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The Times, Gainesville, Georgia | gainesvilletimes.com
Thursday, December 27, 2018 3B
After 0-3 start, Texans
able to overcome odds
MATT ROURKE I The Associated Press
Houston Texans quarterback and Gainesville High graduate Deshaun Watson
reacts after running for a touchdown during the first half against the Philadelphia
Eagles on Dec. 28 in Philadelphia.
Gainesville grad
Deshaun Watson
key to nine-game
winning streak
Associated Press
The Houston Texans are the sixth
team since 1980 and the first in 20
years to make the postseason after a
0-3 start.
“When you start off 0-3 and you’re
sitting here at 10-5 with a chance to
win the division on Sunday you’ve
done a lot of good things over the
course of those games since we were
0-3,” defensive end J.J. Watt said.
“But we have to make sure that we do
what we need to do to make sure that
doesn’t all go to waste.”
They’ve lost two of their past three
games, capped by Sunday’s 32-30 loss
at Philadelphia, but earlier had won
nine straight games after their dismal
start to turn their season around and
reach the playoffs for the fifth time in
franchise history and first since 2016.
The Texans (10-5) opened with
losses to New England, Tennessee and
the New York Giants that left them 0-3
and were all close games decided by a
total of 15 points.
Houston’s rebound began with con
secutive three-point wins in overtime
against Indianapolis and Dallas before
seven-point victories over Buffalo and
Jacksonville.
The Texans scored their most points
of the season the following week in
a 42-23 trouncing of the Miami Dol
phins. Their next two wins both came
by two points after both Denver and
Washington missed long field goals in
the final seconds of those games.
The Texans extended their winning
streak to nine games with victories
over Tennessee and Cleveland before
their first loss since Sept. 23 came in a
24-21 defeat against the Colts on Dec.
9.
Houston led early against the New
York Jets before falling behind and
needing a fourth-quarter rally to get a
29-22 win on Dec. 15.
As the Texans prepare to wrap up
the regular season with a visit from
the Jaguars where they need a win
to clinch the AFC South title, here’s a
look at the other teams who reached
the playoffs after 0-3 starts.
1981 NEW YORK JETS: New
York’s winless start came thanks to
losses to Buffalo, Cincinnati and Pitts
burgh. The Jets’ first win of the season
came in a 33-17 defeat of the Oilers
before they played to a 28-28 overtime
tie with the Dolphins.
They won two in a row after that
before a loss to the Seahawks. A sea-
son-long five-game winning streak fol
lowed before the Seahawks downed
them once again. But they bounced
back with two wins to wrap up the
regular season and finish 10-5-1 and
second in the AFC East.
They hosted the Bills in the wild
card game and scored 14 points in the
fourth quarter to cut the deficit, but
came up just short in the 31-27 loss.
1982 TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS:
This team is different than the others
on this list because Tampa Bay’s turn
around from 0-3 to the playoffs came
in a season that was shortened to just
nine games because of a 57-day strike
by the players. Because of the strike
the league adopted different rules for
qualifying for the playoffs that weren’t
tied to division standings, leading to
two teams Cleveland (4-5) and Detroit
(4-5) making the postseason despite
losing records.
Tampa Bay won its next two after
starting 0-3 before a loss to the Jets.
The Buccaneers, who were led by
quarterback Doug Williams then won
their last three regular-season games,
capped by a 26-23 overtime victory
against the Bears to finish 5-4 and
reach the postseason.
But just as the Jets had a year
before, the Buccaneers fell in the
wild-card game when Williams threw
three interceptions, one of which was
returned for a touchdown, in a 30-17
loss to the Cowboys.
1992 SAN DIEGO CHARGERS: It
would be a decade until another team
opened the season 0-3 to make the
playoffs, and the San Diego Chargers
stand out on this list because they are
the only team to drop their first four
games and reach the postseason.
