Once Again, Texans Find a Way To Lose
December 7th, 2009 | by Mike Kerns |I usually say something like “It just isn’t funny anymore.” Which is why I can’t understand why I was laughing.
When RB Chris Brown had his number called for a Halfback Pass on first and goal on the 5 yard line with the game in the balance, it was destined to fail. I mean, this guy has cost Houston at least three games this season. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Let’s recap how we got to this point.
On the first offensive play from scrimmage, Duane Brown blew a block and QB Matt Schaub went down hard onto his non-throwing shoulder. He was shook up as the medical staff rushed onto the field. At this point, my phone blows up with text messages saying stuff like “Mr. Glass” and “I told you Matt Schaub was soft.” Me, being one of the handful of fans who believe Matt Schaub is the guy, could only shake my head. A shaking that intensified with the David Carr-esque play by backup QB Rex Grossman.
Anyone that criticizes Matt Schaub's toughness after this game is only proving their ignorance.
Schaub was in the locker room, probably seriously injured, and Grossman was making JaMarcus Russell look good. David Garrard and the Jacksonville offense quickly ran the score up to 17-0. Just when it looked like it was over, Matt Schaub comes running out of the locker room and tossing warm up passes on the sideline. Suddenly, my text messages weren’t going off anymore. Weird.
As soon as Schaub came back into the game, he led the previously inept offense (as led by Grossman) to a 10 play, 82 yard drive that resulted in a touchdown. If there was any question about who the MVP of this team is, it was answered on this day. It also silenced the idiots on the radio saying Rex Grossman should get a start. This was absurd to even think of anyways.
But it wasn’t all roses. The defense held Jacksonville to 3 points in the second half and even sacked David Garrard in his own endzone for a safety. Trailing 20-9 and with the ball, Matt Schaub connected over the middle to WR David Anderson. But in usual Texans fashion, he is hit immediately and the ball pops up in the air. Of course, right into the arms of Justin Durant of The Jaguars. It led to another Josh Scobee field goal to stretch the leas to 23-9. Houston matched after a Jacksonville fumble to close to 23-12. This is where the madness began to ensue.
After working 76 yards down the field, including an amazing throw to Andre Johnson for 53 yards, Houston had the aforementioned 1st and Goal at the Jags 5 yard line. Still about 9 minutes left, so there is plenty of time. Matt Schaub is moving the team down the field with ease. There was no question he would be able to get the team into the endzone…
Obviously, Gary Kubiak didn’t get this memo. As he made one of, if not the biggest idiot play call of his coaching career. A Chris Brown halfback pass? WHAT?!?!
Of course, as with anything Chris Brown has done this season, the
play failed. Not only did the play fail, but it resulted in a turnover. Brown had a defender in his ribcage while he attempted to “pass” the ball. It looked like he shot-put the ball right into three Jaguars defenders hands.
This is the point where I would have usually lost my mind and threw something across my living room. But I just started laughing. Because this team and this coaching staff seem to find new way to lose a close football game. This play lost the game. It didn’t matter that Houston scored another touchdown late to cut the lead to five. The defense was exhausted and couldn’t stop Maurice Jones Drew as he ran for three first downs to run the clock out to end the game.
Another winnable game lost. And to quote Mr. Strickland from Back to The Future: “I believe that makes four in a row…”
1-5 within the division. 1-5! Something Houston hasn’t done since their first year in the league! It is beyond unacceptable and the Chris Brown play may have just punched Gary Kubiak’s ticket out of town. Any supporters he had left have hopped onto the New Coach bandwagon. I would say the people who want Kubiak back for his final year of his contract next year at less than 1% in Houston. It is really sad, because Gary is a great human being. He is a great Offensive Coordinator. But I think he may be done as a head coach in the NFL. Game highlights below.
Tags: Andre Johnson, Chris Brown, David Anderson, David Carr, David Garrard, Duane Brown, Gary Kubiak, Jacksonville Jaguars, Josh Scobee, Justin Durant, Matt Schaub, Maurice Jones Drew, Rex Grossman
