Are the Houston Texans ACTUALLY Super Bowl contenders this season??

Are the Houston Texans ACTUALLY Super Bowl contenders this season??

Welcome in to the Swarmcast here on the ESPN Houston YouTube channel and ESPN 975. Joe George, Will Conungle here to talk all things Houston Texans. Another W in the books for the Texans. And this episode’s brought to you by Blueest Star Tequila, the world’s first and only night harvested tequila. You can find it near you at bluestar tequila.com. Well, they finally did it. They beat the Kansas City Chiefs in Arrowhead. It was a dominant game again from the defense. Best defense in the NFL. Not particularly close. But we have to start with the question that feels like is on everyone’s mind right now. It’s going to piss every You made a comment as soon as you walked in the studio today. Are the Houston Texans a legitimate Super Bowl contender this season? Yeah, like they’re but it’s exactly what I said it was going to be coming into the preseason. I didn’t think it was going to be this much of a struggle offensively. This team is going to go as far as the defense takes them, but as far as the offense allows them. The offense is still the anchor. Nick Kale is the anchor on this boat right now. And the defense is the powerful engine that is trying to pull them through the waters. But Nick Kaye and the inability to learn from back-toback weeks how to end a first half is it’s mindboggling to me because and I feel like if I’m harping on it, I’m almost being a bully because it’s so bad. It’s so embarrassing. It’s like take it easy on the guy. I I feel like I’m picking on him. No, I I don’t think I don’t think we’re picking on him because I and I think because I think Kaylee Strad deserves some real criticism for what’s happening in short yard situations, in time crunch situations. It’s just it hasn’t improved enough. And that’s where for me it’s like, are they a Super Bowl contender? Well, their defense sure is. Their defense can win you a Super Bowl this year. This this defense could win you a Super Bowl like the Baltimore Ravens won it for Trent Diler. It feels like we’re like if you’re just not turning the ball over on offense, which CJ Stra for the most part has been good at this year, you can win playoff games because this defense is so damn good. But it feels like to me the ultimate difference between the Texans going to the Super Bowl or just making a deep run into the playoffs is these issues on offense that we’re seeing specifically as time is winding down at the end of quarters. That has to improve. Like that to me is the number one priority for the Houston Texans is figure out what’s happening there. How do you get better at it? And you know, is there someone else that needs to get involved? Is it just do? Is it just grab a 12-year-old that’s played Madden? Yeah. Someone just screaming into the headset, move faster. Like like what is And I think it’s all on Kaye, though. I think it’s almost all kid because if he’s if Straoud Straoud’s getting the directions from Kaylee and Kayle’s presumably in his ear being like, “All right, here’s the play. Here’s a play. Here’s a play.” When in reality, what you need to be doing, you wasted 15 seconds to run to the ball and spike it because there you wasted 15 seconds. It was first down at that moment. You had one timeout left. There’s no reason not to to clock that ball immediately. Mhm. Kayle’s answers to the questions last week were were bad, saying that they actually executed it properly going in that Colts game. I I’m dying to hear what he has to say about this week. I Yeah, because it’s like that makes sense though cuz like this is where it’s very simple stuff and that’s where I feel like CJ should just still be doing it, but you can’t I don’t know. What does he do? Buck the like Yeah, honestly, I kind of wish he would. Yeah. No, I agree. I wish he would, but I don’t know that you can. Like, I don’t know. You know what I’m saying? Like, yeah. Like, obviously what’s happening is Kay’s not in his ear being like, “Pike it, spike it, spike it.” And and CJ’s like, “No, I’m good.” Like, that’s obviously not happening. No, they’re calling a play and it’s taking too long to get in. It’s taking too long once he has the play. And it shouldn’t be You shouldn’t even be calling the play. No, I agree. That’s what Yeah. So, it’s not not only is the operation the choice to run the operation bad, the operation itself is bad, but you’re in a position that you shouldn’t even be operating poorly. Just spike the damn ball. Yeah. And and that’s I think the reality of where again, if you’re talking Super Bowl, you’re thinking Super Bowl for this team. It’s fair. This defense is so damn good. But it’s the little things that I’m just like, ah, when you play Buffalo again in the playoffs, you play the Patriots or you play I don’t know. The other part is like I don’t fear anyone in the AFC right now. No, but all these teams are better than probably the better than the Chiefs. Like your competition goes up and you’re already playing with slim margins and all this stuff is going to be magnified by 10 in the playoffs. Everything matters just a little bit more in the playoffs. Every coach will tell you that, every player will tell you that, and every fan will tell you that. And that that’s kind of how this game felt. It was that feeling. And this was magnified because they couldn’t pull away. And then all of a sudden, the defense came in to rescue them outside of the third quarter. a disaster offensively as well. And Andy Reed rescued the Texans in reality. Like man, that decision to go for it on fourth down on what his 29 yard line is. 31. 