The Green Bay Packers defeated the Chicago Bears 10-3 Thursday night at Soldier Field in a game that looked more like another preseason game than the kickoff to the NFL’s 100th season.
A lack of meaningful preseason snaps for first-teamers has been named as the culprit, but Houston Texans coach Bill O’Brien told reporters Friday execution is especially key in Opening Day games.
“Week 1, the common themes are tackling, who tackles the best is going to have a chance to win, who commits the least amount of penalties, who takes care of the ball the best, who can take the ball away,” O’Brien said.
For the Texans, they attempt to find ways to create significant practice time without having to rely on all of the trappings of the preseason. Houston partook in two joint practices with the Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions leading up to their respective preseason games. Even as O’Brien and the Texans did their best to preserve their front line starters while preparing them for the regular season, injuries occurred, such as on the second offensive play for Houston in their third preseason game at the Dallas Cowboys when running back Lamar Miller tore his ACL.
“We use GPS, we use all kinds of research to try to get our guys ramped up to be ready to play, we have joint practices and then we go against Dallas, and we lose Lamar,” O’Brien said. “So, I think it’s tough. I think that you just do the best.”
The Texans’ best, O’Brien is hoping, includes playing fundamentally sound football against the New Orleans Saints Sept. 9 at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome to kickoff their regular season. Though New Orleans has lost their past five Opening Day games, the Saints are driven to complete unfinished business after their NFC Championship game overtime loss, which will make them a fierce home team.
