(SportsRadio 610) -- The Texans dropped to 1-1 on the season after losing to the Browns 31-21 on Sunday in Cleveland.
There is a lot to dissect from this game, so let's not waste any time.
1. Anthony Miller was inactive again despite David Culley making it clear he’s healthy. I wondered what Miller, who looked good in camp’s, role will be on this team now that Danny Amendola is a part of things.
However with Amendola and Nico Collins hobbled in Cleveland it’s almost a certainty Miller makes his debut Thursday night.
2. Inexcusable mistake by Andre Roberts to muff the punt and kill the Texans momentum.
That’s literally all he does is return kicks and Desmond King was really good at returning punts in preseason.
Roberts has no purpose here at this point with mistakes like that. That completely changed the game where the margin error was expected to be low. Roberts also took the ball outta the end zone multiple times and failed to get to the 25, one even resulted in a penalty that pinned Davis Mills deep.
3. That Texans first offensive drive was offensive football porn.
Collins, Brandin Cooks and Chris Conley all moved the chains, five different guys caught passes and OC Tim Kelly capped it off with a beautiful fake reverse screen.
Last week, Kelly credited Bill O’Brien for teaching him most of what he knows, but come on, Timmy. BOB ain’t producing offensive play-calling porn like that.
4. The Lovie Smith philosophy of takeaways is paying off and might be added to a list of other things I may’ve been wrong about in regards to this team.
That Justin Reid forced fumble was a highlight coaches should use to show safeties how to knock the ball out.
5. Reid is trying to get a Caserio in-season contract extension. He forced fumble and had another INT and has forced three turnovers through two games.
Injuries are one of the biggest question marks with Reid, which unfortunately came to light in Cleveland when he left with a knee injury.
6. David Culley deciding to decline an offsides penalty on a play in which Cooks was short of the 1st down to make it fourth down and punt near midfield was a poor decision.
What was the payoff?
Tyrod Taylor was borderline flawless, you would’ve gotten another shot at moving the chains.
Plus, at that part of the field it didn’t make sense to me.
7. Kamu Grugier-Hill was a monster in the trenches in the first half of this ballgame.
It’s scary watching him in coverage, but he was exploding into the Browns backfield.
8. Taylor’s offense seems to line up much quicker than the offense did when Deshaun Watson was QB? Is it coaching? Does Taylor have more control and see things better? I dunno.
However, on Taylor’s TD run that made it 14-7 Texans he had 20 seconds to direct pre-snap traffic at the line of scrimmage, which seemed to rarely happen with Watson.
I found myself even anticipating a delay of game when Taylor started checking, but there were 15 seconds on the play clock.
9. The scariest possible moment and potential turning point in the game came when left tackle Laremy Tunsil limped off the field.
Luckily, he returned and it got scarier. A LOT scarier.
10. That fake hustle by Kevin Stefanski using his timeouts at the end of the half was beyond corny and nearly backfired with a near Browns muffed punt.
11. Taylor was clearly the best QB on the field in the first half, but we know what happened after. I anticipate him being out Thursday.
12. Any hope of the Texans winning this game appeared to be squashed when Davis Mills took over at quarterback.
Anyone who watched him at camp and during the preseason believed he wasn’t ready, but Tim Kelly did well handling the offense with the rookie.
13. It won’t get the same amount of credit as other play calls he made, but that play call by Kelly in the 3rd quarter to take a shot to Cooks on play-action was a gem.
Mills just couldn’t connect.
14. The official who threw the flag on Jordan Akins for spinning the ball should have to walk home from Cleveland.
If he lives in Cleveland, which he could very well throwing flags like that, then he should have to walk home barefoot.
15. The Mark Ingram run at the beginning of the Texans drive that resulted in the Texans cutting the lead to 24-21 felt like a spark.
The vibe up to there was defeat, but it seemed to symbolize a guy who wasn’t going to quit and the team seemed to react to it.
16. That 8:08 drive that cut the lead to three was full of grit with the tone set by Ingram and another gem by OC Tim Kelly.
My goodness… What a gem by Kelly.
17. The Browns eventually wore down the Texans and the more talented team, specifically in the trenches, simply won.
The Texans coaching staff coached their asses off.
18. The Roberts muffed punt looks even worse after the game then it did in the moment and it looked BAD when it happened. King was returning punts and kicks late and I hope that’s permanent.
19. With the Texans being such an old team I’m intrigued to see if any guys are held out Thursday. Specifically running back Mark Ingram, who has been carrying a heavier load than expected, and veteran right tackle Marcus Cannon, who came back earlier than expected and is somewhat playing his way into shape.
Two games in five days and three in 11 is a lot to ask from elder players.
20. I anticipate Tunsil, Taylor and Reid being handled with caution on a short week.
I would be shocked to see Taylor or Reid play.
21. Watson made his first career start on a Thursday night so it’s only appropriate Mills does as well, right? No?
22. Who is ready to see the first start made by Mills?! Ready or not, it’s coming.
I’ll show myself out now.
Reaction Monday tomorrow on SportsRadio 610.