The Day After the Day After: The Houston Texans take down the Miami Dolphins in Week 15

The Day After the Day After…when the uncooked, fast feelings from the aftermath of a sport diminish into the realm of readability and the proverbial (or literal) hangover not haunts the thoughts. With that, a assessment of Week 15:

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The Houston Texans won’t ever, ever, ever surrender on enjoying Tytus Howard at guard…ever. Between damage and incompetence, Kenyon Inexperienced, Juice Scruggs and Jarrett Patterson all manned the left guard spot, to various levels of success. The final couple of weeks noticed Juice Scruggs as the principle LG starter. Nonetheless, a foot damage dominated him out, so to man the spot: Tytus Howard. Blake Fisher took over at proper deal with. Final season, for a couple of video games earlier than Howard went out for the season, he did okay at left guard. This previous Sunday, in opposition to a feisty Miami Dolphins defensive entrance…181 complete yards of offense (and that quantity features a main particular groups play (extra later)), 4 sacks allowed and solely mustering 42 yards dashing on deliberate offensive runs. Offensive execution…few would argue in opposition to it after this sport, and first up, the offensive line, no matter whether or not Howard performs at deal with or guard.

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Dare Ogunbowale to the rescue but once more: As soon as once more, a game-winning play got here off the legs of Ogunbowale on particular groups. This one was extra akin to his main career of working again. On a 3rd and two from the Miami 44 yard-line that failed when Stroud and Metchie couldn’t join on a possible TD, Houston lined up for a punt, seeking to pin the ‘Fins deep in their own territory. As the play clock wound down, Tommy Townsend engaged in a bit of acting, gesticulating to the sideline. While that was going on, Weeks direct snapped the ball to MJ Stewart, who ran to his left, only to hand the ball off to Ogunbowale, who ran to his right, outside the Texans line. His 35-yard run put the ball at the Miami 9-yard line. Initially ruled a fumble, Ogunbowale was downed before the ball came out, and by virtue of Miami penalty, Houston got the ball at the Dolphins’ 4-yard line. Stroud discovered Collins for a 6-yard TD two performs later and Houston went up 20-6. This gave Houston greater than sufficient room to carry on for the win.

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The Three-Headed Monster within the Texans Secondary. Whether or not you wish to evaluate them to Cerberus, the legendary guard-dog of the Underworld, or King Ghidorah, the violent dragon-alien that gave Godzilla a lot hassle, the trio of Derek Stingley, Jr, Kamari Lassiter and Caden Bullock are turning the Texans’ defensive back-field into an actual monstrosity for opposing gamers. Definitely it helps to have a few pass-rushing nightmares like Will Anderson, Jr and Danielle Hunter up entrance, however these three did their half to hound Tagovailoa right into a day to neglect in Houston. The trio mixed for 3 INTs, 17 complete tackles, two TFLs and 4 passes defended. This was in opposition to a few of the most harmful receivers within the sport. They weren’t good, however their good was greater than sufficient to outweigh the unhealthy.

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Lastly a purple zone possibility for Stroud: Nico Collins, like the remainder of the workforce, didn’t precisely have a terrific day yardage-wise (4 receptions for 17 yards). Nonetheless, two of his 4 receptions went for TDs. Much more encouraging was that each TD receptions got here within the purple zone. Houston actually missed him whereas he recovered from a hamstring damage. But, Collins tended to make his title on big-yardage performs to get Houston into the purple zone. Now, if Collins could be that purple zone risk, a lot the higher. Houston wants all of the offensive assist it will possibly get.

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FUN WITH NUMBERS:

6-0: Houston’s file in opposition to the Miami Dolphins at house. It’s the greatest house file in opposition to any AFC opponent and not using a loss at house.

8: Variety of AFC South Division Titles for the workforce. Since 2011, Houston has received the division eight instances, whereas the remainder of the division has solely mixed for six titles. Of observe, Houston received its fourth back-to-back division crowns.

