The NFL is back, and Sportsnet is breaking down everything you need to know about each of the 32 teams—including why you should or shouldn’t be rooting for them this season—in the month leading up to kickoff on Thursday, Sept. 8. Today, the Houston Texans.
Last year’s record: 9-7
Head coach: Bill O’Brien
Core players: J.J. Watt (DE), DeAndre Hopkins (QB), Brian Cushing (LB), Jadeveon Clowney (LB), Duane Brown (OT), Vince Wilfork (DT)
2016 is about… The new-look offence gelling and the team staking claim to the AFC South for good. The Jaguars and Titans made significant off-season acquisitions on the road to improvement and the Colts have a healthy Andrew Luck back, but the Texans should win this division especially with the defence, led by J.J. Watt, being head and shoulders better than their three divisional rivals.
They lost… Running back Arian Foster, who was a touchdown machine when healthy. His 65 touchdowns (rushing and receiving) since 2010 ties the recently-retired Marshawn Lynch for most in the NFL during that time period. Unfortunately, Foster couldn’t stay on the field in the last three seasons, missing 23 total games, so he was made expendable.
Brandon Brooks was maybe the most significant loss for the Texans in free agency. The athletic guard had three quality seasons in Houston although his play last year wasn’t as good as it was in 2013 or 2014. They also lost centre Ben Jones and cut ties with quarterback Brian Hoyer and tight end Garrett Graham. Those three had their moments but weren’t going to lead the team to a Super Bowl.
But they got… A franchise quarterback – or at least someone they hope will be just that. Brock Osweiler signed a whopping four-year, $72-million contract with $37 million guaranteed. The 6-foot-7 pivot started seven games (eight total appearances) for the Broncos last season, throwing for 1,967 yards and 10 touchdowns with six interceptions. Stability at the position was top priority for the organization after a 2015 campaign that saw the Texans start four quarterbacks – Hoyer, Ryan Mallett, T.J. Yates and the only returning QB Brandon Weeden. Osweiler performed admirably in Denver when Peyton Manning couldn’t go, but he’s still an unproven commodity.
New running back Lamar Miller, in theory, will fit in well with the Texans offence since he has speed to burn when he gets space and can navigate through traffic just like Foster was able to do for so many years there. There is serious hype surrounding Miller, but he only had 872 rushing yards in 16 starts with the Dolphins in 2015.
The team replaced Brooks with former Kansas City Chiefs guard Jeff Allen, which should be fine, and they drafted Nick Martin in the second round to take Jones’s spot at centre. They also added a pair of impressive wide receiver prospects in first-rounder Will Fuller and third-rounder Braxton Miller. They’ll help take some pressure off DeAndre Hopkins.
Growing from within… Speaking of Hopkins, the Clemson product could solidify himself as a top-five receiver, possibly top-three, with another strong performance. He set career highs with 111 receptions (third in NFL), 1,521 yards (third in NFL) and 11 touchdowns (seventh in NFL) and did so with wildly inconsistent quarterbacks.
On the defensive side of the ball it will be interesting to see how Jadeveon Clowney looks. He took positive strides in his development last season despite dealing with a series of injuries in his first two years in the league. Clowney “recorded the 10th-best run stop percentage of any 3-4 outside linebacker last season,” according to Pro Football Focus. If he can stay healthy he just might double or triple the 4.5 sacks he had in 2015.
Why this team? Because this team might finally have a potent passing attack if Osweiler lives up to his potential, and the defence has all the tools to be a top-five unit. Only the Broncos and Seahawks allowed fewer points and yards per game last year.
Why not this team? Osweiler and Miller are still unproven and the AFC South as a whole is much improved, so they won’t be able to coast to a division title playing average football like they did last year.
How much hope? 7.7/10: It would be a huge disappointment if they missed the playoffs.