The Chargers fell in the huge hole
early after Stan Humphries threw
eight interceptions with just one TD
in the first four games. San Diego got
going after that, winning four in a row
to reach .500 before its second loss of
the season to Kansas City. The Char
gers rebounded the next week with
a win to start a seven-game streak to
end the season at 11-5 and give them
the AFC West title.
They became the first of these
teams to win a playoff game when
they beat Kansas City 17-0 in the wild
card after the Chiefs beat them twice
in the regular season.
Their season ended when
Humphries threw four interceptions
and Dan Marino had three touchdown
passes in a 31-0 win by the Dolphins in
the divisional round.
1995 DETROIT LIONS: The Lions
won two in a row after their 0-3 start
but then lost their next two to fall to
2-5. Another win followed by their
sixth loss came after that before they
finally got rolling, winning their last
seven regular-season games to finish
10-6 and second in the NFC Central.
Barry Sanders ran for 1,500 yards
and 11 touchdowns that season, with
10 of those scores coming in Detroit’s
wins.
Detroit met Philadelphia in the
wild-card and Sanders managed just
40 yards rushing as Rodney Peete
threw three touchdowns to lead the
Eagles to a 58-37 win.
1998 BUFFALO BILLS: Former
Texans defensive coordinator Wade
Phillips coached the 1998 Bills when
they turned their season around to
reach the playoffs after a 0-3 start.
The Bills opened the season with Rob
Johnson at quarterback, but Doug
Flutie took over during the fifth game
when Johnson was injured and helped
them to a 31-24 comeback win over
the Colts.
The next week Flutie made his first
NFL start since 1989 and led the Bills
to a 17-16 win over the Jaguars for
their first loss of the season.
Those two wins were part of a five-
game streak that came after the win
less start.
The Bills won four of six after that
streak and ended the regular season
with a loss to the Jets and a win over
the Saints to finish 10-6 and in third
place in the AFC East.
The Bills lost to Miami 24-17 in the
wild card when Flutie threw an inter
ception and they lost four fumbles.
Falcons RB will seek big contract
Atlanta Journal Constitution
Falcons running back Tevin Cole
man is set to become an unrestricted
free agent after the season.
The comparison for Coleman is
San Francisco running back
Jerick McKinnon, a former
Sprayberry High and Geor
gia Southern star, who landed
a four-year, $30 million deal
with the 49ers last offsea
son after four seasons with
Minnesota.
McKinnon, 5-foot-9 and 205
pounds, was selected in the
third round (96th overall) in
the 2014 NFL draft.
He played in 58 games and made 14
starts over his first four seasons.
Coleman, 6-1 and 210 pounds, was
drafted in the third round (73rd over
all) in the 2015 draft.
He’s played in 55 games and made
19 starts heading into the regular-sea-
son finale against Tampa Bay.
Coleman’s four-year num
bers are better than McKin
non’s four-year numbers,
except pass receptions.
McKinnon’s rushing totals
(2014-17): 474 rushes, 1,918
yards and seven touchdowns.
Coleman’s rushing totals
(2015-18): 520 carries, 2,295
yards and 17 touchdowns.
McKinnon’s receiving
totals: 142 catches, 984 yards and five
touchdowns.
Coleman’s receiving totals:
Falcons at Buccaneers
When: 1 p.m. Sunday
TV: Fox
91 catches, 1,001 yards and 11
touchdowns.
McKinnon overall: 616 touches,
2,902 yards and 12 touchdowns.
Coleman overall: 611 touches, 3,296
yards and 28 touchdowns.
The problem for the Falcons is that
they signed running back Devonta
Freeman to a six-year, $43 million
deal Aug. 9,2017.
They likely can’t fit two $40 million
plus running backs under the cap.
Coleman’s negotiations will start at
the four-year, $30 million that McKin
non received and based on his produc
tivity, his market value is higher.
Coleman
ED ZURGA I The Associated Press
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) reacts
after running back Darrel Williams scored a touchdown
during the first half against the Los Angeles Chargers on
Dec. 13 in Kansas City, Mo.
