Buffalo Bills vs. Houston Texans: Full Report Card Grades for Houston
A win is a win!
It wasn't pretty for most of the game, but the Houston Texans got the job done and now move to 3-1. As I mentioned in the preview, the Texans' playoff odds greatly improved Sunday compared to what they would have been at 2-2 if they had lost. If they go 6-6 over their final 12 games to finish 9-7, they'll make the playoffs in my opinion.
"Somehow the #Texans found a way to win with three turnovers and 37 yards rushing.
— PDS (@PatDStat) September 28, 2014"
The Texans didn't run the ball well and turned the ball over several times, but they found a way to win a close game, which is something they didn't do last season.
"YES RT @brandonleetaco: @FFRittle @NPowellMedia pic.twitter.com/2Ype7NE6PD
— Frittlelocity (@FFRittle) September 28, 2014"
On the back of J.J. Watt and with the help of some awful play from EJ Manuel, the Texans managed to survive a sloppy game on both sides. Watt was just brilliant as he pretty much lived in the Buffalo Bills backfield all game long.
Big game for the fans next week as the Texans travel up Interstate 45 to Dallas.
Quarterback
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Sunday was another multiple turnover game from Ryan Fitzpatrick, but not all multiple turnover games are created equal. The quarterback, facing his former team, threw two more interceptions, but neither came on plays where he misread the defense and threw into traffic.
Part of the problem with the passing game wasn't his fault. Andre Johnson missed some time after getting banged up in the second half, and they never established a running game to set up the play-action pass. Most quarterbacks will struggle without their top target or the benefit of a running game.
Fitzpatrick wasn't awful (he wasn't good), but he did play tough. In particular there were two plays that stood out: Fitzpatrick had a nice block on a reverse play and also picked up a 3rd-and-long by using his legs and lowering his shoulder to extend the drive that ended with a touchdown pass to DeAndre Hopkins.
Fitzpatrick finished 25-of-37 for 268 yards, one touchdown, two interceptions and a 75.1 QB rating.
He can play better, but so can a lot of his teammates on offense.
Grade: C
Running Back
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The Texans got absolutely nothing from their running backs in this game, but despite that I don't think this group deserves the blame for the failure in the running game.
Sadly Ryan Fitzpatrick was the Texans' leading rusher with 14 yards; Arian Foster and Alfred Blue combined for a pitiful 15 yards on 17 carries.
It was an awful day for the running game, but the bulk of the blame belongs to the offensive line that got absolutely no push. It's hard to blame the running backs when there aren't any holes for them to run through.
It was a bad day on the ground, but Blue and Foster did combine for nine receptions. I would like to see more plays where Foster starts off in the backfield and then motions out to the slot to take advantage of a possible one-on-one matchup with a linebacker; his skill as a receiver has been underutilized over the last three years.
Grade: C
Wide Receiver
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Andre Johnson and DeAndre Hopkins combined to catch 11 passes for 135 yards and a touchdown. That's not huge numbers, but they caught everything that hit their hands and made the plays that were available to them.
With no blocking and average quarterback play, the wide receivers just don't have time to work down the field very often, nor do they want to put Ryan Fitzpatrick in situations where he's forcing the ball downfield.
The receivers are mostly being used in the intermediate routes as kind of possession receivers, which Johnson and Hopkins are both capable of excelling at as big receivers with good hands, but they're capable of contributing more if given the opportunity.
The other receivers once again contributed almost nothing with only one other receiver making a catch. That catch was for 10 yards to Damaris Johnson.
Grade: B+
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Tight End
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There was nearly nothing from the tight ends once again. Garrett Graham did catch three passes for 28 yards, but C.J. Fiedorowicz dropped the only pass thrown his way. The group as a whole did a poor job blocking in the run game.
Once or twice may be excused or dismissed as a fluke or just a random down game, but the near-invisibility from this group of tight ends has gone on now for four games; it's officially time to worry. Obviously the Texans don't have to get a great performance from them to win, as they've won three games, but they need more.
In particular I've been disappointed with Fiedorowicz, who hasn't made much of an impact in the running game and has dropped too many passes.
Grade: D
Offensive Line
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The Texans averaged just 1.5 yards per carry today; what do you think this grade should be? This was the line's worst effort so far, but it hasn't blocked well up front all season.
When the Texans have a healthy Arian Foster to find the tiny holes that flash for just a second before being slammed shut, he can exploit those "openings" often enough to get something out of the run game. Foster has maybe the best vision of any back in the league to find those slivers of daylight; his backups do not.
With a less-than-100 percent Foster or his backups in the game, the linemen going to struggle badly, as they did today.
The offensive line also didn't block well in the passing game for Ryan Fitzpatrick, as he was sacked twice but was pressured and hit for most of the game.
I'm not sure what can be done to fix the issue because most of it just seems like veteran players taking a step back. If the coaching staff is willing to try something I would start by replacing Ben Jones with Xavier Su'a-Filo at left guard. I don't know if he'll be better overall, but I guarantee he'd be stronger in the run game.
Grade: F
Defensive Line
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Who cares about the rest of the defensive line? I have to give this group a great grade on the strength of J.J. Watt's play alone.
"JJ Watt had a career-high six QB hits in the first half of this game, breaking the personal mark of five he set in Week 1 vs. Washington.