31. It’s It’s bold. It’s a bold stupid bold decision. Dumb, right? Yeah. I don’t I don’t really get it. Like the other fourth down, no problem with you’re right near midfield. The Texans went three plays, negative two yards, punted it right back to you. And then, you know, Travis Kelce was, you know, he’s washed and he dropped a pass. He used the catch and Aziz picks it. and the Texans are back in field position. Like they were the Texans offense in the second half was atrocious. I mean, it was either a punt or you were put into good field position by the Kansas City Chiefs and you scored 10 points and it was three and outs. That’s the biggest thing as we’ve harped on all season long. We’ll get touchdowns. Great. That’s a luxury. Field goals kind of a luxury at this point as well. But you have to at least control the ball and control the field and move the rock in order to keep your defense off the field and give them a long field to defend. They weren’t doing that in the second half. Yeah. Three and outs. Three and outs. Three and outs. Three and outs. I think five or six in a row. Yeah. I think I think at one point it was at least four and then I think they had a sixplay drive and then they went back to the three and out thing. So it’s like it’s like they have like a little little gap and and and that’s where I think a lot of these issues on offense that we’re seeing and it’s the reality of where the Texans are is that they’ve been on this heater of winning games, but the team still to me looks the same as it does in week one. And there’s some good and there’s some bad with that. Is that the the defense is still just as good. I guess you know what the offensive line’s better even though this LA this week versus the Chiefs was a tough game for them. Horrible. Um that’s a that’s a wild thing to say and I think you’re right. I never thought about that. Yeah, they’re they’re the same team. The same team but they’re winning. But they’re winning. I mean do teams still typically have two guys moving in motion at one time in week 14 constantly. Like I don’t understand like like they they really are just the same team offensively. Like they have like their offensive line has improved. The running game has improved, but it hasn’t really led to They have more spikes, I think, offensively, right? Yeah, I agree with that. Like they I think I think the water level, if you will, has risen a little bit. Like, they’re getting into the red zone a little bit more. They are the red zone is a little bit better. It’s not good, but it’s it’s better than it was early. So, it was worst two weeks ago in the NFL. It’s now second worst. So, it’s not good. It’s just it’s just a little bit better. And then there are some like little bit of spikes. And with CJ Shroud now back, the deep ball is back. Now, he underthrew Nico Collins on that one. That should have been a wide open touchdown easy. Y I I still haven’t seen the replay if he was able to step into it. I I could whatever point, but like you’re that’s a you’re right. It’s essentially the same exact team. Yeah. And that’s where I think it’s where it’s just it’s the reality of like when and that’s where I think if you if you look at like a blame pie chart of like when you talk about the execution of the offense from an operational standpoint from getting the plays in quickly. You know, Demo talked about in his Monday press conference about getting the play quicker on third down. Like it’s week 14. I know. Why are we still being like, “Hey, play clock’s a thing.” Yeah. Cuz it’s like it’s all of it. And that’s where I think even Stroud a little bit where it’s like the play clock the the the headset gets turned off at 15 seconds and it’s still like is it a lot to ask for CJ to do everything in 15 seconds? Yes. Honestly, I think the best solution for the Houston Texans at this point is not to huddle anymore. Just go hurry up. You don’t have to like you don’t have to hurry, but just like do a mesh huddle, but just like stand at the line of scrimmage, be ready and like take 40 seconds and CJ to call the play from shot the shotgun because at least then you have 40 seconds to also for CJ to be identifying people because I think that’s part of the other problem that we’re seeing with this offense and why it can’t take that next level is because why the play calling is getting in so late. CJ has 15 seconds to do everything. It’s hard to set your protections. It’s hard to identify your mic linebacker. It’s hard to do everything. It just feels very rushed. Oh, it definitely is. And they should have those placers like college teams have on the sideline like holding up the big signs of like Mario the cart and like Cheetos and you’re like, “All right, well, I guess that’s the play call for whatever reason.” Yeah. Like just go back to it. Like go back to the Ohio State ways for CJ. I just I hate that we have to have this conversation after you’re pro you’re every game now is the biggest game because of the the hole you dug, but this was a monumental game especially for the defense to win on the road with the teams backed up in that hornets nest of of a situation for the for the Chiefs. This was a massive win, one of the biggest wins in regular season history in Texans franchise history. Yep. And yet here we are. It’s the same story. It’s the same narrative. So, like kind of like pat on the back to us for like not leaping in and not throwing away the narrative and like keeping the stories. The story, the facts are the facts. It is what it is. This is what this team is. And you’re right. Week one to week 14, it’s the same exact team. It’s just I think it’s elevated a little bit on both sides. I agree. I I think it has like like the water is great. Like has risen. Uhuh. Like the offensive line’s better. The run game’s better. The deep shots there, but not good. And I do think the context of it has changed or like you know a couple weeks ago it’s more like even like I still said like I’m still not in on Nick Kaye being back next year. Like it hasn’t improved at all. If anything I think he will be but like I’m not I’m not going to support it but like it’s the context of these conversations has changed with the offense and at least it’s changed in a fun way where before it was just like everyone needs to get fired. Now it’s like, can you just be good enough to like go on a Super Bowl run because we think you can don’t waste the defense. Now it’s like now we’re all kind of fighting for the defense and defending them and like offense please and like pleading. But I wonder if the Nick Kaye conversation becomes even more obvious that he’s going to be fired if he only like increases incrementally incrementally. But the possibility to improve is so wide. like he has the ability to go from here to all the way to the other end of the table, but he’s going from here to here and the gap from here to there is getting play call in earlier and know when to spike the ball. So, it’s very simple foundational stuff that a decent OC is like that stuff is rudimentary. Like that stuff I don’t even think about. And that’s where going from year one to year two as a firsttime play caller, like in your mind it should