Blend of older
and younger
players steering
league franchises
Associated Press
For all the excitement
over the electrifying Patrick
Mahomes and Baker May-
field, two of the baby-faced,
new-age quarterbacks bring
ing their spread DNA from
college towns to NFL cities,
old standbys still stood out in
2018.
“I still see older guys that
are making an impact,” said
Broncos linebacker Von
Miller, one of those sea
soned stars who shined in
2018. “I mean, we’re old, but
we’re not OLD. The thing is,
the young guys are playing
at a higher level.”
So are plenty of the “old”
guys.
Miller’s 14y 2 sacks are
his most in six seasons and
pushed him past Simon
Fletcher’s franchise
marks for most reg
ular-season sacks
in a career (98) and
most career sacks
including playoffs
(104*4).
Of course, there
were the greybeard
quarterbacks ben
efiting from fewer
practices and less pummel-
ing, favorable rules and a
league bent on protecting
them like the golden geese
they are.
Drew Brees will be 40 on
Jan. 15, and if things go as
he hopes, he’ll be
preparing for the
Saints, who own the
league’s best record
at 13-2, to host the
NFC championship.
At 37, Philip
Rivers is having
his best season in
a decade and still
has a chance this
weekend to land the
Chargers ahead of Mahomes
and the Chiefs in the AFC
playoffs.
Ben Roethlisberger, 36,
could still steer the slump
ing Steelers into the play
offs, although they’ve been
surpassed by the Lamar
Jackson-led Ravens.
And Tom Brady, who was
getting college recruiting
letters when Mahomes and
Mayfield were born in 1995,
is starting to show signs he’s
41, but nevertheless has
the Patriots positioned for
a ninth consecutive first-
round bye.
It wasn’t just the better-
protected passers who
excelled in 2018. Several
seasoned position players
showed the kids a thing or
two, including vintage run
ning backs Adrian Peterson,
33, Frank Gore, 35, and Dar
ren Sproles, 35.
Colts kicker Adam Vinat-
ieri, who turns 46 this week,
surpassed Morten Ander
sen’s all-time mark for field
goals in September, and a
month later broke Ander
sen’s NFL career points
record.
Providing the perfect
target for Mahomes’ high
flying run-pass-option
repertoire is 29-year-old
Travis Kelce, who needs
54 receiving yards Sunday
against Oakland to break
Rob Gronkowski’s single
season record for tight ends
of 1,327.
Last week, Philadelphia’s
Zach Ertz, 28, sur
passed Jason Wit
ten’s single-season
receptions record
for tight ends and
now has 113 catches
for 1,148 yards.
Twin centers
Maurkice and Mike
Pouncey had stel
lar seasons at age
29. Mike, with the Chargers,
earned his fourth Pro Bowl,
and Maurkice, with the
Steelers, earned his seventh.
Miller was one of two
Broncos who will be 30 next
year who had spectacular
seasons even if their
team didn’t. Corner-
back Chris Harris Jr
. had one of his best
seasons following
Aqib Talib’s trade
before breaking his
right leg earlier this
month. He said he’ll
return to play in the
Pro Bowl alongside
Miller, the game’s
reigning MVP.
“For my 11 games, shoot,
I had stats that some people
barely have in a full season,”
Harris said. “I feel like this
is one of my best seasons.”
He can’t believe next sea
son will be his ninth, either.
“Oh man, I really feel
young, though. I’m not even
looking at it as the years or
anything like that. I’m just
looking at how my body
feels, and my body feels
great,” Harris said. “I’ve
invested a lot in it to make
sure I can play forever.”
Miller, also completing
his eighth NFL season, fig
ures he also has an eternity
left.
Miller
Brees
Carolina set to start
Allen at QB with
Heincke on the IR
Taylor Heinicke’s stint as the
Panthers starting quarterback was
a brief one.
