The Houston Texans’ offense hasn’t found its rhythm in the early part of their Wild Card game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The AFC North team turned them over on an attempted trick play and shut them out in the first quarter. Nick Chubb is no exception to the team’s overall performance, as he is off to a slow start.
Nick Chubb’s Quiet Start
Chubb is getting outcarried by rookie Woody Marks, as he isn’t getting much action, but the veteran running back is healthy and available for Houston. At the time of writing, he has four carries for 23 yards, while Marks has 10 carries for 55 yards.
Marks and Chubb could play huge roles for this offense if they can capitalize on the running lanes the offensive line is providing for them. However, for that to happen, the Texans must give them the ball.
As the Texans cashed in a Christian Kirk touchdown on a drive led by Marks and Chubb on the ground, the former picked up an apparent injury. He was checked for a potential concussion and cleared to return for the next drive.
Chubb is the 62nd-ranked running back in PFSN’s RB Impact Metric with an impact score of 63.7. He is nowhere near the same player that he was before he suffered his horrific injury with Cleveland. Although he’s not the explosive running back that he once was, he’s looked like he’s got enough burst to play an important role in this one.
The Texans are in a position to take control of this game, but they keep shooting themselves in the foot. Stroud has fumbled twice already in the first half, offering Pittsburgh the opportunity to hang around. Houston’s offense will be the x-factor. If they can do enough to score points, they’ll have a chance in every game with their defense.
Their defense is the second-best in the NFL, according to PFSN’s Defense Impact Metric. Giving their defense a few more points of cushion could be all that they need to book their ticket to the next round in New England.
The Patriots are coming off a dominant display against the Chargers, but the Texans match up well against just about any team in the NFL with their elite defense. If they can get past Pittsburgh, they’ll have a chance in New England.
Editor’s Note: This is a breaking news story and will be updated throughout the day as more information becomes available.
