The Houston Texans’ loss to the juggernaut Miami Dolphins was far more palatable at the final whistle than it appeared it might be at halftime. Fans knew that Houston was in for a beating heading into the matchup, but after being down 30 after two quarters, it seemed like a sick consolation prize for them to earn their defeat with just a 15-point deficit at the final whistle.
Tight end Jordan Akins was a key part of the Texans’ pseudo-comeback against the Dolphins and told reporters after the game that Houston’s conditioning seemed to play a factor in their second-half offensive surge.
“I feel like the tempo kind of wore them down,” Akins explained. “As I was out there on the field observing the defense, they were totally gassed. We run all day, every day. So I think we move better when we’re in rhythm and moving with a tempo as an offense.”
In a season where the Texans have disappointed in nearly every possible way, it is somewhat refreshing to hear that the team is staying physically fit if nothing else. There remains plenty of work to be done beyond cardio, though, if Houston intends to win their second game of the season.
One approach they could try, if Akins’ evaluation is to be believed, would be to run a high-tempo offense in all four quarters moving forward. If it worked against a team as sharp as Miami, it wouldn’t be a stretch to think that the strategy might bear fruit against the 4-7 Cleveland Browns in Week 13.
The Texans desperately need a win to make their abysmal 2022 campaign more tolerable for their increasingly frustrated fanbase. Their best chance to gain credibility will come against their former quarterback and the Browns this weekend in what should be considered must-watch television on Sunday’s schedule.
