The visitors owned the lead for the first three quarters of the game. As Cutler pointed out after facing one of the fiercest defensive lines in the NFL, “You don’t see defenses like this week in and week out”. Just going to get home [pass-rushing] with four or five. “If they put a play count on me I’ll fight it as hard as I can”. How it is going to go on Sunday, I mean we’re confident and I’m sure they are confident as well. “Whether he’s catching the ball or someone else, he just wants to get the W”. Jay Cutler completed 10-of-13 passes for 156 yards and a touchdown for a passer rating of 141.8.
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Cutler’s receivers stopped catching key passes and running correct routes in crucial situations. Still, he has Alshon Jeffery to throw to and a new weapon in Kevin White, who was their 2015 first-round pick that was injured all last season.
Bill O’Brien knows exactly what he has in this talented prospect – the head coach’s seventh different starter behind center dating back to his arrival in Houston in 2014. Langford managed no run longer than 15 yards and did contribute two pass receptions, with a 19-yard screen pass wiped out by an interference call against tight end Zach Miller.
It’s deja vu again for the Bears’ offensive line. Both teams are trying to work in a lot of new pieces and dealing with a litany of injuries to key players on both sides of the ball, which adds to the element of surprise.
With the Chicago Bears hoping against hope for a miraculous rally that might save them from a come-from-ahead loss, Houston Texans All-Pro defensive end J.J. Watt arrived, forcing quarterback Jay Cutler into two late incompletions with the pass rushing skill that has made Watt one of the most feared players in the NFL. He finished the half 12-for-17 for 83 yards with that TD and pick.
The Bears were outscored 13-0 in the second half, with the offense earning just four total first downs in the final two quarters.
That would be all the Texans needed, as they held on for the victory.
“You don’t do too well on challenges of spots, ” Fox said. Yet Chicago’s biggest takeaway from Week 1 will revolve around the Texans reinforcing what the Bears aren’t more than the league learning what they are.
With that said, the three-time Defensive Player of the Year recipient admitted on Wednesday that he did have his doubts whether he’d suit up for the Texans’ season opener versus the Chicago Bears (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET). Half of Fox’s season openers have been determined by 8 points or less. “And from that point forward, as soon as you get that little bit of light, it’s full steam ahead, and that’s what’s awesome”.
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“We need him”, Cutler said about White, who continues to show inexperience with his assignments.
