(SportsRadio 610) - If the Texans are going to play well enough to save coach Lovie Smith’s job, this would be the ideal time to do it.
With three games left in Smith’s first season as head coach and second as defensive coordinator, the Texans finish against three AFC South opponents – at Tennessee, Jacksonville and at Indianapolis.
In their last two defeats – 27-23 to Dallas and 30-24 to Kansas City in overtime – the Texans have overcome their plethora of injuries and played as well as they’re capable, almost pulling off shocking upsets in what’s been a miserable season that’ll conclude with a third consecutive losing record.
If the Texans can play against the Titans, Jaguars and Colts the way they played against the Cowboys and Chiefs, they’re capable of winning.
First up is Tennessee for Saturday’s game at Nashville, where gametime forecast of 19 degrees will make it the coldest home game in Titans’ history. A 14 mile-an-hour wind, with gusts up to 33, is expected. The wind chill is predicted to be 6 degrees.
The Christmas Eve game features two desperate teams attempting to snap losing streaks. The Texans have a nine-game losing streak and a 1-12-1 record, worst in the NFL. The Titans, who have even more injuries to key players than the Texans, have a four-game losing streak and a 7-7 record.
The Titans are one-half game ahead of Jacksonville. The Jaguars’ victory over the Jets on Thursday night gave them a three-game winning streak for the first time since 2017 – the last time they reached the playoffs.
With three of their four previous losses to Miami, Dallas and Kansas City – bona-fide playoff teams – the schedule eases up. None of the AFC South teams has a winning record.
“We haven’t beaten a couple of great football teams, but it’s not like the guys quit at the end,” Smith said about the Dallas and Kansas City defeats. “We’re playing hard. I think we’ve been playing as hard at the end as we have throughout the game. They’re (players) trying to get back because maybe it’s a little (of what) we need to get over the hump. Maybe some of the guys that have been injured, just a few of them playing may be the difference. That’s what I’m seeing in the building, in the meetings (and) on the practice field with everything we’re doing.”
The Texans can afford to win one more game and still finish with the league’s worst record to earn the first overall pick in the draft. Win more than one, and that first pick is in jeopardy.
Smith, of course, wants to win them all. He’d love to see the Texans play the spoiler’s role in the next two games against the Titans and Jaguars, who could battle it out until the end to determine if Jacksonville can unseat Tennessee as the defending AFC South champion.
The Texans are 1-1-1 in division games with a victory over the Jaguars, a loss to the Titans and a tie with the Colts.
“You’re just playing division opponents,” Smith said about playing a spoiler’s role. “That should get you fired up. What can we really aim for? To finish with a winning record in our division. That’s what it’s down to for us right now. That’s what’s getting us motivated.
"Eventually, we want to win our division. Yeah, we’re playing better ball right now. I’m going to say they’re (Titans) playing better ball, also.”
Smith will get an argument on that assessment from Tennessee fans and media. Like the Texans, the Titans have played a difficult schedule over the last month. They lost by four to the Bengals, 25 to the Eagles, 14 to the Jaguars and three to the Chargers. The Cincinnati and Jacksonville defeats were at Nissan Stadium.
“Tennessee has been right in there,” Smith said. “I know they’ve lost (four consecutive) games, but they’ve been leading our division most of the year. Jacksonville has really risen up. They’re playing their best ball right now.”
In their first season under coach Doug Pederson, the Jaguars are 5-2 over their last seven games. Second-year quarterback Trevor Lawrence has thrown 14 touchdown passes and one interception during that stretch that’s helped them overcome a 2-6 start on the way to their 7-8 record. After playing at NRG Stadium, the Jaguars close at home against the Titans in a game that could decide the division title.
Jacksonville has the best quarterback in the AFC South and doesn’t have the injury issues that have plagued the Texans and Titans. Tennessee is playing without quarterback Ryan Tannehill and four starters in the offensive line. In their overtime loss to the Chiefs, the Texans were missing six starters, including four on offense.
Smith was asked to explain how the Texans could have so many injuries and take the Chiefs – a legitimate Super Bowl contender -- into overtime.
“Wish we could figure all that out,” Smith said. “I just know where we are right now. I think you get better as the year goes along. Those players that have a more prominent role have had the benefit of all that (playing experience), so we’re seeing their best ball right now.
“Injuries are part of it. I just think it’s a tough circumstance to be where we are right now. We talk about guys playing their best ball. We judge how we play each week. I think everybody is watching us play, saying we’re getting better. I think we’re making progress and getting better in all areas, which gives us a chance to win. We’re excited about that.”
And the Texans will be even more excited if they can end their losing streak at Tennessee and extend the Titans’ losing streak, forcing them to fall into a first-place tie with Jacksonville. Then the Texans can prepare for their rematch with the Jaguars, a team they’ve defeated in nine consecutive games dating back to the 2017 season.
John McClain can be heard Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday on Sports Radio 610 and Monday and Thursday on Texans Radio. He writes three times a week and does three Houtopia Podcasts for SportsRadio610.com. He also can be read four times a week on GallerySports.com.