Denver Broncos Dismantle Houston Texans 27-9 on Monday Night Football
Brock Osweiler and the Houston Texans went to Mile High Stadium for a good ole fashioned whooping courtesy Trevor Siemian and the Broncos. Osweiler is now 0-3 on the road and the Texans were limited to 3 field goals on the night. Execution was the key to winning this game and the Broncos were able to accomplish that task to improve to 5-2, leaving the Texans 4-3. The game started with both offenses going 3 and out on their first two drives before the Texans were able to get a field goal to put points on the board. The next drive for the Broncos ended in a punt and Osweiler again took the offense down field setting up another Nick Novak field goal to make it 6-0. The next Broncos series however, was the answer to the 6 points Houston had put up when Siemian drove 75 yards for a 7 yard C.J. Anderson rushing touchdown. That was the first Denver series that did not go 3 and out. Denver took the lead on the extra point and did not relinquish it the rest of the night. The second quarter was a lack luster performance for the Houston offense, running only 8 plays and going for 28 yards. Denver on the other hand seemed to find some rhythm once Trevor Siemian settled down, scoring on their first drive of the second quarter, giving them back-to-back drives resulting in a TD making it 14-6 and that’s where it stayed for the remainder of the half. Houston came up with 123 total yards in the first half while Denver had 198 yards. Osweiler did not look comfortable tonight and was not able to find the rhythm that Siemian found and that followed him through to the second half.
Denver started the second half going 3 and out and Osweiler took the Texans offense 72 yards putting them in position for another Novak field goal attempt. Initially, the Broncos had it blocked but ended up giving Novak a second try due to an offside penalty. Novak connected on his third and last field goal of the night from 29 yards out making the score 14-9. Following another 3 and out by Denver, the Texans were driving hard down the field, seeming like they were gaining momentum and having some success with the run game until Alfred Blue put the ball on the carpet giving it back to Denver on the Denver 28 yard-line. The Broncos responded with a great Emmanuel Sanders catch at the Houston 2 followed by a Devontae Booker 1 yard rushing TD. Late in the 3rd, Osweiler turned the ball over on a controversial fumble. His hand was moving forward in a passing motion but because it was empty before getting to the release point, the call of fumble stood and Denver got the ball back, ultimately turning it into 3 more points, making it 24-9. Houston tried once more to get into scoring distance but were denied by the Denver defense and turned the ball on downs. The Broncos drove one more time down the field, kicking a field goal making it 27-9 and out of reach of a potential comeback.
Takeaways: Osweiler performed as expected and was horrible. He finally finished a game without an interception however he was held to 131 passing yards and did not throw a TD pass all night. He played too conservatively, throwing short of the first down marker on several 3rd down plays and never really took a chance down field. The Broncos defense only gave up 6 plays that went for over 10 yards which is exceptional considering DeAndre Hopkins, Fuller, and Fiedorowicz are the Texans top receivers/TE. Alfred Blue and Lamar Miller finished the night with just over 60 yards on the ground and the Houston defense did not help the situation allowing 347 total yards to the Denver offense. The Texans were outplayed and outmatched against a hungry Broncos team that was coming off two straight losses. The Broncos defense shut down Osweiler for the majority of the game and had a heck of a game holding them to only 3 field goals. The TO margin was easily won by the Broncos defense with their two fumble recoveries, one a gift the other forced. The Houston defense is not horrible but they have to work twice as hard when the offense is not able to move the ball. The Texans are in real trouble if they can’t get Osweiler to take more risks and settle down. It seems like the game is moving too fast for him and until it slows down a bit, he will continue to be a mediocre QB that is not earning the money the Texans shelled out on him in hopes he would be the answer to their QB needs. That’s not to say the Trevor Siemian had a record-breaking night as he only threw for 157 yards with a TD pass but he is now 136 consecutive pass attempts without an interception. The big story on offense was C.J. Anderson and his 107-yard night, making it his first 100 yard game this season and Devontae Booker recording his first career rushing TD.
Split-Game ball: Broncos defense played lights out football holding the Texans to 9 points, only giving up 6 plays for 10+ yards, coming up with two fumble recoveries, and only allowing 271 total yards. Second game ball goes to C.J. Anderson for breaking the century mark for the first time this season with 107 yards on the night.
Next Games: Lions @ Texans on 10/30; Chargers @ Broncos on 10/30.
