Texans' season comes to merciful end with last-second loss to Titans

Photo courtesy of Eric Christian Smith

Well, it's finally over. After 17 weeks of a mind-numbing, atrocious, and downright painful season, the Houston Texans' year is finally, mercifully over.

And, in typical Houston Texans fashion, the hometown team lost by way of a last-second field goal after another herculean effort from star quarterback Deshaun Watson, closing the book on the season with a 41-38 loss to the Tennessee Titans, who clinched the division championship with the win.

The game went along the lines of every other Texans' game this year—Deshaun Watson, the sole bright spot on this team, attempting to drag a horrendous team to victory. Watson had yet another brilliant game on Sunday, throwing for 365 passing yards and three touchdowns on 28 completions. He was sensational in the final few minutes of the game, leading the Texans on a drive that would tie the game with 18 seconds left in the contest.

With his performance, Watson also secured his spot as the league leader in passing yards for the year, surpassing Patrick Mahomes for the top spot with 4,823 passing yards for the year. He did so without his top wideout Will Fuller V during the final portion of the season, an insane effort for one of the league's top quarterbacks.

Though, as they had also done throughout the year, the pitiful Texans' defense let down Watson yet again with another late-game implosion. Even before letting the lead go, the defense had been performing far below what would be expected of professional football players—the unit had let running back Derrick Henry bulldoze them for 250 yards and two touchdowns, marking the third straight game he had rushed for 200+ yards against the Texans. Henry's performance on the day also cemented him as the eighth running back in N.F.L. history to do so, and the latest to do so since fellow Titans' legend Chris Johnson.

Despite their lack of ability, Deshaun Watson still gave them a chance at redemption. After failing to stop the Titans while leading 38-35, the defense returned to the field with the score tied at 38 with 18 seconds left in regulation, essentially preparing for a potential duel in overtime.

However, Titans' receiver A.J. Brown burnt cornerback Keion Crossen on a go route, and an answered prayer of a throw from quarterback Ryan Tannehill set the Titans up in field goal range with ten seconds left. Titans' kicker Sam Sloman, kicking in place of Stephen Gostkowski, would eventually knock through the game-winning field goal on a kick that banged against the right upright and ricocheted through for the win.

It couldn't have been more of a picturesque ending for a Texans' season filled with misery and controversy. Despite firing head coach Bill O'Brien, the main culprit for the franchise's downfall this year, the culmination of bad decisions that led to the poor on-field product is likely to have long-standing effects for years to come.

The Texans, despite finishing with a 4-12 record, will not have the rights to their third overall pick in the draft this year, courtesy of the Laremy Tunsil trade that sent the pick to Miami, who nearly made the playoffs. Houston's first pick will be in the third round. David Johnson, the "big return" in the DeAndre Hopkins trade—who had a middling year at best—likely won't even be on the team next year. And perhaps worst of all, J.J. Watt, who essentially devoted his heart and soul to the team and the city of Houston during his time as a Texan, seems likely to depart after the front office failed to take him to the promised land.

And, even with all of that said, it is very possible that this season is only a harbinger of things to come for the franchise. After wasting Watt's prime, the Houston Texans may be well on their way to wasting Deshaun Watson's generational talent due to an abundance of incompetence and ego. Suffice it to say, there is not a lot of reason to hope for better days for the Houston Texans.

But, there's a saying about hitting rock bottom. The Texans will enter the offseason looking to hire a new head coach and general manager, hopefully booting current interim GM Jack Easterby and interim coach Romeo Crennel in the process. While the positions might not be the most attractive, hitting with those hires could jumpstart the franchise.

Despite how absolutely horrid the roster was all-around (obviously excluding Watson), some key returns could mitigate the blow by a bit. Brandin Cooks proved to be a worthwhile investment at wide receiver and doesn't seem intent on being traded. Will Fuller V will (hopefully) return, and for as bad as the defense was, they'll have a full year of experience under their belt and an entire offseason to learn from their mistakes and improve.

Besides, so long as Deshaun Watson is a Houston Texan, there is reason to think the Texans have a chance, even if it's slim to none. Watson will be a future MVP, and the only thing to determine will be whether he earns that award with a roster of sub-par backups or a roster of capable teammates.

So yes, the Texans have a 4-12 record, don't have a first or second round draft pick, and just all-around stink, to be frank. But this nightmarish, horrible, no-good season is finally over, and with a little bit of luck and smarts, it's a hope that the 2020-21 season will be a weird chapter in what hopes to be a bright Texans' future.

Hopefully.