Schedule Preview – Texans

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July 27, 2022

By Noonefromtampa

The Houston Texans are the Commanders’ week 11 matchup. This is the first rematch between the two teams since the game where Alex Smith suffered his dramatic leg injury. On a negative note, rookie wide receiver John Metchie announced that he has diagnosed with Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia (APL) and will likely miss the 2022 season.

Game Details

Opponent: Houston Texans

When: Sunday, November 20, 1:00 P.M.

Where: away game, NRG Stadium

TV Network: Fox

2021 Texans

Record: 4-13

Offense: 32nd [passing 28th, rushing 32nd]

Defense: 31st [passing 23rd, rushing 31st]

Points Scored: 30th

Points Allowed: 27th

Head-to-Head: 3-2 regular season, from 2002 to 2018, have won last three straight games

Texans Coaching

Lovie Smith, along with Tony Dungy, is credited with the invention of the Tampa 2 defense. Smith replaced David Culley, who went 4-13 last year when Smith was the defensive coordinator for that team. Smith was previously the head coach of the Bears from 2004 to 2012 and Buccaneers from 2014 to 2015. He was also NFL Coach of the Year in 2005. Smith’s coaching record is 89-87 in the regular season and 3-3 in the playoffs. He is 1-5 lifetime against Washington.

Pep Hamilton is the offensive coordinator.  He has been coaching on the offensive side in either college or the NFL since 1997. He was on the Texans staff last year as the quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator. Smith promoted him offensive coordinator.

The Texans do not list any coach as the defensive coordinator, so Smith will most likely function in that role in addition to his duties as head coach.

Texans Schemes

Since there is a lot of continuity in coaches from last year to this year, even with the head coaching change, I do not expect a large revision in the schemes the team runs. The Texans run a 4-3 defense and a spread offense.

Roster Changes

Key Losses: QB Deshaun Watson (trade-CLE), S Justin Reid (KC), LB Jacob Martin (NYJ), QB Tyrod Taylor (NYG), S A.J. Moore (TEN), CB Terrance Mitchell (NE), T Geron Christian (KC), DE DeMarcus Walker (TEN), RB David Johnson (UFA), WR Danny Amendola (UFA)

Key Additions: CB Steve Nelson (PHI), G A.J. Cann (JAC), DE Mario Addison (BUF), LB Jalen Reeves-Maybin (DET), FB Andy Janovich (CLE), DE Rasheem Green (SEA), LB Ogbonnia Okoronkwo (LAR), RB Dare Ogunbowale (JAC), CB M.J. Stewart (CLE), CB Fabian Moreau (ATL), RB Marlon Mack (IND), QB Kyle Allen (WAS)

Draft Picks: CB Derek Stingley (1-3), OL Kenyon Green (1-15), S Jalen Pitre (2-37), WR John Metchie (2-44), LB Christian Harris (3-75), RB Dameon Pierce (4-107), DE Thomas Booker (5-150), TE Teagan Quitoriano (5-170), T Austin Deculus (6-205)

Key Players Returning: QB Davis Mills, T Tytus Howard, WR Brandin Cooks, T Charlie Heck, G Max Scharping, T Laremy Tunsil, WR Chris Conley, TE Pharaoh Brown, RB Rex Burkehead, C Justin Britt, CB Desmond King, LB Kamu Grugier-Hill, S Eric Murray, DT Maliek Collins, DT Roy Lopez

Conclusions

The Texans have committed to Davis Mills as their starting quarterback for the short term, and he improved as the season progressed since being drafted from Stanford last year. He set team records for most passing yards and highest completion percentage for a rookie. The Texans didn’t really have the talent on either side of the ball to compete last year and it will take more than one draft to fix this team. The team did use trades to accumulate draft picks and drafted four players in the first two rounds.

Noone’s Prediction

Since the Commanders are playing the Texans later in the season, the Texans will probably not be in a position where they are driving to get into the playoffs. I have Washington winning this game 28-17.