improve. So, that’s where I think he is going to come back because I do think they’re going to look at and be like, “Hey, we’re going to be able to work on this stuff. we’re going to be able to figure this out as a team and even though it didn’t improve in the regular season and it should have improved in the regular season like it should be getting better now and it’s not I think the coaching staff the organization is going to look at Kaye and say hey we’re going to figure this out in the offseason I think it’s just the reality I don’t think honestly I don’t think it’s in the best interest of CJ Shroud to be on his third offense coordinator that’s I think that’s going to be thrown in there like a big part of it but we say that rookies and coaches say rookies are no longer rookies by like week 10. That’s true. An OC can’t still be a rookie in going into week 15 being like, “Hey, we’re going to use the offseason so you understand the clock and how to like get a play call in.” Yeah. That can’t be used in the offseason of how to teach your second year OC how to be just like competent. Like that’s the craziest part to me. I agree. It it’s I agree. And we can’t hold the players to this wild standard comparatively to an OC or to your coach. Yeah. The difference is is that Jaylen Null like when he’s not performing and he’s not running routes well and he’s not blocking, he just doesn’t play. Nick Hayy has to call. There is no one else to do it. There’s no one else to do it. Like Gerard Johnson would probably have similar issues. Now maybe it would get better at some point if Gerard was the guy being the play caller, but like what if he just gets the call in faster? Then he’s automatically better. That’s what I think I think and that’s what’s crazy is like I feel like that’s really is like the the two things the Texans need to work on the most right now is getting the play call in faster and everyone understanding the play like like again like having two guys move in motion on one play is inexcusable at this point in the season and that’s why I think it’s all kind of connected is that if they’re rushing to get the play in and people are not hearing it your brain’s not settled like it feels like there’s some it’s it’s the miscommunication starting with Kaye It’s going to everybody through the offense and that’s what’s holding it back. Now, the positives from this is now why CJ wasn’t perfect in this game and he was facing a ton of pressure over 50%. Which is wild. I saw you tweet that out. Yeah, it’s too much pressure obviously. Like more than half the times you dropped back, he’s running for his damn life. Yeah, there were still a lot of throws in this game that you’re like, “Okay, that’s what you expect from your quarterback.” back. Like even though the other one of Nico was underthrown, he had the other one where he was under duress and there was the big yak from Nico. You know, Jaylen Null gets set or maybe if CJ makes sure Jaylen Null is set, it’s a nice throw for a touchdown. Zelton Schultz that’s gets called back. Like there are multiple throws in this game, you’re like, “Okay, that looks much better.” I thought the run game, even though the numbers aren’t super efficient, I thought was good as well. So, there are still positives. I think the run game did his job right provide it provided a service. it wasn’t the reason they won or move the ball. Like CJ escaping the pocket and making throws and there’s certain quarterbacks in the league that just don’t make that, even good ones. Like he was phenomenal in that regard. And yet it’s so hard to jump on him when it’s like, why aren’t you stepping up in the pocket? Why aren’t you making that throw? It was a clean pocket. Because the last nine weren’t and I got my teeth knocked in. Like that’s why, dude. And that’s his job. He gets paid millions to do it. It doesn’t mean he’s not a human being. And it doesn’t mean that it makes it any easier to step up. Well, the great ones do. Dude, I’ll I’ll tell you blindly and honestly that a lot of quarterbacks float out of the pocket when they have pressure on them 54% of the time. Like, it just happens. It’s not an excuse. It’s just the reason as to why you can’t step up consistently with confidence because you’re not allowed to. Yep. Did I say it on this show or did I say when I was filling in? But it’s like you have your significant other, your wife, is cheating on you all the time and then all of a sudden you think she is but she’s not and you call her out for it. It’s like, well, I mean, your your behavior, you don’t trust the offensive line. Yeah. It’s like, well, I blocked for you. That’s I didn’t cheat on you last night. Like, okay. Yeah. Like, all right, way to go. And that’s a great way to put it. I never thought of it. Like, that’s very funny. Uh, but like, yeah, it’s a great way to put it just because like you can’t trust these guys when over 50% of the time. This is by far the worst game I think specifically at Ingram. And in that third quarter, Chris Jones exposed him. Yeah. Holy smokes. Chris Jones like all of a sudden that was my biggest fear. Yeah, he’s one of those guys where like we’ve seen this before. It’s been an issue with the Chiefs in the past where it’s like when he wants to be the dude, he’s the dude, but he doesn’t always want to be the dude. Just crazy. Um like they got exposed pretty heavily I think between Ingram Andrews, uh Trump Brown. I think for sure I think we showed he showed his age here in this game and there’s some to me some concerns of how that works in the playoffs and everything like that going forward but which is exciting because they’re going to be in the playoffs which we never thought they were going to be for a large portion of the season. But the offensive line’s the other one we’re like I can’t blame CJ for that. I I I can’t the way it’s been for three years like you know at some point it’s just not reasonable to expect your quarterback to step into a pocket that may or may not be there. Yeah. And I I feel like, you know, does he need to be better at like trusting his offensive line at the beginning of the game and then like seeing that they’re getting their ass kicked and then let it unfold? Maybe even from week to week like like seven straight weeks of getting your ass kicked then all of a sudden like I got to restart mentally every game like you’re I get it. It’s really It’s like 23. It’s like 23 straight weeks. You