Ryan Fitzpatrick Will Be X-Factor For Houston Texans In Week 7
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Despite losing a crucial AFC South matchup with the Indianapolis Colts in Week 6, the Houston Texans are 3-3 so far in the 2014 NFL season and still in the hunt for an AFC Playoff berth. J.J. Watt is playing out of his mind defensively, and the rest of the team is doing just enough to keep the Texans from losing the game.
Next up for Houston is a trip to Pittsburgh, where the Texans will face the struggling Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday Night Football. The Steelers have had an up and down season so far, with a 3-3 record that saw them lose to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and get blown out by the Cleveland Browns.
The Texans’ defense should have a field day with the Steelers’ struggling offense, but it’s not the defense that will win the game for Houston — it’s the offense.
As the running back with the third-most rushing yards in the NFL so far, Arian Foster has had a fairly good season, but quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick has literally thrown games away due to interceptions. He accounts for 10 total turnovers this season and six touchdowns. Fitzpatrick has been interception-prone his entire career, and if Houston is to win on Monday, he must take care of the football.
Steelers’ running back Le’Veon Bell and receiver Antonio Brown have consistently been two of the most dangerous offensive weapons in the NFL, so the Texans cannot afford to give Ben Roethlisberger and this offense multiple chances to get things going.
Fitzpatrick has to take care of the football above anything else, because the Steelers’ defense has been shaky. If they get confidence and Brown, Bell and Roethlisberger are given a lot of time on the ball due to interceptions, then this could end up being a long night for Fitzpatrick and the Texans.
Taylor Sturm is a Columnist for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @TSturmRS, like him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.
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