About The times. (Gainesville, Ga.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 27, 2018)
NFL 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