know the pro yeah that 100% that the problem is the casual fan and a decent fan and someone that knows ball and doesn’t know ball can look at CJ Stra getting sacked see it see CJ come running out of the pocket not stepping up like you can kind of see that stuff easily what you’re not looking for when you watch the game though is the offensive line play consistently being in his face and just not understanding that when you get hit faced six times the seventh one you’re going to you’re going to flinch like you’re going to flinch Everybody flinches if you’re that bad of an offensive line, man. Yeah, I I think that that criticizing CJ in that area is not fair. I think the fair criticisms for CJ are is whatever his role is in the offense not being executed well from, you know, plays getting in to getting them called the line of scrimmage and guys moving motion correctly, whatever his role is in that. And I do still feel like there was a lot left on the table in this game from CJ. Like there were some big throws down the field. Like there was a big one to the sideline. Yeah. But like that’s what I think is the and that’s not even a criticism. It’s just like there’s still another step to this offense that can be taken because there are big Well, I think there are big throws that he’s missing. I agree. I don’t So I don’t disagree. But I think like that’s a micro step that would be taken because there’s three or four throws. Okay. Yeah. Three or four throws can just change a game. I get it. But how about we get the play in on time every time and now that’s 48 plays. That could be different. Like there’s such a gap that if you want to pinpoint it’s like if your wife has a huge mess over here but you have a little mess and she comes see like what the hell’s this? It’s like uh excuse me like what about that? It’s like well CJ’s little throw over here versus Nick Kayle’s pile of crap. It’s like can we not focus on this right now? What do you think of the of with Demo stepping up? I mean, he’s he’s he he’s dropped play calling earlier this season with the intent of helping the offense. Do you feel like that just experiment hasn’t worked from not from the map? I don’t know what he has to supply. I I just I genuinely he doesn’t understand the quarterback position. That’s not a knock on him. He’s not a quarterback. He’s a linebacker. He’s a defensive guy. What’s he going to tell CJ? I think it’s more just like is he coaching Nick Kaye like like help with the playoffs? If he is, it’s not working. Yeah. Like it like like I feel like Demo has to step up here at some point. He’s talked about like he talked about on Monday about getting the play calling quicker. I’m like where’s what’s your role in that do like like at some point like whether it’s during practice is it just a stopwatch like hey I need successful like I need this play called in 15 seconds do it so you’re holding it with a stopwatch just click click you know what you need to do honestly and it’s kind of insulting to Nick you need to have like a you know in basketball when you’re young you have to pass the ball 10 times before you shoot like in practice or no dribbles only passes until you shoot like those stupid ass drills that actually serve a purpose. But, you know, when you’re young, you don’t do that at the NBA level. If you do, something’s gone horribly wrong. What you need to do, it’s like, no football out there for practice. We’re not going to actually run plays. We’re going to we’re going to start the clock at 30 and you’re going to operate as if the play clock is at 30. So, we’re just going to stand here for 90 minutes and we’re going to work on plays. Offensive lineman, like all the offenses come out, shorts, shoulder pads, helmet, whatever. We’re not going to run to the plays. Just get it in, get to the line, and then the next play. Yep. like rudimentary. You have to waste an entire week or day doing a fifth grade football drill. Yeah. And that sounds insulting and I’m I’m actually saying maybe that’s what they do. Yeah, but maybe it would help. That’s like genuine. That’s a genuine idea. How confident are you before we get into the defense now? So, right now the Houston Texans are the seven seed in the AFC at 8 and5. They hold the tiebreaker over the Indianapolis Colts. This is where we’re going to be fully transparent with our audience. We are recording this on Tuesday. You guys now know. So, as I look at my phone, I see breaking news. Uh, 44year-old Philip Rivers has officially signed with the Indianapolis Colts practice squad. And if he signs to the active roster, remember, he will lose his Hall of Fame eligibility this year and have to wait another five years. Yes. Or he’s on the 2026 list. Well, he could go in next year. That’s a safety pre- precaution, right? Like because Riley Leonard is so Riley Leonard’s kind of hurt. Well, I mean he’s hurt but like he may week to week. So but but Philip Rivers is on the practice squad officially for the Indianapolis Colts. Crazy. And Anthony Richardson is still suffering from the eye. It seems like it. I saw him tweeting some gifts the other day. So maybe he feels like he is getting close to coming back. But good tweeter. Uh, but Philip Rivers, you know, hey, guys, out of all of them, obviously there’s a familiarity there, but out of all the quarterbacks out there, I mean, he said last year like he he would do it, but like this is he was bad when he was two years younger. What a move this is. This is a wild move. That’s almost hilarious. Um, now, but the Colts are the team that’s on the outside, but Daniel Jones tearing his Achilles. I feel bad for that, dude. I do too. That sucks. The Ravens being six and seven, the Chiefs at six and seven, the Dolphins at six and seven. like there is now a sizable gap between 9, 10, and 11 and the Texans at seven. And then again, you have the Colts who just lost their quarterback and are signing Philip Rivers out of desperation to the roster. Are you comfortable like is it a lock the playoffs? The Texans are going to make the playoffs. Definitely not a lock. Just And I don’t only say that because it’s just it’s just not like the Cardinals are sneaky good offensively. They can be. Yeah. You know, and I’m not saying they are going to be, but you know, I don’t trust I don’t trust anything to be a lock. Yeah, that’s Yeah, it’s not a lock, but like I I can’t sit here and have the whole conversation we had with how