This one hurts.
And I remember them all. Vince Young in OT, Rosencopter, Hail Mary in Jacksonville, Meltdown at the Meadowlands. This one is right up there. You might not get over it until the next win. But the players and coaches have to file it away fast and figure out how to beat San Francisco.
Things were going swell at the break with a 20-3 lead and a truckload of momentum after a Seattle 3-and-out to begin the third. Then, while the Seahawks became more opportunistic, the Texans lost Brian Cushing and their mojo. Eventually, Russell Wilson started letting his legs carry the day as dazzling runs contributed to a 98 yard drive that pulled his team within a touchdown 20-13 in the fourth quarter.
And it appeared the Texans would stiff-arm the rally when Johnathan Joseph intercepted Wilson on the next possession. The offense got some yardage on the ground and set itself up at the 'Hawks 40. Then Gary Kubiak would call a bootleg that he would later question. Schaub was pressured and threw a bad pass that Richard Sherman took to the house to tie the game.
The Texans had the ball at midfield late but took a sack and never got rolling in overtime. Seattle goes to 4-0 for the first time ever.
Houston lost the turnover battle 3-2 and is now minus-four on the season. You need not look further than this category for an explanation as to why your team is .500 for the first time in two years.
Matt Schaub has now thrown six interceptions in four games. Sure, two are off deflections but three have been returned for TDs. Schaub has historically been a good protector of the football but this year he's been inconsistent.
We've seen terrific pass plays out of empty back sets, fades for TDs and more third and long conversions than anyone in the league after the first two weeks. But we've also seen three of the most damaging plays of his career. For a long time Sunday, it looked like he would at least temporarily quiet his critics. But with the game on the line, things went awry.
Yes, there was pressure by the Seahawks. But Schaub will be the first player to tell you that he has to somehow bring the plane in for a landing when his team has a 17 point second half lead.
While it's a huge blow, it's not the end. The Texans showed they're capable of beating anyone. They also showed that they have flaws that must be fixed fast or they could dig a hole that'll be too deep to escape.