0-7: Common season file after Houston clinches the AFC South. They’ve by no means received an everyday season sport in a season after changing into a division champion. In 2011, after successful their first one, they went 0-3 to finish the yr. In 2012, they ended the season 0-2. 2016 and 2019 noticed Houston lose the ultimate sport of the season after clinching the division title the week prior. This season, they sit locked into the 4-seed. It’s attainable to climb as much as the next seed, however with just one bye, and that going to the convention #1 seed, Houston doesn’t have a terrific incentive to win. Nonetheless, the workforce doesn’t wish to stumble into the post-season going 0-3 both.

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GAME BALLS

CB Derek Stingley, Jr.: This was the kind of sport efficiency Houston desired once they drafted him third total in 2022. He set the tone early on this sport with a TFL for -3 yards on the primary play of the sport. Stingley completed the sport with 5 tackles (three solo), two TFLs and two huge INTs. Each of the INTs sport within the fourth quarter, when he was in single-man protection on Tyreek Hill. The sport-clinching INT on Hill should fee as the perfect play of Stingley’s profession, as he stole the ball from Hill, prying it from the All-Professional receiver’s fingers as they tussled within the air earlier than touchdown in-bounds.

DE Danielle Hunter: 4 tackles (three solo), 1.5 sacks and two TFLs. Simply one other day on the workplace for the defensive lineman. This provides him 12 sacks on the yr, in one more double-digit sack season for the one-time Viking. He sits second within the NFL in sacks, and should garner some DPOY votes as we shut in on the top of the common season.

LB Christian Harris: Welcome again Mr. Harris. We’ve missed you. Making his season debut, Harris logged eight tackles (4 solo) and did a lot to restrict an explosive Miami assault to 224 complete yards, to incorporate solely 52 yards dashing. If he can get again into full sport form, and with Al-Shaair’s return earlier than the playoffs, this might bode extraordinarily nicely for a protection that charges among the many league’s greatest.

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SHOULD BE FORCED TO BABYSIT ALL OF TYREEK HILL’S KIDS BORN TO HIM THIS YEAR ALL AT ONCE.

Houston on third and quick: Usually, third and quick is a cash down for offenses within the NFL. All choices are on the desk, and sure, except there’s a massively idiotic play, a workforce will probably be in good place to go for it on fourth down. Then you could have Houston. On the day, they confronted seven third and shorts (three yards or much less). They transformed solely three. Two noticed Stroud get sacked, shedding a mixed 10 yards and one other two noticed incomplete passes. A type of missed third and shorts led to the Ogunbowale 35-yard pretend punt run, however in any other case, one other less-than-encouraging displaying for the offense.

Offensive Coordinator Bobby Slowik: Houston had a bye week, and that is what we get on offense? Positive, there are a number of points, however Slowik is within the line of fireplace right here. Not doing a lot to instill confidence earlier than the postseason at this level.

RB Jonathan Taylor: Possibly he ought to get a sport ball, however given what he did in Denver, he deserves ridicule right here. Final season, a Colts’ working again dropping the ball sealed the Texans successful the division. Then, it was Goodson dropping a fourth and quick move. “Where was Taylor?” everybody requested. This previous Sunday, Taylor is breaking off an enormous 41-yard run in a sport the Colts lead 13-7. Rating the TD, and the Colts go up 20-7, probably win the sport, and face maybe essentially the most fascinating schedule in all the NFL to finish the season. The playoffs, and the division, are within the Colts’ grasp. Then, Taylor does what you possibly can by no means do: drop the ball earlier than crossing the airplane of the aim line. A 41-yard TD turns right into a 41-yard run with a fumble within the endzone leading to a touchback. The Colts lose momentum, the sport, the division, and their probability on the playoffs.

Houston will get the win and clinches the division. Subsequent up is a brief week, as Houston will get a Saturday early afternoon tilt at Kansas Metropolis. Kickoff slated for midday CST on NBC.