I mean, we didn’t even know who was going to play opposite Tracy Porter, let alone how the anyone was going to perform against a receiver corps that features DeAndre Hopkins, Will Fuller, and Braxton Miller.
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The Texans have one of the most ferocious pass rushes that the Bears will face this season, and even with J.J. Watt just coming off of a back injury, Houston was still able to hit Jay Cutler easily all day long.
The Houston Texans completely overhauled their offense in the offseason, signing quarterback Brock Osweiler, running back Lamar Miller, and guard Jeff Allen, while drafting wide receiver Will Fuller. DeAndre Hopkins, one of the best receivers in the National Football League, but to whom the Texans refused to give a contract extension to this summer, citing budget concerns and team policy, missed at least two chances to make big plays to add to his touchdown and five catches for 54 yards. They were on the board, but still trailing the Bears 7-3.
The Green Bay defense limited the Jacksonville offense to just 48 total yards rushing on the afternoon. Mixing in runs and short passes, the Texans scored on an Osweiler to Hopkins TD pass of 23 yards. Nine plays later, the Texans led 20-14.
“I think he’s everything that we thought he would be”, Texans owner Bob McNair said.
Cutler found the veteran receiver in the front of the end zone with 13 seconds left in the first half to give the Bears the lead again. With a promising start, the Bears blew the lead and put up a big zero in the second half. After halftime, when the Bears could have extended their lead Cutler and White’s rocky relationship took center stage. The team simply wore down in the second half. Cutler’s pass was intercepted by Texan Andre Hal. The rest of the third quarter was a series of back-and-forth possessions with neither team finding a rhythm or the scoreboard, but Houston turned things on in the final quarter.
The fourth quarter started with them finishing the drive they started in the third quarter. In the second half, the Texans’ defense took charge. He has to be more of a speed weapon for the Bears than he showed on Sunday, because if he isn’t, then teams will be able to dedicate safeties to helping cover Jeffery over the top, and that will severely limit what the Bears are able to do through the air.
This, however, would be the last points that the Bears would score for the remainder of the day. Which is more important: beating the Texans in Week 1 or getting your raw first round draft pick the most experience possible? The new additions performed admirably, and numerous old guard stepped up like they always have. Royal was expected to rekindle the spark he had with quarterback Jay Cutler during their time together with the Broncos, but injuries forced the former Virginia Tech standout to miss seven games. I’m not sure how long he’ll be out. Look, it’s the NFL. The offense stalled after a promising start and a defense that got a makeover failed to make enough plays.
Earlier in the week, I suggested that the Texans would be one of the highest scoring defenses of week 1. All in all, I think the ability is there. He did a good a good of sticking with the run. It didn’t really surprise me. Chicago (0-1) was also 0-of-2 on fourth down conversions.
“We need him. He’s going to be fine”.
The defensive unit suffered a major loss when Linebacker Brian Cushing went down early in the game with a knee injury.
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Teams in this era opt to re-sign their “franchise” level players – never letting them hit the market – and patch holes through free agency.