bad the offense is and be like it’s a lock cuz there are games that they should have won as locks this year, whether it be Broncos, who might be the best team in the AFC, the Jaguars, Rams, or Buccaneers, all of them. Yep. But the offense is ever good enough to like carry any weight. So like what if that just happens? That’s true. I just I’ll bet on it. I’ll bet on it. You know, 10-point favorites against the Arizona Cardinals. Big number. That’s a huge in that game. So, but I It’s like Cardinals Raiders Colts the last week of the season with potentially Philip Rivers in there fighting for a playoff spot. U I can’t say it enough. That’s hilarious that this is happening. Wasn’t it Joe Flacco that came here the first time? Not this not the playoff game that torch Amari Cooper and Joe Flacco that torched the Texans in the regular season in the regular season and then the playoff game. Yeah, they should that was like when Joe Flacco was like 40 some odd. No, Philip Rivers hasn’t played since 2020. Uh so it’s a little bit 2020. It’s been five. We’re about to type what about Colin Kaepernick? Yeah, it’s a little bit of a different situation with Philip Rivers. Um I didn’t think about that, Will. That’s definitely going to happen. Um but I I I feel like it’s pretty much a lock. the Texans are going to make the playoffs at this point. I think I think so. I think the question just now is is where do you end up, you know, with the seating, you know, you control your own destiny within the fact that you can at least you can move up in front of the Chargers. Um, you can get some help to move up in front of the Bills if they were to lose this weekend to the New England Patriots. Like the Texans could still very easily be, you know, the three, five, six, or seven seed, I think, at this point. You know, because they can pass Jacksonville. Like Jacksonville schedule’s pretty easy, but a lot of like what you just kind of referenced there with the Texans offense and not trusting them. I think it’s fair to say Jackson I don’t trust them as a whole. I don’t. But their schedule’s like their schedule’s cake. I think I’m I’m thinking about sprinkling a little bit on the Jets beating the Jacksonville Jaguars. Really? This just Jets are starting to play better. Not good. Like but they’re still an NFL team. They could if they can win one game, it’s if the rest of the season someone said the Jets win one more game, I’m like, okay. Like I could see it be the Jaguars game. I don’t know. Yeah, I I definitely that’s the one I could see. Like they’ve got some talent. They got Bree Hall, like Tyra Taylor’s been okay this year so far, even though he got hurt in his last game, too. Who’s their quarterback, though? Uh some guy I’ve never heard of in my life. Yeah, I didn’t heard of him. Um that’s obviously the hangup. It It’s going to be So, I think the Texans are for sure going to make the playoffs not at this point. You think they went out nine in a row? Um isn’t that wild? Yeah, it’s possible. I mean, I wouldn’t say that to me sounds a little more unrealistic just saying like they fully went out because and based on the schedule they should, right? Like the Chargers game the Chargers game is a tossup, right? Like it feels like of all of them. I can’t believe the Chargers are still winning games with Justin Herbert broken hand and their offensive line in Shambles. Yeah, that’s where it’s like I think this is a horrible matchup for the Chargers against the Texans. I do too. So, it’s like that’s like I would I would Yeah. Can they win out? Yes, they can. Will they? I don’t think so. I feel like they will lose one of these next four games. I don’t know. I You think it’s a Cardinals game? If it’s any of them, I think it’s a Cardinals game only because it’s you’re coming off that that super high against the Chiefs and you did it back toback with the Colts. Now, you’re coming home, so that’s that’s like a reprieve of like you’ll get that energy boost that maybe you don’t bring yourself. Uh the Raiders are so bad and so inept. Yeah, they’re a disaster. Um they’re gambling on their own games. Yeah, the Chargers I think is just such a bad matchup and that you’ll kind of be up for that normally and I think the Colts are going to be all but dead maybe literally by that point. Yeah. So, yeah, the Cardinals game would be the one. But yeah, four four straight wins to end the season after which you’ve already won what how many games in a row now? Two, three, four, five. Five games. I mean, nine game win streak. Someone that took the over at 10 and a half wins and won the AFC South. The next month is going to be electric. Well, at least you feel like I feel like you’re good for at least one of those. I think I Yeah, I think I’m in for the I think the team over. You’re gonna get I’m not saying it. That’s Those are your words. I didn’t say that. I think I didn’t jinx it. Yeah, you you wouldn’t do that. You wouldn’t jinx it. Well, I don’t have that bet, so it’s not Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I like the way you think. I can talk about your bets. Yeah, that’s that’s jinx. No, I have the Texans plus 750 to win the division. You took it two weeks ago. Yeah. I Oh, I did. I did. I took it two weeks ago. Damn. It was 750 then it was like 350 and now it’s like plus 110. Yeah. Yeah. It’s like it was like 141 1110 when I looked at it this morning. So yeah, I’m the odds just plummeted. I was staring at that ticket like that’s my life right there. Damn. I know Jeremy’s got it at plus 600 as well. Um yeah, I was filling in for Dell that weekend. I was staring at it on the radio and I was like why am I not taking it? Like why I got I got to I got to take this and I didn’t do it. I did hit everything against the Chiefs. I won everything. Nice. All right, let’s talk about this defense here. All right, where do you start? Um, there’s so many places to start the defense, but I know where I want where I want to start because I’ve given Nick Caser a lot of grief times coaching staff, including Demo, a lot of grief about evaluating talent, evaluating players. And this guy, I’m probably going to butcher his name right now. Tommy. Tommy. Toia. Toi. Togei. Togei, I believe. Toi. You know what’s funny is I was I was thinking about that today. I was like, I want to just ask him because Mariota Yeah. is Mariota. Yeah, apparently. Yeah, exactly. So often we a decade to learn that incorrectly. So I just