NFL

FOX Sports Exclusive

Texans are finished, because they can't finish

Share This Story

foxsports admin

 
Updated Nov 29, 2009 10:49 PM ET
     
 

HOUSTON

The Houston Texans are a team only the Tin Man could love. After all, a heartless stiff can certainly appreciate the efforts of 53 equally rigid men without a ticker. In just 14 seconds, the Texans turned from supposed playoff contenders into postseason posers after the goodwill of a 17-0 lead ultimately gave way to a 35-27 loss Sunday afternoon at Reliant Stadium. So much for being the "trendy playoff pick." At this point, the Texans will assume the position as one of the 20 teams that will get a head start on preparing for next April's draft after the first Sunday in January. All it took was a Peyton Manning 6-yard scoring toss to Dallas Clark and a 27-yard interception return by linebacker Clint Session to verify what had become blatantly obvious during Houston's three-game losing streak: The Texans have neither the heart nor the ability to finish when it matters. Fourteen ticks of the clock. Just like that, Houston's "breakout" season became a Rolling Stones song: Shattered. All that was left was for Mick Jagger to sing the last rites. This time, there wasn't a Kris Brown miss in the last second to point to. Instead, there was a heaping helping of blame for those in deep steel to share. Such as:
  • Ten penalties for 129 yards, including three pass-interference calls in the second half.
  • Three second-half turnovers by quarterback Matt Schaub.
  • Two missed opportunities in the red zone that resulted in field goals when a touchdown would have broken the game open. "(When) you play that poorly in the second half against a Peyton Manning-led team, you're going to be in trouble," said Texans head coach Gary Kubiak, in one of the season's biggest understatements. A city where former Rockets coach Rudy Tomjanovich cemented the phrase "never underestimate the heart of a champion" is now subjected to a football team whose heart would make the Grinch look like Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer in the clutch. Clutch City? The way the Texans failed to tackle Chad Simpson on his game-clinching 23-yard touchdown run firmly signified Houston as a city with a Lack of Clutch. "We were just out of position. That's the bottom line," said defensive end Mario Williams, one of the few players who remembered the game was important, about Houston's second-half defensive meltdown. "It was nothing about what was going on, it was just (that) we were out of position and missed tackles multiple times. That's on us," he said. In much the same manner as they did during losses at Indy and Tennessee, the Texans teased everyone into believing they were the playoff team nearly everyone bought into during the summer. The Texans' stock was never higher than after Vonta Leach's 7-yard touchdown catch on the opening drive, marking the first time this season Houston cashed in on their first possession. It peaked further after Chris Brown's 5-yard scoring jaunt extended the margin to 14-0 and had the sellout crowd of 70,990 roaring as if this was January instead of late November. But after Andre Johnson dropped a touchdown pass that forced the Texans to settle for a field goal, that stock began a plunge that would have made any hedge-fund manager question his will to live. "It's frustrating," said Schaub. "Everything was right there was for us." It was, but just long enough for Manning to do what he has now done in 15 of the 16 meetings between the franchises. Manning threw for a pedestrian (for him) 244 yards and had a pair of interceptions, but once he and Colts coach Jim Caldwell solved Houston's pass rush, Sunday became business as usual for Indianapolis, which is now one game from tying New England's NFL record 21-game regular season win streak. "I've tried to answer that a few times, but bottom line: That's my job — to find consistency in the team," Kubiak said. And it will remain his job for the next five games. Beyond that, it will be up to owner Bob McNair. That Houston failed to defeat an Indianapolis team that lacked Pro Bowlers Dwight Freeney and Bob Sanders, along with starting corner Kevin Hayden, only underscores the disappointment that has afflicted the team since bolting out to a 5-3 start. "They wanted it bad, but we wanted it a little more," said Session. "That's a good team over there, but we're the Colts and we do things the right way. We try to get every win we can get." Indianapolis did. With heart. And until the Texans find theirs, they'll continue their winter ritual of watching the Colts win playoff games from the comfort of their homes.
    • Tagged: Colts, Mario Williams, Chris Brown, Texans, Dwight Freeney, Bob Sanders, Clint Session, Andre Johnson, Vonta Leach, Kris Brown, Peyton Manning, Chad Simpson, Dallas Clark

    More Stories From foxsports admin

    Giants Super Bowl Champs Gear

    Trending Now

    Stories | Photos | Lists | Videos

    NFL Videos

    Schrager: QB draft class Posted: Feb 10, 2012
    Peter Schrager breaks down the QB draft class of 2012. After Luck and RG III, wh...

    Victor Cruz's magical season Posted: Feb 10, 2012
    Victor Cruz talks about going from the practice squad to Super Bowl champ, turni...

    Schrager: NFL Combine Report Posted: Feb 10, 2012
    FOXSports.com's Peter Schrager gives us several top players who will make some n...

    MORE FOXSPORTS VIDEO »
    St. Jude

    Fox Sports Store

      itemName itemURL imageSrc price itemDescription
      Dallas Cowboys #82 Jason Witten Navy Blue Player T-shirt http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Dallas_Cowboys/browse/featuredproduct/346245/source/prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_346000/FF_346245_xl.jpg&w=100 25.95 Dallas Cowboys #82 Jason Witten Navy Blue Player T-shirt
      New York Giants Royal Blue Critical Victory V Hoodie Sweatshirt http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_New_York_Giants/browse/featuredproduct/676913/source/prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_676000/ff_676913_xl.jpg&w=100 49.95 New York Giants Royal Blue Critical Victory V Hoodie Sweatshirt
      San Francisco 49ers Charcoal 1st & Goal IV Pullover Hoodie Sweatshirt http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_San_Francisco_49ers/browse/featuredproduct/678811/source/prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_678000/ff_678811_xl.jpg&w=100 49.95 San Francisco 49ers Charcoal 1st & Goal IV Pullover Hoodie Sweatshirt
      Carolina Panthers Championship Series Watch http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Carolina_Panthers/browse/featuredproduct/722612/source/prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_722000/ff_722612_xl.jpg&w=100 39.95 Carolina Panthers Championship Series Watch
      Reebok Aaron Rodgers Green Bay Packers Replica Jersey - White - http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Green_Bay_Packers/browse/featuredproduct/744236/source/prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_744000/ff_744236_xl.jpg&w=100 59.99 Reebok Aaron Rodgers Green Bay Packers Replica Jersey - White -
      Reebok Calvin Johnson Detroit Lions #81 Black Megatron Player Flex Hat http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Detroit_Lions/browse/featuredproduct/756044/source/prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_756000/ff_756044_xl.jpg&w=100 25.95 Reebok Calvin Johnson Detroit Lions #81 Black Megatron Player Flex Hat
      New England Patriots 2011 AFC East Division Champions Locker Room T-Shirt - White http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_New_England_Patriots/browse/featuredproduct/775172/source/prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_775000/ff_775172_xl.jpg&w=100 21.95 New England Patriots 2011 AFC East Division Champions Locker Room T-Shirt - Whit..
      Reebok Tim Tebow Denver Broncos #15 Replica Jersey - White http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Denver_Broncos/browse/featuredproduct/775597/source/prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_775000/ff_775597_xl.jpg&w=100 59.99 Reebok Tim Tebow Denver Broncos #15 Replica Jersey - White
    Microsoft© 2012 Microsoft