One week after making people stand up and take notice of them, the Houston Texans showed a lot of fight to suggest just maybe they could be on the verge of something. They appear to have sorted out a number of problems on their O-line and as a result now have an offensive to match anyone's. But significant problems still remain on the defense, where neither the linebackers nor the secondary appear capable of covering anything.
For Washington, defeat is hard to take after spurning numerous opportunities to put the game away with a three-score lead, but there are plenty of positives. Not least an offense that was better than anyone could have expected.
TEXANS
The Texans needed their offense to get them back into it and boy, did they. The star performers were the pass-catchers, with Andre Johnson being Andre Johnson (+2.9 receiving rating) and Kevin Walter having a huge day (+2.9). Johnson shook off a knock to make the game-tying, fourth-down touchdown and caught an astonishing 12 of the 14 balls thrown his way. Walter, “the steady guy,” averaged 0.1 yard per catch less than Johnson and caught every single pass thrown his way. Poor Jacoby Jones, who this writer tipped for a break out year, was pedestrian in comparison catching 66.66 percent of balls thrown his way for 53 yards. No controversy here right now.
We praised them last week and we're going to have to give some major league kudos to the Texans' offensive line. It's a shame that Duane Brown has a four-game suspension coming up, because giving up a sack and two pressures on 59 dropbacks is more than respectable and shows he's finally coming into his own as a left tackle. Still, the star performers were once again much-maligned center Chris Myers (+4.2) and the ever-excellent Eric Winston. With more displays like this (+3.9), we may start to hear Winston's name in amongst the best right tackles in the league.
The concern for the Texans is just how much yardage they are allowing, and in particular how vulnerable they seem to the pass. Zach Diles had a tough day, giving up eight receptions on nine throws as Donovan McNabb went to work on him. But the secondary had just as many problems and granted the Redskins numerous big plays. If only Mario Williams (+3.2) is going to bring consistent pass rush, you can expect more big plays on this young set of cornerbacks. Houston really needs the defensive tackles to generate some pressure — they can't afford days like this, in which not one defensive tackle generated a piece of pressure.
REDSKINS
Last year Santana Moss looked like his best days were behind him. Last Sunday he looked like he was having his best day. The Redskins used Moss (+4.0) early and often, throwing 12 balls his way for 89 yards (with 66 coming after the catch). Moss looked utterly elusive in forcing three missed tackles.
We figured the signing of Ma‘ake Kemoeatu would be a big plus for Washington. Before his injury he was a dominant run-stuffer in Carolina and looked a perfect fit in their new 3-4. In Week 2 he was pretty much made the personal property of Chris Myers, producing a surprising -3.1 run-defense rating. Has he fully recovered from injury? Will he? Questions, questions and more questions, because more displays like this will make the Albert Haynesworth situation all the more pressing.
He picked up an interception, but it was a really rough day for Carlos Rogers. He allowed nine receptions on nine balls thrown his way (the interception was his sole good play of the day, as he broke on a ball targeting London Fletcher-Baker). Simply put, allowing 114 yards isn't good enough if you're going to be a starting cornerback.
ROOKIE REPORT
It was a rough day for Kareem Jackson. He gave up seven of the eight balls thrown his way for 100 yards, including a 62-yard completion by Joey Galloway. … Earl Mitchell is the primary backup at defensive tackle and saw significant action but looked a little lightweight in the run game (-1.1).
Before going down with an injury, Trent Williams held his own in pass protection. He gave up a sack and a pressure in 33 dropbacks. Promising, considering the talent he faced. … Keiland Williams looked useful as a third-down option, and it's understandable that he would replace Larry Johnson given how out of place Johnson looked in his four snaps to Williams' 14.
RANDOM NOTE
An incredible six Texans defenders gave up a play in coverage of 20 yards or more. … The teams combined to give up 19 total quarterback pressures on 101 quarterback dropbacks.
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