Turning Away from Brian Hoyer a 2nd Time Isn't an Option for Bill O'Brien

There are just some things in the NFL that make you scratch your head. The quarterback situation of the Houston Texans, who lost 27-20 to the Indianapolis Colts on Thursday at NRG Stadium, is one of them.

"Strange" just doesn't sum it up properly.

The whole situation began early in the offseason, when head coach Bill O'Brien considered a pair of former backup signal-callers he coached when with the New England Patriots—Ryan Mallett and Brian Hoyer—for the starting gig.

Eric Christian Smith/Associated Press

Mallett, of course, had a brief audition with the Texans in 2014 before being lost for the season with a torn pectoral muscle. Hoyer spent 2014 with the Cleveland Browns and led them to a 6-3 start, before a very Cleveland-like collapse ruined their season.

Both quarterbacks were familiar with what O'Brien likes to do offensively, and both seemed to be on equal footing heading into training camp. Each performed well in the preseason, too. Hoyer finished the exhibition month with a passer rating of 98.4, while Mallett finished with a rating of 86.5.

In the end, O'Brien decided to go with Hoyer's experience and leadership.

O'Brien said the following at the time of the decision, per Kevin Patra of NFL.com:

"

In the end, I thought that Brian showed me the most consistency, the most composure in certain situations, the experience in our system. All those different things that go into the fact that I think he's ready to be our starter. I have a ton of respect for Ryan Mallett. I believe in him as a player.

"

Unfortunately for Hoyer, O'Brien's confidence in him was short-lived. The coach pulled the former Michigan State standout in favor of Mallett before the season opener was finished. 

The Kansas City Chiefs were blowing out the Texans in Week 1 when O'Brien made the switch. Hoyer had committed two turnovers and was sacked four times at that point. Mallett (8-of-13 for 98 yards and a score) provided a spark and helped the game look closer (27-20) than it really was.

However, Mallett hasn't done many significant things since.

He did lead the Texans to a victory over a bad Tampa Bay Buccaneers team in Week 3, but his other two starts were far from pretty.

Against the Carolina Panthers in Week 2, he completed just 46.6 percent of his passes. Against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 4, just 44.4 percent. 

Pro Football Focus rated him 38th overall among quarterbacks heading into Thursday night's game against the Indianapolis Colts. Hoyer was rated 18th.

This brings us back to the current situation. 

The Texans were being blown out once again against the Falcons when O'Brien inserted Hoyer back into the lineup. The journeyman responded with a 232-yard, two-touchdown performance. He also led the offense on three touchdown drives.

Eric Christian Smith/Associated Press

O'Brien, however, refused to make a quarterback switch prior to Thursday's matchup with Indianapolis, which came on a short week.

"Brian did go in there and do some things," O'Brien said, per Tania Ganguli of ESPN.com. "It was 42 to nothing at that time. It was a passing game, and he did a good job. But I think right now, being on a short week, things like that, I think it's important for us to stick with Ryan right now."

His reasoning made some sense, to be sure. Mallett had been getting the first-team reps for the past three weeks, and this was a critical divisional game with perhaps the season on the line.

Apparently, though, making a quarterback switch mid-drive isn't as much of an issue for O'Brien as making one midweek.

Mallett took a shot to the ribs in the second quarter against Indianapolis. He left the field for a couple of plays and Hoyer took his place. However, when it appeared Mallett was ready to return, O'Brien kept Hoyer on the field.

Though the end result was still a loss and a 1-4 record, it appeared throughout the game that switching to Hoyer was the right choice and moving away from him in the first place was a foolish one.

Hoyer played well for the vast majority of the night, and he may have delivered a win if pressure had not forced an errant throw and an interception when the Texans were driving toward a game-tying touchdown with less than two minutes remaining. 

He finished the game 24-of-31 for 312 yards with two touchdowns and the pick.

More importantly, the Texans offense seemed to operate with more confidence, tempo and efficiency with Hoyer under center. Even with his turnover, Houston likely could have won this game if not for a putrid performance from its defense—a 40-year-old, and ill, Matt Hasselbeck led the Colts to 323 yards of total offense. 

What is equally important is how Hoyer handled himself through his sideline sabbatical. He was prepared to jump into the game and lead his team at a moment's notice, which is exactly what he did.

When Mallett was on the sideline, his demeanor progressed from angry to whiny to complete indifference. He even headed to the locker room before halftime the second Hoyer completed a Hail Mary touchdown pass to Jaelen Strong.

If he could have, it seems Mallett would have just picked up his ball and gone home at that point.

His reaction in the preseason to the news that Hoyer would be the Week 1 starter also bordered on childish. However, O'Brien said at the time he wouldn't expect him to react any other way.

O'Brien can't like what he saw in Mallett's reaction Thursday—and the Texans players can't either. Team leaders don't pout on the sideline like a third-grader who can't get a turn on Mario Kart. 

If Mallett can't grasp the concept of putting team success ahead of his playing time, then it is going to be difficult for teammates to follow him. It's also going to be difficult for O'Brien to justify going back to Mallett after what we saw on the field and on the sideline Thursday.

It shouldn't even be an option. In fact, it might be in everyone's best interest to start getting Tom Savage prepared for backup duty—unless, of course, he is also going to pout about an understudy role.