(SportsRadio 610) - With the Astros playing the Phillies in the World Series, there may be more Eagles’ fans at NRG Stadium Thursday night than Texans’ fans.
This Amazon-streamed game should be over by halftime, if not earlier. Here are the weekly observations on the Texans and their current predicament.
TEXANS LOOK LIKE NFL’S WORST TEAM
Officially, the Texans (1-5-1) are the second-worst team in the NFL, one-half game behind Detroit (1-6) for that dubious distinction that brings the first overall pick in the draft. Unofficially, they’re the worst. The product they put on the NRG Stadium field in the 17-10 loss to Tennessee was an embarrassment to everyone in the organization.
The Texans allowed 314 yards rushing, including 219 and two touchdowns by Derrick Henry.
Here come the 7-0 Eagles ranking sixth in rushing with 149.6 yards a game. The Eagles lead the league with a plus-13 turnover differential. They’ve committed two turnovers, both interceptions.
In other words, they don’t beat themselves.
BATTLE RED HELMETS ONLY POSITIVE THING TEXANS CAN OFFER
The only good thing about this short week is the Texans will debut their highly praised Battle Red helmets in Thursday night’s nationally televised game against the Eagles. Philadelphia is 7-0 and the NFL’s only unbeaten team. What the Eagles are going to do to the Texans would be against the law off the field.
The Texans are coming off one of the worst performances in team history. Their seven-point loss to Tennessee wasn’t as close as the score shows. They were dominated in every phase of the game by the Titans, who are 5-2 and on top of the AFC South.
A bad situation will get a lot worse against the Eagles, who’ll show no mercy before the Amazon audience.
Bring on the red helmets. This week, that’s all the Texans have going for them after their pathetic effort in which they were dominated by the Titans, who are on a five-game winning streak and running away with the division title under Mike Vrabel, an excellent coach with a run-oriented game plan the Texans expected and still couldn’t do anything about.
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TUESDAY IS TRADE DEADLINE
The NFL trade deadline is Tuesday at 3 p.m. There’s been a lot of speculation for two weeks that wide receiver Brandin Cooks could be traded. Cornerbacks Desmond King II and Steven Nelson also have been the subject of speculation.
Cooks has been the Texans’ leading receiver for three consecutive years. He has 32 catches for 354 yards (11-yard average) and one touchdown this season. He’s on a pace for 78 receptions and 860 yards. So far, teams have been reluctant to trade for Cooks because of the $18 million he’ll receive in 2023.
When considering offers for Cooks, general manager Nick Caserio has to take into consideration Nico Collins’ groin injury. Collins missed the Tennessee game. There’s little chance he’ll play against Philadelphia on Thursday night.
If Collins is going to miss a few more games, trading Cooks would hurt a passing game that’s been mostly bad this season. Imagine how Davis Mills would struggle with Phillip Dorsett, Chris Moore and Jalen Camp as his three top receivers.
Caserio already has 12 draft choices in 2023 and the expected return of receiver John Metchie III, who’s getting treatment for Leukemia. Metchie would be like an additional second-round pick. Does Caserio want even more picks to maneuver with, or would he like to add to his supply of 10 in 2024?
TUNSIL CONTINUES TO EXCEL
After missing the last 12 games of the 2021 season, left tackle Laremy Tunsil has been outstanding this season. His terrific performance has been overshadowed by the Texans’ lifeless performance. According to Pro Football Focus, Tunsil’s overall grade is 85.1, fourth among offensive tackles. His pass blocking grade is even more impressive at 89.5.
Tunsil wasn’t the problem against the Titans. They crushed the interior offensive line, dominating left guard Kenyon Green, center Scott Quessenberry and substitute right guard Justin McCray in embarrassing fashion. Dameon Pierce was shut down, and Mills was under constant pressure in what was a humiliating offensive performance.
HURTS TO PUT A SERIOUS HURT ON HOMETOWN TEAM
Third-year Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts is off to a tremendous start. The Channelview native who played at Alabama and Oklahoma is the first Philadelphia quarterback to win 10 consecutive games since 1950.
Hurts’ family and friends who’ll attend the game at NRG Stadium know he wants to destroy his hometown team. His chances are very good.
After Sunday’s 35-13 victory over Pittsburgh, the victim of Hurts’ four touchdown passes, he has thrown for 1,799 yards and 10 touchdowns. He has two interceptions, a 67-percent completion percentage and a 105.1 rating, fifth in the NFL. His average per attempt of 8.49 yards is second. Hurts has helped the offense rank third with 395.4 yards a game.
The Texans’ defense has to beware of Hurts running. He’s rushed for 303 yards and six touchdowns.
BROWN SAYS HELLO TO HIS LITTLE FRIENDS
When receiver A.J. Brown played for Tennessee, he almost always made the Texans’ secondary look small. He toasted them with multiple 100-yard games and lots of touchdowns. The Texans are glad they don’t have to play against him twice a season, but he’s returning to NRG Stadium again with the Eagles.
Brown is coming off his best game with his new team. In the Eagles’ victory over the Steelers, he caught six passes for 156 yards and three touchdowns. That’s an average of 26-yards a catch. That’s not a surprise for the Texans. They’ve seen up close and personal the damage Brown can do to defensive backs.
Watching rookie cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. cover Brown is going to be one of the most interesting parts of the game. It’ll be a tough but good learning experience for Stingley.
EIGHT IS ENOUGH FOR TEXANS STARTERS
In the Titans’ demolition at NRG Stadium, the Texans started eight rookies. If youth is going to be served by coach Lovie Smith, this is the time to do it because his team isn’t going anywhere.
Offensively, there were three rookie starters: running back Dameon Pierce, guard Kenyon Green and fullback Troy Hairston. Defensively, there were five rookie starters: Cornerback Derek Stingley Jr., safety Jalen Pitre, linebacker Christian Harris, defensive end Thomas Booker and tackle Kurt Hinish.
That’s five draft choices and two undrafted free agents in Hairston and Hinish. A game-day roster with so little playing experience is like a salad with too much green – you need more.
John McClain can be heard Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday on Sports Radio 610 and Monday and Thursday on Texans Radio. He does three weekly Houtopia Podcasts for SportsRadio610.com. He also can be read four times a week on GallerySports.com.