4 reasons the Texans weren’t as bad as you think in 2020
The Houston Texans finished third in the four-team AFC South, which was a prediction some in the national media had for the defending division champions. The 4-12 record was horrendous and abominable.
Even though the Texans were largely disappointing in 2020, there were some bright spots on the team. Here are four reasons why the 19th season in Texans history wasn’t as bad as it seemed.
1. CB Bradley Roby
(AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
The former Denver Broncos 2014 first-round pick still provides the Texans with a quality starter on the outside. Roby played in 10 games for Houston in 2020, the same as he did in 2019, his first year with the club. His yards per completion dropped from 12.0 to 7.7, his yards per target went from 7.3 to 4.9, and he had just three missed tackles compared to 12. Roby will miss at least one game in 2021, but if he can play the other 15, Houston will have some stability on the back end.
2. ILB Zach Cunningham
(AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
The former 2017 second-round pick from Vanderbilt provided 164 combined tackles, seven tackles for loss, 3.0 sacks, two pass breakups, and a forced fumble in all 16 of his starts. The 6-3, 238-pound linebacker did have 17 missed tackles compared to 11 from a year ago. Nonetheless, Cunningham gives the Texans an enforcer at inside linebacker that should be a key contributor in Houston's new defense.
3. Texans receivers
(AP Photo/AJ Mast)
The Texans' passing game, which was already the driving force of the offense, if not the team itself, seemed crippled when receiver Will Fuller was suspended the last five games of the season. However, third-year wideout Keke Coutee stepped up with 27 catches for 362 yards and two touchdowns in the last five games. Unheard-of Chad Hansen caught 17 passes for 236 yards and a touchdown. Even though they had the benefit of Deshaun Watson throwing them the football, Houston's bottom-roster receivers stepped up to the occasion.
4. QB Deshaun Watson
(AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Even though the team was crumbling around him with a fired coach and general manager, 1-6 start, not having a running game at all for most of the season, and losing his No. 1 receiver with five games to go, Watson kept it together. They don't give out trophies or herald players for it, but the three-time Pro Bowler's ability to keep playing championship-caliber football amid all of the losing is remarkable and a testament to his own commitment to winning. If Houston can build around Watson, they should easily bounce back into playoff contention in 2021.
