The Houston Texans entered their Week 7 showdown with the Indianapolis Colts tied with the Buffalo Bills for the highest red zone efficiency in the NFL at 71.4%.
However, against the Colts, the Texans had a red zone efficiency of 40%, cashing in on two of their five trips inside the 20-yard line. How much more for a difference could it have made their 30-23 loss if Houston could have had an extra touchdown?
Sunday’s red zone production was uncharacteristic for Houston. However, the Texans don’t believe it had anything to do with poor execution on their part as much as it did the excellent play from Indianapolis.
“They did a good job,” coach Bill O’Brien told reporters following the loss. “Defensively, we had some good playing down there. They did a nice job. We weren’t able to crack the code.”
The sentiment was one that quarterback Deshaun Watson echoed.
“They were discipline on defense, they didn’t give up on big plays and played a lot of zone coverage,” Watson told reporters. “We have points and field goals but of course, we want to run it in.”
It can be argued that one of the more egregious miscues from the officials occurred midway through the second quarter on a third-and-4 when Watson hit receiver DeAndre Hopkins for a touchdown on third-and-goal. Instead, Watson was ruled in the grasp, the play blown dead, and the Texans forced to settle for a 31-yard field goal to pull within one rather than taking a 10-7 lead after the could-have-been touchdown.
“You watch the tape of all the plays that I stand and make plays especially in the red zone — he said he was trying to protect my health so it goes back and forth,” Watson said. “But, hey, that’s the call he made.”
Houston will face the Oakland Raiders Sunday for the first time since the 2017 AFC wild-card game. The Raiders are allowing a 68% conversion rate in the red zone, an area of the field that counts the most. If Houston wants to get back on track with their high red zone production, the Raiders are the perfect tune-up game.
Look for the Texans to target tight ends Darren Fells and Jordan Akins as Oakland’s defense has struggled against premier talents at that position such as Travis Kelce, Eric Ebron, and Jimmy Graham, allowing a combined 73 yards and one touchdown to each. Fells and Akins have combined for 399 yards and five touchdowns through seven games.
