Osweiler far from perfect, but Texans hang on vs. Jaguars
While Brock Osweiler had one of his worst statistical performances of the season against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday, he finally accomplished a goal he has had going into every game this season: not turning the ball over.
Though the Houston Texans are 6-3, after nearly every game, Osweiler has mentioned that he needed to improve in that area. After the Texans' victory over the Tennessee Titans in early October, Osweiler addressed the media, acknowledging that the game could have easily gone the other way. Despite the win over the division-rival Titans and a two-touchdown game, Osweiler lamented the two interceptions he threw.
He threw for just 99 yards against the Jaguars on Sunday, but did have two touchdowns and no interceptions.
Brock Osweiler threw for 99 yards ... and won. Ridiculous.
— Michael Fabiano (@Michael_Fabiano) November 13, 2016
Though it took a few weeks, Osweiler and the Texans finished a game without turning over the ball.
On Sunday, Osweiler was 14-of-27 for 99 yards and two touchdowns. It was his lowest passing yards total this season, and he averaged just 3.67 yards per attempt. But he did score touchdowns on both red zone opportunities, and most importantly, he didn't give the ball away for the first time this season. Through nine games in his first year with the Texans, Osweiler has nine interceptions and one lost fumble.
The Texans entered Sunday's game tied at 29th in the NFL with a minus-7 turnover differential. Houston was able to move up that list while forcing two turnovers (a first-half pick-six and fumble recovery) and committing zero. The pick-six was a 42-yard interception return by cornerback Kareem Jackson, who jumped in front of Jaguars receiver Allen Hurns and picked off quarterback Blake Bortles. It was the Texans' first defensive touchdown of the season.
The Texans are 6-3, but they have had to have huge defensive efforts in their wins, most of which have been close, especially to overcome some of the turnovers.
Osweiler and the Texans offensive were able to lean on their defense on Sunday, and that was the difference in the 24-21 victory in Jacksonville to go 6-3 on the season and 3-0 in the AFC South.
Cleveland can't contain the Ravens or Terrell Suggs on Thursday Night
Few pass-rushers are able to beat nine-time Pro Bowl left tackle Joe Thomas. The past two or three seasons Terrell Suggs would not have been considered one of those left tackles. That's why it was so impressive how Terrell Suggs did it -- with one healthy arm on Thursday night.
Terrell Suggs just dominating tonight,#CLEvsBAL #TNF pic.twitter.com/KNifH4Slpe
— NFL (@NFL) November 11, 2016Suggs, who is limited with torn left biceps, finished off the Cleveland Browns in Thursday's 28-7 win by getting around Thomas to cause an interception and force a fumble in the second half.
Suggs suffered his injury Oct. 16 against the Giants and only missed one game. In what is a pain-tolerance issue, Suggs returned for last Sunday's game against the Steelers and played four days later against the Browns.
He had been trying to play with a brace, but he switched to a sleeve against Cleveland. It certainly worked for Suggs, who is the Ravens' sacks leader this season with six.
Asked what was working for him Thursday, Suggs responded, "Adrenaline," to the NFL Network.
Suggs has 112.5 career sacks, which ranks fifth among active players, and 30 forced fumbles. Both rank as the most in franchise history.
Closing out teams has been a problem for the Ravens. Baltimore failed to hold 10-0 leads to the Giants and Jets, and the Ravens watched the Steelers get within one score after jumping out to a 21-0 advantage.
Suggs almost single-handedly put away the Browns in the second half. In the third quarter, Suggs got around the edge on Thomas and used his injured left arm to hit Josh McCown's arm. The ball floated right to cornerback Jerraud Powers for the interception.
A quarter later, Suggs crashed the right side, leading McCown to step to his right and into Timmy Jernigan for a sack. Suggs later moved past Thomas and stripped McCown of the ball with his right hand while Thomas grabbed his left arm.
Rookies
|
Name/Position/Number
|
Team
|
Selected
|
Standing
|
This Week's Stats
|
|
Christian Westerman, OG - No. 63
|
|
5th round, 24th pick
|
Second-team right guard
|
N/A
|
|
D.J. Foster, RB - No. 27
|
|
undrafted
|
Thiblard-team running back
|
N/A
|
Other Alumni on Active Rosters
|
Name/Position/Number
|
Team
|
Years at ASU
|
Standing
|
This Week's Stats
|
|
Lawrence Guy, DT - No. 93
|
|
2008-10
|
Starting defensive end
|
1 tackle
|
|
Terrell Suggs, LB - No. 55
|
Baltimore Ravens
|
2000-02
|
Starting outside linebacker
|
1 tackles, 1 sack, 1 ff
|
|
Will Sutton, DT - No. 93
|
|
2009-13
|
Second-team nose tackle
|
N/A
|
|
Vontaze Burfict, LB - No. 55
|
Cincinnati Bengals
|
2009-11
|
Suspended
|
9 Tackles, 1ff
|
|
Marcus Hardison, DL - No. 91
|
Cincinnati Bengals
|
2013-14
|
Placed on injured-reserve (Sep. 3)
|
N/A
|
|
Damarious Randall, CB - No. 23
|
Green Bay Packers
|
2013-14
|
Starting left cornerback
|
N/A
|
|
Brock Osweiler, QB - No. 17
|
Houston Texans
|
2009-11
|
Starting quarterback
|
14/27, 99 yd, 2 TD
|
|
Jaelen Strong, WR - No. 11
|
Houston Texans
|
2013-14
|
Second-team left wide receiver
|
N/A
|
|
Shawn Lauvao, LG - No. 77
|
Washington
|
2005-09
|
Starting left guard
|
N/A
|
|
Rashad Ross, WR - No. 19
|
Washington
|
2011-12
|
Second-team left wide receiver; starting KO RET
|
N/A
|
Notes
Chicago Bears defensive lineman Will Sutton left Sundays game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with boot on his left ankle, the Chicago Tribune reports.
Sutton left to the locker room in the middle of the third quarter after landing awkwardly on his ankle and left the locker after the game in a walking boot.
If Sutton ends up having to miss any game action, expect starting nose tackle Eddie Goldman to see an even more expanded role along the Bears defensive line.