want to ask Tommy this week. He’s awesome. He’s awesome. Filling in for Tim Settle like 10 tackles, a sack in this game. Like all season, he’s been an impactful player for the Houston, but like he was awesome in this game. It it just it shows to where how they can evaluate so good on defense, but then they struggle so much on offense. They find these nobodies. No offense, Tommy, to come in here and dominate a football game, but they can’t find a left guard to save their life. It’s remarkable. But he was fantastic. That’s a key of the system, though, you know, like that’s how bad Nick is. That’s how good De Mo is. That’s you can fit into this system that you can go to Green Bay last year without five starters and still perform well. To your point, Tommy Togei, the only defensive tackle this season and ninth in NFL history to have 10 tackles, a sack, and two QB hits in a game. That’s crazy. He was a guy at the scrap heap, if you will. That’s crazy. Uh Kamar Lacader, we there was some real concern about his foot. Yeah. But he toughs it out. He’s out there. Hard to tell if there was some, you know, misreporting on the injury or if he just, you know, was really tough out there. Guess he was limited on Friday, right? That was the only time he did practice. Yeah, he was limited on Friday was the only one. But he played needle wouldn’t fix. He played really well in this game. Derrick Sydney Jr. continues to be one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL. And while the sack numbers aren’t there collectively for the defensive line, they made life a nightmare for Patrick Mahomes for four quarters. And Aziz Al Sha. Oh, he’s uh what he did in coverage. Not in a million years did I ever think that Aziz al Shier now it’s now like Aziz has got better in coverage and Travis Kelce has gotten slower. Yep. And same with Jaylen Petri. Jaylen Petri has played much better this year. That interception he had. My gosh, dude. That’s an unbelievable play. I’m trying to find the exact stat that I put out there on X on Aziz Alshier because it is so good the amount of coverage snaps. He allowed one catch I believe to Travis Kelce all game. That sounds right. Or one target and it was the one he intercepted. So it was I mean Aziz Al Shaier is just out of control. Yeah, he was targeted three times on 42 coverage snaps versus the Chief Chiefs allowing one reception for seven yards and an interception. The one time he was targeted while guarding Travis Kelce on nine routes, it was an interception. Interesting. Aziz alier. Never in a million years was that the guy that would be assigned that detail, but he did it and he did it really at at an elite level. And he had to because as these cornerback situations and safety injuries happen like we saw Petri moving up and down like moving from safety to nickel throughout the game here. Like it’s like you need help there. And I do think it’s one of those where like it’s hard not to look at the history of this defense over the last two years and like that’s a fatal flaw of the Houston Texans has been guarding the tight end. Travis Kelce though big time Capital Washed. I am really curious how it looks this weekend. This weekend to me tells me a lot more about Aziz and Jaylen Petri because Trey McBride is a Yes, he is a stud. So how does it look against him? Because I do think when you think about the long term of the Houston Texans and the playoff hopes, you know, Evan Ingram, he’s been up and down this year, but like he still can make big plays for the Broncos. Some drops. Yeah. Hunter Henry has been really good for the Patriots this year. Uh you have Aronda Gadson with the Chargers. You have both, you know, Concaid and Dawson Knox with the Buffalo Bills. Like you’re going to face good tight ends in the playoffs. So, I feel like this weekend specifically where Jacobe Brassette loves to throw to Trey McBride is going to be a really good test for the secondary and then we can really see how much Aziz and Petri specifically have improved in that area of their game. Yeah, I think it’s to be fair like they did an unbelievable job against probably the best tight end in NFL history, but that tight end has also regressed. Like, you know, he was horrible last year, very, very slow last year, been pretty good this year, but you can tell there’s a difference. like he’s not the same old Travis Kelce, but yeah, what what Aziz did was awesome with the two corners did and Will Anderson and Denil Hunter getting the pressure and and the safety play without Jaylen Reed and now silent signing guys and just throwing them back there and them filling in. That was my one concern in this game was deep over the middle and the communication or lack thereof and miscommunication was what I thought could bite the Texans defensively. I thought that was their one weakness with Xavier Worthy and Hollywood Brown and their their ability to run past you and and it showed it. It showed once or twice, but it never like beat them fully. Yeah. And that’s Yeah, we saw some some big throws from Momes that and we saw guys recovering late too that they were able to make good plays in. So, I felt like the the deep ball did feel like it was there for Momes at times. But again, that’s where your defensive line also just continues to make things a nightmare. You have the best pass rushing do in the NFL. It’s not particularly close and they just continue to prove it week in and week out. Yeah. If it’s not Will Anderson on the list number one, it’s Denil Hunter. If it’s not one of them being one or two, it’s Miles Garrett. Like it’s I mean they’re the best duo by far. And then individually they’re one of them is definitely up there if it’s not the other one. Yeah. No, I agree. I mean and Will Anderson like I don’t know if he’s going to find his way into that defensive player of the year conversation like we had talked about earlier. I just don’t know if the the splashy numbers are there. I mean, you know, I I think the way he’s played is he’s deserving to be in that top tier group of it. I I know there’s a different opinion between like myself and Jeremy Brand Brandom about Miles Garrett being on a losing football team, but he’s going to set the all-time sack record. So, like I feel I think a defensive guy is really thrown in like MVP in baseball’s kind of throwing that or Heisman, but I don’t think defensive player MVP is. Now, I kind of would like it to in most years I