The Houston Texans’ passing attack persisted against the Oakland Raiders and overcome an eight-point second half deficit to upend the visiting side 27-24 Sunday afternoon at NRG Stadium.
One player who did not figure a part in the victory was second-year receiver Keke Coutee, who did not play a snap on special teams or on offense in the win.
Coach Bill O’Brien after the game told reporters they were sticking to the game plan and the limited possessions didn’t allow for him to insert Coutee into the action, but that he should have been more conscious about getting the former Texas Tech Red Raider in the game.
“I think just in the game plan, I think to be honest with you, probably should, probably had chances to get him in there a little bit more,” O’Brien said. “But the way that the game was going and talking about the limited possessions that we had we just didn’t get him into the game, and I think probably could have done a better job of that so there really wasn’t any reason other than me doing a better job of getting him in the game.”
Coutee has caught 13 passes for 154 yards in six games for the Texans in 2019, three of which he has started.
In Coutee’s place was DeAndre Carter, normally a returner, who caught a 46-yard pass that setup Houston with a first-and-10 at the Raiders’ 11-yard line on the opening drive of the third quarter. Ultimately, Houston settled for a 40-yard Ka’imi Fairbairn field goal rather than punching it in for a touchdown, but their chance at points could not have happened without Carter’s big catch.
The Texans face the Jacksonville Jaguars in London Sunday for Week 9. If Coutee doesn’t figure into Houston’s game plan against Jacksonville while Carter continues to get snaps and targets, it could be the start of a trend.
