Houston Texans 2021 Season Analysis

The 2021 NFL Season for the Houston Texans was plagued with more pain than glory. However, despite this, with one of the weakest rosters in the league, this team exceeded expectations in several areas on the field throughout the year. A first-time coach, a rookie quarterback and off-field scandals of their superstar defined the campaign of a Texans that, broadly speaking, are on the right track in their slow reconstruction.

The 2021 Texans Season

Houston fans knew this was going to be a different season. Last March, QB Deshaun Watson was immersed in an off-court scandal that is still in force today; More than 20 lawsuits for alleged sexual harassment were issued against him, in addition, the fifth-year quarterback had made it clear that he wanted to leave the organization at all costs. Thus, without their superstar, the Texans’ 2021 was expected to start off on the wrong foot.

Knowing that Watson would remain on the bench throughout the campaign, in Houston they decided to move several chips. QB Tyrod Taylor was brought in via free agency in March to bolster the position. Meanwhile, with a third-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, the team selected QB Davis Mills, a Stanford alum. In this way, without a clear headline, the David Culley era began, a first-year head coach who had arrived at the franchise in January 2021.

The press never showed mercy to the Texans, whom they did not tire of classifying as the weakest for the 2021 NFL Season, and many even predicted that they would become the first team in league history to finish a campaign. with a record of 0-17. However, in Week 1, led by Taylor, they beat the Jacksonville Jaguars 21-37 to ring the first bell of the year.

However, the surprise would be short-lived. A hamstring injury to Taylor forced Houston to throw out the inexperienced Mills, and the team was plunged into a gigantic slump where they lost eight games in a row, until in Week 11, against all odds, defeated the Tennessee Titans on the road for just their second win of 2021.

Subsequently, though, inconsistency on the field ended up costing Taylor his job. Culley decided to name Mills as the starting QB starting in Week 14, and the rookie overcame all sorts of criticism. He led Houston to two more wins, against the Chargers and Jaguars, in the last four games of the season and left a very pleasant taste in the organization’s mouth, earning at least one more season to show that he can become the franchise quarterback that so many it urges the Texans.

Thus, with the quarterback position momentarily defined, but still with a roster plagued with holes, Houston finished the 2021 NFL Season with a 4-13 record and in third place in the AFC South. The Texans can be happy: they won four more games than expected at the beginning of the season, apparently they already found a solution in the position that Watson had left open and, unlike last year, now they will have a first-round pick from ahead of the 2022 NFL Draft.

Houston’s 2021 Season MVP

Brandin Cooks – WR

Cooks is the piece this team can’t afford to lose if they want their rebuild to stay on track. The eighth-year wide receiver finished the 2021 NFL Season with a career-high 90 receptions for 1,037 total yards (22nd in the NFL) and 6 TDs. It is the sixth time in his career that he has broken the 1,000+ yard barrier. In addition, he surpassed by almost 600 total yards the closest WR in the category within the team (Nico Collins, 446 yds).

Despite this, Mills also deserves an honorable mention. He closed the year with 263 completions while shooting 66.8% for 2,664 total yards, 16 TDs and 10 INTs; More than solid stats for a third-round rookie, posting even better numbers than quarterbacks like Trevor Lawrence, Zach Wilson or Justin Fields, who were first-round picks in last April’s Draft.

The best moment of the 2021 Texans season

Without hesitation, this team’s best moment in 2021 came in Week 16, when the Texans’ offense exploded to a 29-41 defeat of the Los Angeles Chargers, marking the first time they topped 40+ points in a game since November. 2020 against the Lions.

That day Mills shone with 21 of 27 completions for 254 yards and 2 TDs. Also featured was RB Rex Burkhead, who finished with 22 carries for 149 yards and 2 touchdowns. Just five days ago the Texans made it official that they extended Burkhead’s contract for 1 more year and, probably, said new agreement was earned after this splendid performance.

The worst moment of the 2021 Houston Season

The Texans’ collective performance in Week 4 was one of the worst seen in the campaign. They were beaten and shut out by the Bills 0-40 on an afternoon where Mills threw 0 TDs and 4 INTs. That day they allowed Buffalo, not usually known for having a running game, to rush for a total of 199 yards.

Such was the humiliation that Josh Allen left the field prematurely and even QB2 Mitchell Trubisky recorded what was his only touchdown of the 2021 NFL Season.

What is expected of the Texans in the 2022 Season?

The Texans are still a couple of years away from returning to contention atop the AFC. However, for the 2022 NFL Season this team must come out of the basement positions. Enough of fighting not to be worse than the Jaguars or the Jets; The rebuilding of this team is well under way, and the No. 3 overall pick in next April’s Draft should help them become more competitive next year.

The foregoing, obviously, starting from the premise that David Culley will remain at the head of the organization and that, furthermore, with the opening of free agency next March, Watson will cease to be the center of attention of this franchise, which in In other words, it means that Houston could receive very interesting picks and players in an eventual trade to continue strengthening its workforce for the immediate future.

Read the rest of our 2021 Season NFL team reviews here: