Man, it was not pretty in the desert. The Texans dropped their sixth straight with a 31-5 beatdown by the Arizona Cardinals.
Here are the 22 thoughts from the loss.
1. Even though I’d already seen them both in an Arizona uniform it was REALLY weird seeing Nuk and J.J. in red and white with the Texans on the field, really weird.
2. Outside of some frustrating personal foul penalties, defensive tackle Maliek Collins has looked good this season. He had a nice spin move on Arizona’s opening drive that resulted in a sack of Kyler Murray and briefly calmed the nerves of Texans fans (and media types) anticipating an immediate beat down courtesy of the Arizona offense.
3. The Texans defensive effort early was as good as you could’ve expected. In fact, Lovie Smith’s defense has come out pretty strong in the first half most of the time this season. Smith has maxed what he has to work with personnel wise.
4. Tim Kelly drew up a pretty nice screen in the first quarter and RB David Johnson tripped over the 48-yard-line. At this point watching Johnson is kind of sad and I find myself feeling bad for him. It’s almost cruel to play him at this point.
5. Nico Collins is going to be a player.
6. You couldn’t have drawn up a better first quarter for the Texans if you tried. It was also encouraging to see the second start with a long Ka’imi Fairbairn field goal.
7. CBS put Nico Collins on the graphic along with David Johnson and Ross Blacklock to lay out the final result of the trade, which was inaccurate and very generous. The trade still looked awful even with the graphic, but that was inaccurate and misleading.
The Texans received Johnson, a 2020 second they used to select Ross Blacklock and a weird fourth round pick swap that gave them a 2021 fourth-round selection. Collins was selected in the third round and the Texans traded up to get him. Caserio traded two fourths, one in 2022, and a fifth to move up and grab Collins.
Not sure how CBS got to the conclusion that led to that graphic, but it’s either a mistake or a massive reach.
8. I’m assuming Lonnie Johnson Jr. has to play deep because of limitations, but he’s not even on the screen over half the time when the ball is snapped. Some might argue that that’s where safeties play in this scheme.
I doubt that and even if they do they have to have better instincts than Johnson shows or it’s a recipe for disaster. Justin Reid, if he’s back, needs better company back there.
9. Maliek Collins has committed a lot of dumb penalties this season, but that roughing the passer penalty that took away what should’ve been his second sack of the game late in the second quarter was total BS. That’s just ass officiating. Nobody with an ounce of logic thinks that’s a good call and even the rules don’t support throwing a flag there. I support a lot of the new rules to make the game safer, but that’s trash.
10. The Texans were down 17-5 at half and like many weeks previous I felt like it could’ve been worse. That’s a thumbs up for the coaching stuff and thumbs down for the talent on the roster. Thanks, Bill O’Brien and Jack Easterby.
11. Charles Omenihu looked like a guy who probably should’ve been playing the last couple of weeks.
12. Kyler Murray is going to end up being the highest paid QB ever when he signs his next contract.
13. Zach Ertz already looks like a perfect fit for one Arizona. They ran a reverse with him inside the five and Murray found him multiple times, including on the dagger touchdown in the third quarter to give Arizona a 24-5 lead.
14. Lonnie Johnson gets gifts. Being that deep and slow to the party is costly 90% of the time, but sometimes they throw it to you like Murray did in the third quarter. Running to the end zone to celebrate down 19 is an interesting look.
15. It was good to see the best punt returner on the opening day roster, Desmond King, return punts. He showed some flashes doing what he should’ve been doing from the beginning.
16. Jonathan Greenard had another multi-sack game. He continues to be one of the biggest bright spots on the team.
17. The Texans handed the ball to David Johnson on 3rd and 7 to start the fourth quarter and on the next play Brandin Cooks dropped a ball that would’ve moved the chains. That stretch was symbolic of what Jack and Bill chose as the new core of this team Post-Hopkins.
18. Cooks has been and is a very good player, don’t get it twisted, but he’s not Hopkins and it’s just poetic justice for those two plays to happen amidst an Assing at the hands of Nuk’s new team.
19. Last week, Culley said the culture is good despite the results. Serious question: What’s that based on?
20. The lack of tight end production has been one of the most disappointing things seven games into the season.
21. 1-7 is inevitable with the Rams coming to town next Sunday, but I’m REALLY intrigued to see what the atmosphere at NRG is going to be like and how many empty seats there are.
22. Oh, I almost forgot. Happy Birthday to Cal McNair!
Listen to Landry Locker on In The Loop weekdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on SportsRadio 610 and Audacy.