Last Updated: November 28, 2023, 01:30 IST
HOUSTON: The Houston Texans missed a possibility to maneuver into first place within the AFC South with Sunday’s loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Despite the 24-21 defeat, star rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud is assured the Texans will bounce again and proceed to exceed expectations this season.
“It’s about the mindset, though. What are we going to do? Not play anymore? (Are) we just going to tuck our tail and not play hard? No, I don’t really believe in that type of mindset,” he mentioned. “I’m going out there every play, every game trying to win. So, I don’t really think that our season is over at all. It’s a long year … you can see the trajectory we’re on.”
Houston (6-5) fell right into a tie with the Indianapolis Colts for second place within the division behind the first-place Jaguars (8-3) with the loss.
The Texans had an opportunity to pressure additional time with 34 seconds left Sunday, however Matt Ammendola’s 58-yard field-goal try bounced off the crossbar.
Before that, Stroud had one other sturdy recreation. The second general decide within the draft threw for 304 yards and two touchdowns to present him 3,266 yards passing to overhaul Justin Herbert (3,224) for many yards passing in NFL historical past via a participant’s first 11 video games.
Stroud additionally grew to become the primary rookie in NFL historical past to throw for 300 yards or extra in 4 straight video games.
He moved successfully to keep away from the push Sunday, averaging 3.8 seconds to throw every go, which is the longest time by anybody in a single recreation this season based on NFL Next Gen Stats.
Both his landing passes in opposition to Jacksonville got here on prolonged drop-backs of 4 or extra seconds.
“C.J did a really good job of being able to move around and extend plays,” coach DeMeco Ryans mentioned. “Made a couple of big plays for us … I thought he moved around well when he had to, took what the defense gave him.”
WHAT’S WORKING
Stroud’s stellar play continues to make Houston’s passing recreation the power of the group. His yards passing rank second within the NFL and Houston’s 276.2 yards passing a recreation additionally are available in at No. 2 within the league.
He’s carried out an excellent job of spreading the ball round, and the Texans had 4 receivers with at the very least 40 yards Sunday.
WHAT NEEDS HELP
Houston was right down to only one timeout for the final drive Sunday after Ryans needed to burn two earlier within the second half to keep away from penalties.
“It’s tough for us not having those timeouts, having to waste them on procedural things that we need to clean up,” Ryans mentioned. “All those timeouts were just self-inflicted things that we have to be better at. Whether it’s making sure we got the right amount of people on the field, getting the calls in quicker, getting to the line of scrimmage quicker, we just have to be better.”
STOCK UP
WR Nico Collins led the group with seven receptions for 104 yards and a landing Sunday. It was his third 100-yard recreation of the season, which is a profession excessive for the third-year participant. It’s the primary time he’s had greater than 100 yards receiving since ending with a career-best 168 yards receiving in a win over Pittsburgh Oct. 1.
STOCK DOWN
CB Tavierre Thomas was referred to as for go interference on two performs on the identical drive that helped the Jaguars to a landing within the third quarter.
INJURIES
LG Tytus Howard injured his knee in opposition to Jacksonville and is questionable for Sunday’s recreation. … WR Noah Brown missed a second straight recreation in opposition to the Jaguars with a knee damage. … RB Dameon Pierce returned in opposition to Jacksonville after lacking three video games with an ankle damage.
KEY NUMBER
0. The Texans didn’t have a sack Sunday for the primary time all season.
NEXT STEPS
The Texans look to get again on observe after they wrap up a three-game homestand with a go to from Denver Sunday. The Broncos (6-5) have gained 5 in a row after dropping 5 of their first six video games.
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AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
(This story has not been edited by News18 workers and is revealed from a syndicated information company feed – Associated Press)