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) September 28, 2014"
What an amazing game from Watt! Besides the obvious and amazing pick-six, Watt also lived in the backfield of the Buffalo Bills all game as he stuffed the run, hit the quarterback and caused total chaos.
"JJ Watt pick six! Dude is ridiculous https://t.co/TjwJsucqip
— Will Brinson (@WillBrinson) September 28, 2014"
Watt finished the game with five tackles, one pass defensed, an interception for a touchdown and nine hits on the quarterback. The flashy touchdown will obviously get the most attention, but the hits on the quarterback had nearly an equal impact, as they caused EJ Manuel to rush and make poor decisions under pressure.
"Bob McNair on JJ Watt: "worth every cent." Then he adds, "I hope he doesn't come in tomorrow and ask for a raise." #Texans
— Tania Ganguli (@taniaganguli) September 28, 2014"
Two of the beneficiaries of the havoc Watt caused were Jared Crick and Tim Jamison, who combined for two sacks on plays when Manuel basically ran into them as he was trying to avoid Watt.
The run defense was better with the Texans holding the Bills to just 4.2 yards per carry, but I don't think the Bills' game plan took advantage fully of the Texans' weak spot. Most of their runs seemed to be to the outside, despite the Texans being most vulnerable to runs up the middle between the guards.
A big test awaits them next week with the Dallas Cowboys' DeMarco Murray.
Grade: A
Linebackers
7 of 11
I'm officially concerned about the play of Brian Cushing.
Whenever Buffalo tried to stretch the defense from sideline to sideline and force the linebackers to run, Cushing struggled to keep up and stay in position. He makes tackles, but he trails plays too often and isn't able to shed his block as quickly, if at all, as he did before the injuries.
Hopefully he rounds into shape as he gets a few more games under his belt, but he hasn't played like the Pro Bowler he was a couple years ago. Cushing did lead the team in tackles with nine, but his tackles don't seem to have the same impact they once did.
"#Texans ILBs issues apparent. Anything in space Cushing struggles.
— PDS (@PatDStat) September 28, 2014"
In previous seasons his tackles were for losses and helped change the momentum, but this year he doesn't seem to be playing with the same downhill aggressiveness and is getting his tackles down the field after a chunk of yards has already been gained.
After Cushing the next-highest tackle total from the linebackers was a tie at three with Brooks Reed and Mike Mohamed, but no linebacker had a tackle for loss.
The group as a whole played well in the run game but never made a big impactful play that flashed on TV.
Grade: C
Defensive Backs
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Good effort from the defensive backs as they held Bills quarterback EJ Manuel under 50 percent on his pass attempts to just 5.1 yards per attempt, one pick and a 59.4 quarterback rating.
I'm still not thrilled with the off-coverage that Romeo Crennel chooses to play most of the game, but luckily for the Texans, Manuel looked like a train wreck on the field for most of the game as his passes were rarely on target.
On the long touchdown pass, the fault was all on D.J Swearinger, who was supposed to have deep coverage but never got the depth he was supposed to and was badly out of position. The Texans were in a zone, so Joseph was supposed to let him go.
"#Texans playing cover two. JJo doing his job by passing him to Swearinger. Not on JJo.
— PDS (@PatDStat) September 28, 2014"
The star of the secondary today was a player who wasn't even with the team during training camp or the preseason. Darryl Morris—whom the Texans picked up as a waiver claim after the 53-man roster cuts—made plays all over the field for the entire game.
"#Texans' O'Brien said Morris had a great week of practice. Asked about injury, O'Brien joked he's day to day.
— Brian T. Smith (@ChronBrianSmith) September 28, 2014"
Morris finished with one tackle for loss, three passes defensed and the interception that ended the game. I was concerned about their cornerback play out of the slot with A.J. Bouye out, but Morris filled in quite well, which gives me hope that their depth chart at the position could be pretty solidly four-deep.
Grade: B
Special Teams
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Randy Bullock remained perfect on field-goal attempts that didn't get blocked, as he connected on field goals of 41, 55 and 50 yards in the second half to extend the Texans' lead and help them hold on for victory.
"Randy Bullock's last two FGs? 105 total yards..
— trey wingo (@wingoz) September 28, 2014"
Shane Lechler—who was questionable to play—also had a great game with three punts downed inside the 20-yard line and a long of 51 yards.
It's nice to have at least one phase of the game come through and be consistent every week while the offense and defense both have struggled to find their rhythm or give a consistent effort.
Grade: A+
Coaching
10 of 11
There's not much to complain about with Bill O'Brien or his strategy today. I liked his adjustment to pass the ball more—not that he had much of a choice—in the second half after it became obvious that Houston couldn't run the ball effectively.
There was one play in particular that I liked where they lined Andre Johnson up in the backfield, faked the ball to him and then threw a screen pass.
On defense I'd still like to see the secondary play tighter coverage, but today the results were there.
Grade: A
Final Grades
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| Quarterback | C |
| Running Back | C |
| Wide Receiver | B+ |
| Tight End | D |
| Offensive Line | F |
| Defensive Line | A |
| Linebacker | C |
| Defensive Backs | B |
| Special Teams | A+ |
| Coaching | A |
| Overall | B |
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