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How worried should the Texans be with 0-2?

Mark Lane
·2 min read

The Houston Texans are 0-2 on the season for the third time in the Bill O’Brien era, and the second time in three years.

After the first two games of the season and being unable to get a win, or even a turnover, it may be time to hit the panic button.

According to Peter King from NBC Sports, the Texans shouldn’t get too concerned with the goose egg that remains in the win column.

2. I think I wouldn’t fret too much about being 0-2 if I were a Texan. It’s a hole, of course, But honestly: Did you think the Texans would win at Kansas City? No one did. Did you think they’d beat a powerhouse Baltimore team, the same team that slapped them around 41-7 last year? Maybe a few thought they’d win, but that was a long shot too. Houston has played, possibly, its two toughest games of the season in the first two weeks, and now, after a sobering but understandable start, they head into three reasonable games: at Pittsburgh, then Minnesota and Jacksonville at home. If they’re 1-4 in three weeks, then it’s time to worry. But not yet.

What’s interesting about King writing the Texans should be worried if they are 1-4 three weeks from now is that was their exact record in 2015 after the first five games. Houston even fell down as far as 2-5 before igniting a four-game winning streak to finally put them over .500. And this was in the season where the Texans started Brian Hoyer, Ryan Mallett, T.J. Yates, and Brandon Weeden at quarterback.

However, Jake Asman from SportsMap Radio makes a very compelling point. The fact that the Texans’ losses to the Chiefs and Ravens are simply discounted because they aren’t in the same tier is actually concerning, because it means the organization entrusted O’Brien with more responsibilities yet unable to get into the NFL’s final four.

Why the Texans should be worried is Tennessee is running away with the AFC South. If the rest of the division is pedestrian while the Texans are collecting their composure to compete for the AFC South, then Houston has a chance. If one team stays atop the division and keeps winning, Houston’s 0-2 start will be the reason they couldn’t get into the playoffs.