Week one preview for the Texans vs. the Bears
It’s been an eventful offseason for the Houston Texans. They signed a major deal with a quarterback that many say has yet to prove himself, they have completely overhauled their group of wide receivers, their starting running back is new to the team, and they were still able to go undefeated throughout the preseason. I’ve put together some thoughts I have on the game in our week one Houston preview.
After winning the AFC South last year, the expectations are high for the Texans this season. Head coach Bill O’Brien is known for the complexity of his offensive system and a lot of has been asked of the rookies and players new to the team. At least on paper, the division looks to be a little more open in 2016 and Houston will need to get off to as quick of a start as possible if they want to have a chance to repeat as AFC South champs this year.
They will open the season hosting the Chicago Bears and are the favorites to come away with the victory. One of the determining factors will be the ability of Houston’s offensive line. If they are able to keep Brock Osweiler off of his back against the Bears, the Defense should have no problem keeping the game in check. Here are a couple of key players I will be keeping an eye on.
Who to watch on offense
The key for the Texans on offense has to be their new quarterback. With a beat up offensive line, Osweiler will have to show that he can get rid of the ball in a hurry without making costly mistakes. Coach O’Brien has praised his quarterback for the time and effort he has spent in the film room and learning the playbook, but Osweiler will need to translate the two into success on the field Sunday.It will be interesting to see how he finishes after playing a full game with his new team.
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Who to watch on defense
While there is a lot of hype concerning J.J. Watt playing after his recent surgery that would have had some players out for the year, Jadeveon Clowney is who I am looking forward to watching. After his first two seasons in the league, several fans and analyst alike are starting to consider Clowney as a busted draft pick. If he wants to get rid of the reputation, Clowney will need to show he is a force to be reckoned with in 2016. Week one against the Bears could be his opportunity to get things off to a good start. The offensive line is definitely the weakest link for Chicago and the Texans’ pass rushers should have no problem getting to quarterback Jay Cutler.Clowney could build off of a solid performance in week one and use the game to start gaining some momentum.
Who to look out for from Chicago
I wouldn’t be surprised at all if the Chicago Bears decide to attack J.J. Watt. They could use a couple different packages to send extra blockers and double teams towards Watt and try to beat him down through the course of the game. If that’s the case, rookie Jordan Howard could receive a large dose of time on the field. Howard will be Chicago’s power back and his big body could do some damage running into a defender who isn’t 100 percent play after play. Any other week, NFL teams do anything and everything possible to steer clear of Watt. I think it could be different in Houston this Sunday. Howard should get a good amount of carries if this is the case.
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