28-16 loss to Indianapolis Colts exposes Houston Texans just before playoffs – NFL Recap
The Houston Texans have faltered straight second time to end the regular season with a 28-16 loss to the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday (Dec. 30), and the result does not bode well with their preparations for the playoffs.
It is an embarrassing loss for the team, which until third quarter of the season was undefeated. The Colts’ game defeat ends the Texans’ season run at 12-4, which comparatively is a good record but not in line with the team’s potential and talent they displayed
at the start of the season.
Coach Gary Kubiak, who had warned the team to overcome their mistakes, especially those they had been committing regularly at third down, is frustrated with the loss.
He said:
"We had a great opportunity the last two weeks, but we won't feel sorry for ourselves. We'll focus on keeping our confidence up, even if we have to play next week."
The loss snatched the home-field advantage and a bye-week opportunity from the Texans. The equation of the playoffs now will certainly create some difficulties for the Texans, and if they continue to perform the way they did versus the Colts, there prospects
do not seem bright.
For the first time in their franchise history, the Texans played a game in the second round in 2011. They won first game and then went on to lose the second, ending their chances for further progression into the season. They have again made the playoffs
this year by showing some excellent game skills on the field, although their last quarter’s performance depicted them to be a side struggling at all ends.
It nevertheless helped them end the season on a high note and as the coach has pinpointed the Texans have to work on their mistakes before heading into the next game. Kubiak, although not happy with the loss to the Colts, hopes they shall be able to put
their act together again.
The game was the most important one for the Colts in many ways. It was first game for coach Chuck Pagano since he returned on the sideline after recovering from Leukaemia. He was out for nearly two months but was able to recover timely to supervise last
game of the season, accepting back coaching reign from interim coach Bruce Arians.
It is an impressive comeback by the Colts after what they had achieved a season earlier. They managed only two wins in the entire 2011 season and in view of their past year’s miseries analysts had predicted them winning about three games as maximum this
season.
They have defied all odds and ended the season at 11-5, and all the credit goes to their rookie QB Andrew Luck who has set many records during the regular season.
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