Houston Texans Loss Against Jacksonville Jaguars Typical For 2009 Season

Could there be a more emblematic series than the first half goal line stand where the Texans' defense (with major props to weak side linebacker Zac Diles) fought tooth and nail to keep Jaguar's running back Maurice Jones-Drew out of the end zone?

How does this sound as a microcosm for the entire season?  The Texans allow their opponent to the door step, fight hard for a short while, temporarily prevent the damage, yet still come up short in the end?

Let's look at it from the viewpoint of the game against Jacksonville first.

The Jaguars moved down the field and had a goal to go situation.  First-and-goal from the seven yard line.  Jones-Drew runs for four yards.  On second down, again, a rushing play for two yards.  Then, with two plays from the one yard line, Houston kept Mo Jo out of the end zone. 

The Texans avoided falling any further behind and kept the deficit at three.  Yet, in the end, the Texans still lost the game.  Sound familiar?

If we look at the 2009 season as a whole, the Texans lost early to New York, Jacksonville, and Arizona.  They fought back and sat at 5-3 and were in the middle of the playoff picture.  Of course, we know now that the Texans would go on to lose four straight games they could have won, and now find themselves on the outside looking in on the playoff race.

Are the Texans actually eliminated from the playoffs?  Mathematically, perhaps not.  There have been four teams who have made the playoffs after starting 5-7, but do these Texans look like they have the necessary fight and intestinal fortitude to do so?  Consider the Texans realistically eliminated from any and all playoff discussions.

Going back to the Jacksonville game, was there a more poorly executed and conceived play than the Chris Brown half back pass?  Brown, who is certainly no favorite of mine, has attempted exactly ZERO passes in his career.  In 64 career games, he's passed zero times.  Zero.

Why, on first-and-goal, after moving from the Houston 19 to the Jacksonville five yard line in six plays would the Texans attempt such a foolish play?  It reeked of desperation.  It makes no sense to me.  None at all.

The Texans had a chance to win the game, even without injured starters Steve Slaton and Glover Quin and a 13 point halftime deficit.  A touchdown on that drive brings the Texans within four points. 

There was still plenty of time left in the fourth quarter.  The offense had woken up.  Matt Schaub was playing well and was gutting out an injury to his left shoulder.  Jacksonville had nobody who could stay with Andre Johnson.  The defense, by dog piling on David Garrard for a safety, nearly outscored the Jaguars in the second half.  Running a half back pass fails to add up.

I'm all for opening up the playbook to an extent on the goal line.  Staying out of predictable patterns will help the team in the long run.  But, I'm talking about maybe running play action on second and goal or throwing deep on third and short.  I'm not talking about attempting a poorly conceived and even more poorly executed half back pass by backup running back.

Further, why would the play be designed to go to Joel Dreessen?  Andre Johnson just made a huge play in hauling in a 53 yard bomb.  The running game was working.  So,  throwing to Dreeseen was, well, let's leave it at a "mistake" before my blood pressure goes any higher.  It makes more sense if Owen Daniels is on the other end of the pass, but not Dreessen. 

And, for the record, I don't have any idea why Brown wouldn't just throw the ball away.  Why did he throw the ball even as he was hit by Tyrone Brackenridge?  Why didn't he just throw the ball away?  A poorly thrown ball fluttering in the air is easy for the defense to pick off, especially when four Jaguar defenders were in the vicinity.  Again, we're left with more questions than answers.

I suppose it's easy to say that hindsight is 20:20, but trick plays are only good if they work.  When they backfire or blow up in the team's face, they look stupid.  And desperate.  Did I mention stupid?

Calling that play, much like this losing season, has to fall in coach Gary Kubiak.  It's clear something is wrong with this team.  I don't think the talent assembled equates to a 5-7 team.  But, in the NFL, you are what your record is.  5-7 is 5-7.  Talent be damned.  A litany of lost close games still count as losses in the standings.

It looks like one more year of "wait till next year" for the Texans and their fans.