would like to see like you have to be on a winning team to kind of earn it. Like not always. I think there should be exceptions to the rule and I think like this is a year where like that exception would come into play cuz he’s so awesome. This is just that no Texan player would really win it. I don’t think unless you have gaudy numbers only because you would split votes between Denilo Will and Derek. Those three would just kind of split votes and depending on what the voter evaluates. Is it the quarterback’s more valuable? The pass rush is more valuable? who’s been more flashy on the pass rush. So, like the votes would just kind of go all over the place on the Texans defense. And that’s it’s a good thing for the Super Bowl run, it’s a bad thing for the award, which you know, I’m sure every player would tell you I’d rather go on the Super Bowl run than win that individual award because you have so many good players. And Kamar Lacer is even in that conversation. He is he has been a remarkable player. Like I I remember when he got drafted and you look at like the 40 times how bad they were and then you hear him, he’s like, “Oh, he calls himself the locksmith.” And I’m like I’m like h like I don’t know like I’ll believe it when I see it. But then he wins the job from day one immediately. And and really it’s like it’s before training camp even starts. He is the corner. It’s like they knew from the get-go he was the guy. And to me he has exceeded every expectation. Now Demo and the Texans started 0 and3. And I was curious what the odds were for coach of the year. He is nowhere near the top. He is looks like rough math here tied for 10th trying to like go coach of the year. So Rael is is minus 300 um because they were it’s such a justosition and such a glaring difference compared to OJ Mayo and I think that’s uh and it’s totally fair. Gerard Mayo. Yeah, OJ Mayo is the basketball player. Um Oh yeah, I said OJ Mayo. I was like that doesn’t sound right. Yeah, that’s okay. Uh you got the last name right. Mike McDonald is second. Uh Liam Cohen’s Mike McDonald and Liam Cohen are tied for a second. What Mike McDonald has done McDaniel? No, wait. McDonald. Okay. But Mike McDaniels, I know he’s not going to get any credit. I agree. To settle that ship and win four in a row. Well, that’s the other thing too about like the Texans offense coordinator. Like that was everyone’s dream. Exactly. That ship has sailed. Like pump the brakes on that. He’s going to be the Dolphins head coach next year if he wants to be. I wonder with the GM being gone, the kind of like the players being who they are and like hard to handle. Yeah. I wonder if he’s like I just don’t that’s a it’s not a place you can win. Yeah. And then so Demo comes in tied at uh for 10th at plus 1,200 or plus 12,000 with Matt Laflur, Jim Harbaugh, Demetico Ryan, and Brian Shottenheimer are the four in that group. So there’s there’s quite a few coaches in front of him. There’s about there’s nine coaches in front of him. Um what’s the odds on him right now? 12,000 to one. Geez. If it wasn’t for Vable, I would put some money on the Miko because those numbers will those numbers will drop. But like that’s the best you’re going to get because if they win out, those are numbers are going to plummet. Yes. But they’re never going to be better than Varables. And and no, Varel’s going to win it this year, but I think Demo and sometimes they don’t view it this way. like they really go over and this is why I don’t love the coach of the year award because I feel like too often we only focus on yeartoyear and I feel like we don’t focus in on enough of how it started versus how it finished. That’s a good point. Like I think last year, no two seasons ago now Joe Espada should have won manager of the year for the Houston for it with the Houston Astros because they’re 10 games back in the AL West. They’re a total disaster. their season’s going to end early and all of a sudden they go out there, they win the division because they go on this heater. He fixes, he puts together his bullpen better, they just start playing better. Like they overcome the odds and the obstacles of the season. Demo starting the season 0 and three now potentially going to end the season on a nine-game win streak. I feel like deserves more credit. Yeah. Where like I get the year-to-year from Vrael or even a guy like Ben Johnson, but like starting 0 and three to potentially having 12 wins at the end of the season, it’s unheard of when it was 11% of teams in the history of the NFL that started 0 and3 had made the playoffs. The the biggest thing I hate about coach of the year award is it a defa it’s a de facto opinion system based on preseason rankings which as we’ve learned in college football preseason rankings are the dumbest thing in the world and it impacts everything down the road. So it’s our opinion of what we think a team should be in the preseason and then we’re going to give coach of the year award to the team that does better than what I thought versus kind of the stuff you thought. So, all right, we didn’t think or it’s like year to year, like you said. If there’s a coaching switch and there’s a clear flip, then fine, which might be even the pro the proper way to kind of do it comparatively versus this team’s not going to be good. Says who? It says me. Oh, they’re good. Well, that was obviously the product the whole time and they were good. So, I’m going to give that coach that coach did a lot with a little. Yeah. Did he or did you just have an ass opinion about a team? Yeah. Where like Yeah. where it’s like at least with like Rael, it’s like they were just it’s largely the same roster and he just kind of has made it better. Same thing with Liam Cohen and Jacksonville. Like I think Jacksonville’s still going to win the division this year as we were kind of discussing earlier. Their schedule is easy. Um total but they’re not a good team though. They just This is what happens when the the the floor was raised with the Jaguars and the Texans dropped the ceiling with the slow start. So now it’s like you’re trying to fight against a really tough fight. I mean, all I know is like I look at this the way the season’s playing out and I’m like, “Okay, I don’t know how many games the Chargers can really win this season.” Like they beat the They have the Chiefs, the Cowboys, the Texans, the Broncos. Like I think the Chargers win two more games this season. They