster Strikes: Texans Lose Heartbreaker Against Colts

Sure, Kris Brown pulled a potentially game-tying field goal wide left as time expired in Indianapolis. 

Sure, Matt Schaub went a second straight week without multiple touchdown passes. 

And sure, there were 13 penalties called on the Texans. Some of those were flat-out mystifying.  I still don't know how Connor Barwin was offsides on an early call.  He sure didn't look like it on replay.

Let's not even mention the strange chain of events at the end of the first half when Ryan Moats fumbled on the 1-yard line. But this was not because of the refs.

(Quick side note: I have no idea why Schaub and Gary Kubiak decided to run the clock down to the two-minute warning instead of hurrying up to the line and running a play after the fumble.  I just don't get it. Why give the Colts time to see the replay and challenge the play?  Why?

I was screaming at the TV for the Texans to run a play.  When the game went to the two-minute warning, I knew the Colts would end up with the ball.  Somehow, I just knew.  Let's move on.  It's still too painful and it still doesn't make sense.)

Going back to the Brown kick, I will say that the snap and hold were nearly textbook.  Brown just pulled the ball left.  He knew it immediately.  I'm sure nobody is more upset about the miss than Brown is.

But the game should have never come down to a field goal to tie. A lot of people will blame Brown this week, but I don't think this game was about the kicker.  A lot of people will also blame Larry Tripplett, but I don't think the refs cost the Texans this game.

There were some positives.  The Texans' defense played fairly well.  Bernard Pollard snagged two interceptions, including one from Reggie Wayne.  The high-powered Colts scored only two touchdowns. 

Steve Slaton didn't fumble (although Moats sure did) and Joel Dreessen played fairly well in replacing the injured Owen Daniels.  The Texans were able to move the ball and did a good job protecting Schaub against the fearsome Indianapolis pass rush.

The biggest problem that plagued the Texans was the sleepwalk that was the first 20 minutes or so of the game.  A quick three-and-out on offense.  Numerous stupid penalties.  A horrible throw by Schaub into triple coverage.  It seemed the Texans were not ready to play when the game started.

We can all agree that the Texans of years past would have laid down after falling behind early.  The Colts would never have been held to field goals instead of touchdowns.  The old Texans would have seen Dallas Clark and Reggie Wayne running wild all over the field.

But, these Texans did hold the Colts to field goals.  Clark and Wayne did not cross the goal line.  The Texans did not lay down and were able to fight back. 

The Texans are good enough to play with the Colts.  That's not debatable.  The Texans are not good enough to remain asleep for the first half.  That's neither debatable or acceptable. 

In one of the most important games in franchise history, the Texans came out flat and lifeless.  Not many teams could spot the Colts nearly an entire half and still have a chance to win. 

I wonder what could have happened if the Texans were not sleepwalking in the first half.  

Teams lose games.  Even good teams lose.  But losing because you're not ready to play is inexcusable.  This game was not lost because of Brown's missed kick.  Houston lost because they were still asleep when the game started.  It's shameful.