That the Texans are not?? I think our O-line is better, QB, obviously, our WRs are better, our TEs are better and RB about even. So, why are the Saints able to rack up 40+ pts a game and we are struggling to score? Maybe, it's still early and the Saints haven't played anybody of significance? Carolina and Dallas aren't world beaters but is Indy and the Bears much better? Maybe, the Saints are jelling early? Or is it that Klint Kubiac is a better PLAY CALLER than Slowick. The Texans stall too much inside the Red Zone and have to settle for Field Goals.
The team has played two games and won both. Bears have a really good defense. Touch grass and enjoy the wins!
...playing the Carolina Panthers one week...... Also, the Texans were a dropped Dell pass and goal line fumble away from that being a 33-13 game. I don't know anything about the Saints personnel. But fans need to be a little patient as the Texans start, essentially, a new OL & integrate Mixon & Diggs into the offense while re-integrating Dell. Also, keep in mind that Stroud is a month & a half older than Caleb Williams... there's a lot on his shoulders and he doesn't quite look as comfortable as last year. I suspect that'll come.
This is so true. I feel like this was completely lost in the discussion about the game and the offense, generally.
We are 2-0 and have not been fully clicking. With some luck and good health, I think we are looking at a historic season for the Texans.
Loving the Carr and Kubiak reincarnation storyline. Having a back like Kamara makes life easier as does the system.
New Orleans is doing a great job of stretching the entirety of the field. Shaheed's TDs in particular were deep passes both weeks. The defense had to start respecting the deep 3rd of the field and it frees up a back that is a good runner and receiver like Kamara underneath. They also had their TEs more involved in week 1 so it is really a pick your poison machine going on over there. Meanwhile, Slowik's been pretty conservative : he runs on running downs, passes on passing downs. We had that one pass to Dell he dropped that was an attempt to go deep, but we need to do that a few more times a game AND Dell needs to catch at least one of the attempts and it'll open things up more. Right now the defense can squat in the closer 2/3s of the box and the safeties are closer to help in run support, which is why Mixon was more bottled up in week 2 than week 1 when our deeper game had to be more respected.
They played the biggest dumpster fire in the NFL and the incredibly overrated Cowboys. AR made 3 throws in game one, and a fumble and drop prevented the Bears game from getting uglier. As Rodgers once said. R-E-L-A-X
The offense definitely looks out of sync so I think it's easy to panic - OH NO! SOMETHING'S WRONG!!! And, obviously, being "out of sync" is "something wrong." But it's a reps thing, I think. They've barely played together, and haven't been able to build trust. And trust is SUCH a big deal with QBs and WRs. Right now, Stroud looks like he only trusts Collins. But he's trying to spread it around and that's pushing him out of his comfort zone (which is to throw every pass to Collins, LOL). Once he and Diggs get on the same page, and once Dell stops dropping passes, the offense will start to hum. (All of this is true of the OL, too - they haven't played together much, either.) Also, I think they *very* obviously were hurt by Mixon's injury. The entire game changed when he left. They did not seem to have a plan B. But, yeah - they left points on the field - that game shouldn't have been a one-score game. I think by week 5/6 - when the schedule gets *really* tough - they'll be a machine. Which is why going 4-0 is soooooo important - win when you're not at your best and working out things, and pedal to the metal after that.
The deuce they dropped on the Cowboys was impressive. But, let's be real, it's just one data point. Law of averages will have the Texans catching up and the Saints cooling off.
We need to be careful not to confuse in-game results with the game plan. We do not know what the game plan was - and whatever it might've been, the Bears disrupted much of it and Mixon getting hurt made an impact, too. Chicago has a *very* good defense; it could be the best defense we see all year - it'll certainly be among the best. And, yet... Dell dropped a touchdown and Akers fumbled away what likely would've been another. They were well-positioned to hang 33 on Chicago despite being at an extreme disadvantage, field position-wise. To me, this was, like, preseason game #3. They're still getting everyone on the same page. If they can win 3 or all 4 of these games and get everyone moving in the same direction, they'll be well-positioned to face what should be a really difficult final 13 games.
I think Slowik can maximize his production by mixing things up better in the Red Zone area. I think he gets too conservative inside the 20.
Man, I didn't even make the Kubiak-Carr connection.. thats pretty cool actually. I'm all for the saints playing great. As long as it's not against us.
