The Houston Texans get slept on more than anything Mattress Mack has sold.
The reasons are understandable. The Texans have one proprietary Pro Bowler on the roster in left tackle Laremy Tunsil — two if long snapper Jon Weeks is included.
Houston has also posted four wins in the past two seasons. They are on their third full-time coach in as many seasons. Lovie Smith also hasn’t had a winning season since 2012, which incidentally didn’t save his job with the Chicago Bears.
Davis Mills wasn’t among the highly touted quarterbacks coming out of the 2021 NFL draft. Houston was last in the league in rushing in both yards per carry (3.4) and rushing yards (83.6). Big upgrades weren’t made in free agency and the Texans’ best draft picks in 2022 more than likely won’t shine as young stars for a couple seasons.
Even though the reasons may be fair from an outsider’s perspective, they don’t match up with what Mills has seen inside NRG Stadium through the offseason and training camp.
“I don’t think the media nationally has given the Houston Texans a lot of attention,” Mills said after Houston’s 24-20 win over the Los Angeles Rams Aug. 19 at SoFi Stadium. “I think we know better than anyone else. In the building our guys have full confidence in what we’re capable of and we’re excited to get rolling with the season.”
Mills and fellow 2021 third-rounder Nico Collins flashed some of the potential the offense has. With seven seconds to go in the first half, Mills threw a jump ball for the 6-4 receiver, and Collins came down with both feet and clear possession of the football to give Houston a 7-6 halftime lead. The scoring play capped off a six-play, 70-yard drive that took 39 seconds.
If Houston is able to bring from the practice field to game days what they have seen manifest, it would shock spectators about the fortunes of the Texans, not just for 2022, but going forward.