find a way. They have the who? Say it again. I’m sorry. The Chiefs, Cowboys, Texans, Broncos. Damn. So I think they find a way to win two of those. Now, part of that might be that the Broncos are They could lose all four. They could lose all four also. Like the Colts could get into the playoffs with, you know, Riley Leonard and Philip Rivers if the You said Colts. Uh yeah. No, they don’t. No, I was saying the Colts if the Colts don’t win out or if the Chargers lose out, they could find their way in. I feel like the Chargers figure it out a little bit. Like I like I’m surprised they’re four and a half point underdogs this weekend against the Chiefs because the way the Chiefs have been playing. Oh yeah, I agree. But if the Texans can pass the Chargers regardless, we are headed directly towards Houston Texans at Jacksonville Jaguars. Cakewalk first round of the playoffs. Yo, I if that happens, I am putting all my dollars. Yeah. All dozens on the Texans. I think the Texans whip that ass if that happens. I think that is like that is almost the perfect scenario at this point is that you have a really good shot to pull Jacksonville in the first round of the playoffs whether it’s on the road or you somehow pass them and win the division. It feels like that to me is going to be the three and the six seed. Okay. I was about to ask what the seating would be. It be three. Yeah, cuz I think Buffalo’s eventually going to be five and the the North Division winner, Pittsburgh, Baltimore, Cincinnati, is going to be the four seed. Whoever draws the Texans gets so screwed. Yeah. Because the Texans are not a true non-division winner. And for them to be like a six, seven seed and you’re a two seed and that’s who you got to face, it’s like, bro, like for real. Imagine if you end up as a seven seed and the playoffs position stays as is and like Drake May’s first real competition this season outside of the Buffalo Bills and his first playoff game ever is against Demo Ryan’s defense. Did you see a keep? No. What do you say? Keeb went on a podcast said that Texans defense is great, but they’re now signed. They’re all they’re doing is putting themselves in position to go to Foxboro and get popped. I just said maybe they lose. I don’t know. But like that surprises me. I I just I like a lot. It’s a really good story, but like they they just haven’t they haven’t beat anyone value. I don’t like the schedule conversation in the NFL. I genuinely don’t because they’re all NFL teams. They’re all But this conversation about their NFL schedule, it’s leg it’s extremely legitimate. Yeah, they got they had a fourth place schedule and the way just the draw worked. Oh god, it’s this year with with the divisions that the East was the AFC East was playing, they played a lot of bad teams. Like they played a lot of bad teams this year. They played the NFC South. The NFC South is terrible. They like it’s for the to lose to the Saints was brutal. Yeah, they’re in trouble. I think the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. On a side note, there they got so many injuries. Baker Mayfield’s not healthy and I think they still have both their games. I’m double check here. They still have Yes. both their games versus the Carolina Panthers. It’s going to be fun, which is crazy. They play December 1st for the first time this season and then they play again on January 4th. I think the NFL schedules the NFC South last December 22nd. The way they do it, when I was there, this happened is also they had the Saints twice in the last three weeks. Yeah. So, it’s like I think they scheduled the NFC South, they’re like, “Get everything where they want it and where it matters.” And then the South, they’re like, “Oh crap.” Uh, right there is fine. That works. They’re like, “Look, we don’t really care about this division. The ratings aren’t going to be good. The teams aren’t going to be that good. Prime time throw you in there a little bit.” Yeah. Like maybe Tampa Bay get a prime time game here or there maybe. But like I remember what we got CJ versus Bryce on Thursday Night Football. I think their rookie year was that. Yeah, that was one versus two. That’s why, right? Yeah, but like outside of that, like, yeah, it doesn’t really happen. All right. Uh Texans this weekend, let’s take a look at the line here. Again, they are at the moment 10-point favorites at homeow to the Arizona Cardinals. Uh looking to move to nine and to nine and five this weekend. I I’m with you. Like, if there was a team that could upset the Texans, I do look at the Cardinals a little bit, but they’re trying to change some history here this season. Well, now now Lamar Lamar I’m thank god wasn’t playing but they got Baltimore. Yeah, they got Kansas City and now they can get Jacobe cuz if you do look Jacobe Versett’s got the Texans a couple times. Where is he beating them? I don’t Indianapolis and New England. Oh god. Like he’s beat Yeah, he’s got their number. He’s there there’s there’s some Jacobe Versett game numbers in there. So it’s not real but like I think the Texans win this game. I do not think they cover 10 points. 10’s a lot. I would I would tease it up. Yeah. Or tease the number down. Tease the spread down. Yeah. And then what’s the overunder? Uh 42 and a half. Two. Oh, Damn. Damn. I was going to guess 42. Now I don’t look smart cuz you That sounds about right. Um I would go tease the under. Yeah, probably. Yeah. All right. I’ll tease the under and then tighten the gap. All right. He’s Will Conunk. Where can they find you? Find me on Instagram, Tik Tok, and X. Just type in kungle and then kicking it with kungle on YouTube as well. I’m Joe George. You find me on Twitter, Joe Radio, on Jeremy and Joe Monday through Friday on ESPN 975 from 3 to 6. This episode of Swarmcast has been brought to you by Blueestar Tequila, the world’s first and only Night Harvest Tequila. Beautiful bottle. You can find it near you at bluestar tequila.com. We’ll talk to you next week after hopefully another Houston Texans victory. Eight.

Are CJ Stroud & the Houston Texans actually Super Bowl contenders? What would hold them back? Reacting to the Chiefs game and what we learned and a look ahead to what DeMeco Ryan’s squad can do in the final 4 weeks! All that and more on this episode of The Swarmcast!

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Swarmcast is presented by Blue Star Tequila, find it near you at bluestartequila.com!