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Vandermeer's View: Critical condition in Houston

The Texans were hoping they could make lemonade out of the sour taste of losing Deshaun Watson for the year. But they didn't, as their all-time nemesis stung them and put their season on the brink of collapse. 

Thrust back into the starter's role, Tom Savage had difficulty getting anything generated until the fourth quarter. He finally found some rhythm with his pass catchers on the final drives. The margin of error had disappeared though, and the Texans were unable to find the end zone with four plays inside the ten at the end of the game.

Indianapolis hardly lit up the scoreboard but they set the tone with an 82 yard TD drive on their first possession and never trailed. With the offense struggling, the defense picked us some of the slack with an Eddie Pleasant sack fumble and Lamar Houston scoop and score for his first career touchdown.

The Colts led 10-7 at the break and tacked on another touchdown and field goal in the second half for a two TD lead until the Texans attack finally got going. 

Savage was making his fourth career start and played in only the second game that he started and finished. He got better as the game went along and will have to use the late surge as a springboard to improve.

Now on to the big picture. This team has lost two in a row and is now two games back in the division. Plus, with this loss, you have two division defeats at home. It wasn't supposed to be like this but injuries and other issues have put the campaign in serious condition. 

Bill O'Brien has coached this team through some stormy seas before. But this time the AFC South is much stronger. Just ask the teams in the AFC North how good this division is. 
There's plenty of time and opportunity to put together a run. The offense will need to take a serious leap forward in performance. And the defense can ill afford any more health issues and, as it is, will need some career type performances to help the Texans stay in the race.

No one will sing the blues for the Texans. The Rams are next and they look like big trouble. After that, who knows, because the Colts game was one that you thought might go their way, going in, no matter what.

But that's why they play the games. 

The Texans were hoping they could make lemonade out of the sour taste of losing Deshaun Watson for the year, but they didn't as their all-time nemesis stung them and put their season on the brink of collapse.

Thrust back into the starter's role, Tom Savage had difficulty getting anything generated until the fourth quarter. He finally found some rhythm with his pass catchers on the final drives. The margin of error had disappeared though, and the Texans were unable to find the end zone with four plays inside the ten at the end of the game.

Indianapolis hardly lit up the scoreboard, but they set the tone with an 82 yard TD drive on their first possession and never trailed. With the offense struggling, the defense picked us some of the slack with an Eddie Pleasant sack fumble and Lamarr Houston scoop and score for his first career touchdown.

The Colts led 10-7 at the break and tacked on another touchdown and field goal in the second half for a two TD lead, until the Texans attack finally got going.

Savage was making his fourth career start and played in only the second game that he started and finished. He got better as the game went along and will have to use the late surge as a springboard to improve.

Now on to the big picture. This team has lost two in a row and is now two games back in the division. Plus, with this loss, you have two division defeats at home. It wasn't supposed to be like this, but injuries and other issues have put the season in serious condition.

Bill O'Brien has coached this team through some stormy seas before, but this time, the AFC South is much stronger. Just ask the teams in the AFC North how good this division is. 

There's plenty of time and opportunity to put together a run. The offense will need to take a serious leap forward in performance. The defense can't afford any more health issues and, as it is, will need some career type performances to help the Texans stay in the race.

No one will sing the blues for the Texans. The Rams are next and they look like big trouble. After that, who knows, because the Colts game was one that you thought might go their way going in no matter what.

But that's why they play the games. 

Take a look at the best photos as the Texans took on the Colts at NRG Stadium.


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