Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson has a powerful, accurate arm and frequently freezes defenders with his high-energy, instinctive style.
DeAndre Hopkins is one of the most productive, sure-handed and acrobatic wide receivers in the game.
Running back Carlos Hyde regularly tramples defenders with his rugged tackle-breaking skills.
And Laremy Tunsil, in his first season with the team following a trade from the Dolphins, became the first Texans left tackle to be named to the Pro Bowl since Duane Brown in 2008.
So, why is such a talented offense, which features plenty of complementary pieces in wide receivers Kenny Stills and Will Fuller, tight ends Darren Fells and Jordan Akins and running back Duke Johnson, sputtering heading into a Saturday playoff game against the Buffalo Bills?
It’s a complicated, multi-layered issue.
The regression this past month boils down to five primary issues: an uptick in turnovers, untimely penalties, Fuller’s iffy health, an inconsistent running game and a disappearance of the run-pass option plays that were a staple of the Texans’ success earlier this season.
“Whenever we have penalties or turnovers, the offense isn’t going to look good, statistically speaking, all across the league in the game of football,” Stills said Wednesday afternoon. “So, we have to stop shooting ourselves in the foot.”
Ever since an impressive 28-22 victory Dec. 1 over the defending Super Bowl champion New England Patriots, the offense has nosedived.
The Texans are 2-2 since that game, including last Sunday’s 35-14 loss to Tennessee during which they rested several starters, including Watson, Tunsil and Hopkins.
Watson played arguably his best overall game of the season against New England, outdueling Tom Brady by completing 72 percent of his throws for three touchdowns and zero interceptions and a 140.7 passer rating. He also caught a touchdown pass from Hopkins.
It marked Watson’s second-highest passer rating of the season, trailing his perfect 158.3 mark against Atlanta in October when he passed for 426 yards, five touchdowns and no interceptions in a 53-32 blowout win.
Watson has thrown five interceptions in his three games played since the New England game.
That included a head-scratching 38-24 loss to Denver the following week as the team looked emotionally flat and didn’t match the Broncos’ intensity. Against Denver, Watson had one touchdown pass and two interceptions with two touchdown runs and a 63.1 passer rating.
In a narrow 24-21 win over the Titans the following week, Watson made uncharacteristically poor decisions as he was late on one end-zone throw and threw into heavy coverage for a pair of interceptions.
The Texans beat Tampa Bay to win the AFC South but Watson hobbled around with a sore right ankle and the defense carried the team with five turnovers, including intercepting Jameis Winston four times. Watson was 19 of 32 with no touchdowns and one interception and a 62.5 passer rating.
Watson attributes the recent offensive problems to himself.
“My turnovers, that’s pretty much it,” Watson said. “You take those two turnovers from Tennessee, and then just miscommunication in Tampa Bay, and that’s pretty much it. In the Denver game, we didn’t get too many opportunities in the red zone, but, yeah, if I don’t turn two balls over in Tennessee that’s 14 extra points and who knows how the game goes.
“It’s something that we corrected, but I can’t worry about that. Whatever happens, happens and we’ll move on from it.”
The Texans rank 13th in total offense, averaging 362 yards per game. They’re 14th in scoring offense with an average of 23.6 points per contest..
They’re prone to penalties. Tunsil leads the NFL with 18 penalties, 15 accepted, and a dozen false starts. He has stalled multiple drives, but is an excellent pass protector.
“We’ve just got to keep working, trying to get better, penalties, everybody just being on the same page,” Texans coach Bill O’Brien said. “I think we’ve played some good defenses, and we’re going to play another one this Saturday. So, we’re just going to keep working and try to have a good week, see if we can be consistent.”
Hyde has gained 1,070 rushing yards and six touchdowns. That included 104 yards and a touchdown run in a key road win over the Titans on Dec. 15.
However, Hyde ran into a brick wall against Tampa Bay’s top-ranked run defense as his repeated first-down runs were unsuccessful. He finished the game with 27 yards on 17 carries, an average of 1.6 yards per run. He rushed for 13 yards on four carries in a meaningless regular-season finale last Sunday.
“I feel like we have this conversation every week where there’s breakdowns on every level,” Texans offensive coordinator Tim Kelly said. “We’ve got to find a way to limit those and come out and play more consistent.”
The Texans have lacked a consistent deep threat due to Fuller’s injuries. He’s been limited with a groin injury suffered against Tampa Bay and is a question mark for Saturday with the Texans hoping he can return and remain healthy. He has missed five total games due to hamstring and groin injuries, catching 49 passes for 670 yards and three scores.
The Texans are 8-3 when Fuller has been able to play, going 2-3 when he’s been out. Fuller caught a career-high 14 passes for 217 yards and three touchdowns against Atlanta.
“Really just the next guy step up,” Watson said in December. “Whoever is playing a position or has the opportunity to step in and play that role, you definitely can’t be Will Fuller but you can be the best of yourself and we’re definitely going to do that. Just be decisive, precise and on the same page with myself while we’re on the field.”
The Texans’ job only gets more difficult against a relentless Bills defense that ranks third in the league and is headlined by multiple dangerous pass rushers, including former University of Houston standout defensive lineman Ed Oliver, Pro Bowl corner Tre’Davious White and 6-5, 250-pound middle linebacker Tremaine Edmunds.
“Great combination of talent and coaching,” O’Brien said. “They’re very disciplined. They don’t make mistakes. They’re not out of position. They make you earn every blade of grass. It’s a big challenge for us.”
Watson has passed for 3,852 yards and 26 touchdowns. He had only seven interceptions in the first 12 games. He won’t hesitate to challenge White, who hasn’t allowed a touchdown pass all season.
“I’m still going at them,” Watson said. “I’m going to compete. I’m going to go at them and just play ball. If my guy is open or if the coverage takes me that way, I’m going to throw it that way. You’ve got to give them respect and definitely pick your spot.
“At the same time, you can’t let that shy away from doing what you want to do. Especially when you have, in my eyes, the best receiver in the game right now, D-Hop. I’m definitely going to get him targets and let him work.”
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When Texans offense sputters, it starts with turnovers and penalties - Houston Chronicle
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