Every Wild Card playoff game was very competitive and down to the wire, except for one game. The Kansas City Chiefs showed everyone that they were for real and the Houston Texans showed that they didn’t belong.
The wildcard game against the Chiefs also showed just how much the Texans defense relies on defensive end J.J. Watt. When Watt left the game with a groin injury, the hopelessness for the Texans could be felt around the stadium.
Soon after J.J. Watt left the game, the Kansas City Chiefs took full advantage by completing a touchdown pass that put them up by 20. Things didn’t get any better for the Texans as the game went on and they ended up losing the game by 30 points. It wasn’t as if the Chiefs had an outburst of points in a particular quarter either. The Chiefs were able to score at least 6 points in all four quarters which shows a complete collapse in the defense for the entirety of the game.
There may not be another team in the NFL that relies on a single player as much as the Houston Texans rely on Watt. The Texans’ defense showed their true colors when their leader on defense had to leave the game. Unfortunately, their true colors revealed some serious issues on defense when they don’t have their defensive MVP.
Maybe the most important takeaway from this game, however, is just how far away from being a top team in the NFL the Texans actually are. This game ultimately solidified the fact that the Texans need to invest in a quarterback as well as pick up some defensive weapons to help out Watt. The fact that they truly are so far away from having a legitimate chance at a Super Bowl ring may not have as been so clear until after their wild card loss.
The Houston Texans will need to take some time to seriously address the weaknesses they have on the field. The journey for another chance at becoming the National Football League champions next season starts today.
Watt left the game after a groin injury and did not return. The injury is worse than anticipated. It happened after he took an awkward step while rushing the passer and after he had already been battling a groin injury throughout the game.
Doctors with Houston Methodist Hospital said these injuries often involve muscle tears after someone does a powerful, explosive movement with their leg, just like we saw with No. 99.
During locker room cleanout, Watt said it’s an ongoing injury he’s hoping surgery will fix once and for all.
“I know for a fact we gotta fix something, that’s for sure,” Watt said. “It’s something we’ve been dealing with for probably six or seven weeks now, and our training staff’s done a great job of just getting me out there on the field so I can play. Sunday was kind of the breaking point.”
The Houston Texans took linebacker Jadeveon Clowney with the first pick in the 2014 draft.
He was supposed to be paired with All-Pro JJ Watt and terrorize offensive lines across the league. But injuries set in. Clowney has missed 15 games throughout his first two seasons and tallied just 4.5 sacks and one forced fumble. Not the type of numbers the Texans imagined him when making him the number one pick.
Still, Clowney expects to be back in a big way next season. And he had a message for the rest of the league. “I’m going to come back and dominate the league. I know what I can do.”
Jadeveon Clowney says he was simply frustrated about his foot injury and not angry with the Houston Texans when he was seen visibly upset after being declared inactive for the team’s playoff game against the Kansas City Chiefs.
The outside linebacker, who has a mid-foot sprain on his left foot, did not speak to reporters Saturday after reports surfaced that he stormed out of the stadium upon learning he was not playing.
The top overall pick in the 2014 draft said Sunday that he did not leave the stadium.
“I was frustrated I didn’t get to play,” he said. “I think anybody would have been and I watched the game here. Stayed here and watched the game.”
“I’m just going to work on my craft a lot,” Clowney said. “Work on things I need to work on and I think next year is going to be a big, big season for me because I know I can dominate this league. I was very happy just to go through a whole season with no problems with my knee … after hearing about the injury I think it was a very big plus for me and this offseason I just need to work.”
O’Brien believes Clowney will benefit from a solid offseason.
“The best thing that he can do is get the foot ready to go where he can move, which hopefully that will be soon, and go and have a great offseason,” O’Brien said. “Come back here in great shape, come back here strong, ready to go, knowledge of the system.”