Carolina placed Heinicke on
injured reserve Wednesday after
he sustained a left elbow injury in
his first career NFL start, a 24-10
loss to the Falcons on Sunday.
Coach Ron Rivera said undrafted
rookie Kyle Allen will start against
the Saints this weekend with Caro
lina already eliminated from play
off contention.
Carolina signed Garrett Gilbert,
who was with the team in training
camp, on Wednesday to be Allen’s
backup.
The Panthers don’t want to acti
vate Cam Newton for the season
finale. Newton, who is struggling
with a shoulder injury, sat out the
Falcons game.
Allen relieved Heinicke for a
few plays during the second quar
ter against the Falcons and com
pleted all four pass attempts before
Heinicke returned to the game.
“I thought he did a nice job,”
Rivera said of Allen’s brief stint at
QB. “His decision-making was good
and he threw some nice balls and
took pretty good control.”
Saints coach Sean Payton called
Allen a “smart” quarterback.
“He locates the ball well,” Pay-
ton said. “Quickly, we’re going to
have to watch as much tape on him
as possible.”
Rivera joked that Allen will need
to learn that he doesn’t have to
walk toward to the bench to get the
play calls anymore, since the NFL
uses headsets.
“It will be something he has to
learn and get used to,” Rivera said.
Heinicke injured his elbow on
a hit by Falcons defensive tackle
Grady Jackson in the second quar
ter that drew a flag for unneces
sary roughness.
He was taken to the locker room,
but returned with a brace on his
left elbow and finished the game
completing 33 of 53 passes for 274
yards with one touchdown and
three interceptions while taking a
physical beating from the Falcons
pass rush.
Heinicke had an MRI on the
elbow on Monday and the team
decided to shut him down for the
season. Heinicke wouldn’t discuss
specifics of the injury except to say
the results “didn’t look good.”
However, he said he won’t need
surgery.
“Yeah, it’s a bummer,” Heinicke
said. “But at the same time I got to
finish the game. I’m just happy I
got to finish the game and I appre
ciate that.”
This week’s game against the
Saints appeared to be an important
one at the midway point of the NFL
season after New Orleans got off to
a 7-1 start and Carolina began 6-2.
But the two teams have gone in
opposite directions.
The Saints have already
clinched home-field advantage
throughout the NFC playoffs,
while the Panthers have lost seven
straight and were eliminated from
contention after last week’s loss to
the Falcons.
With New Orleans (13-2) having
nothing left to gain in the regular
season there is a good chance that
Teddy Bridgewater will see exten
sive playing time at quarterback,
but Payton has not declared his
plans on how much he intends to
play Drew Brees and the rest of the
team’s starters.
Jaguars name Bortles
QB for last game of the
season against Texans
Blake Bortles is getting another
start for the Jacksonville Jaguars.
It could be his last.
Coach Doug Marrone announced
Wednesday that Bortles will start
the season finale at Houston (10-5),
giving the embattled quarterback
a chance to close out a subpar sea
son on a positive note.
“The toughest part about it is
you have no idea,” Bortles said
about his future with the franchise.
“It’s not like anybody tells me any
thing or talks to my agent or tells
him what they’re going to do with
me, so it’s kind of just unknown. I
would imagine most people that go
through situations like this or any
thing close to it, there’s just a lot of
unknown.
“Obviously, here, right now, got
one more chance, one more oppor
tunity to play this week and fin
ish this year out and then kind of
they’re in control of what happens
for me next, so whatever happens
I’ll be ready.”
Marrone said Bortles’ mobility
gives the Jaguars (5-10) a “better
chance” against the Texans.
Bortles came off the bench at
Miami last Sunday and led Jack
sonville (5-10) to the go-ahead
score in a 17-7 victory.
He completed 5 of 6 passes for
39 yards and carried four times for
25 yards, including scampers of 14
and 13 yards on a field-goal drive
that broke a 7-all tie.
Associated Press
