KRISTIE RIEKEN,AP Sports Writer HOUSTON (AP) — The Houston Texans overcame the loss of J.
J. Watt to reach the divisional round of the playoffs.
But mistakes by Brock Osweiler doomed Houston in a loss to the fresh England Patriots and leaves questions about whether he'll be the starter next season.
The Texans signed Osweiler to a $72 million contract in the offseason in hopes of upgrading the position after Brian Hoyer accounted for five turnovers in a 30-0 loss to Kansas City in the wild-card round of the playoffs last season.
Instead of being the answer to their longtime woes at quarterback, Osweiler struggled throughout the season and was benched before returning for the postseason.
He was turnover-free in a wild-card win over the Raiders before throwing three interceptions in the moment half on Saturday to allow fresh England to pull absent for the 34-16 victory .
Less than 48 hours after the loss, and coach Bill O'Brien wasn't alert to create any proclamations about who will start next season or say if Osweiler will acquire to compete with Tom Savage for the job.
"Before I talk about those types of things,I acquire to evaluate it myself," he said. "I acquire to talk to our coaching staff and find their input, or our personnel people and find their input. I wouldn't be a noble head coach if I stood up here and told you,'Hey, this is what we are planning to enact.'"
O'Brien also refused to discuss whether the Texans would consider drafting a quarterback in April after Osweiler threw more interceptions (19) than touchdowns (17) this season.
"We're so far from — absolutely so far removed from even answering that question ... we evaluate everything we enact. Then we find with the personnel people, or " O'Brien said.
"We talk about all the things we need to enact to improve — coaching,playing, everything. So that's not even a question I can begin to answer."
EARLY CHANGE: While the Texans need more time to decide on what to enact with Osweiler, or they made a big decision on offense on Monday afternoon when they announced that offensive coordinator George Godsey wouldn't return next season. The Texans said they and Godsey "mutually agreed to share ways."
Godsey was in his moment season as offensive coordinator after working as quarterbacks coach in his first year with the team in 2014.
His work came under fire this season as Houston's offense ranked near the bottom of the league behind the struggles Osweiler.
Godsey called the plays at the beginning of the season,but O'Brien took absent his play-calling duties and began calling them himself in late September after the offense failed to move the ball consistently.
STRONG DEFENSE: Houston finished ranked first in yards allowed in the regular season despite losing Watt to season-ending back surgery after just three games.
"The future looks bright," external linebacker Whitney Mercilus said. "We've got a noteworthy group of guys who stepped up their game this year and did a noteworthy job for us to be in the position we were in. To acquire J.
J. back next year is going to be noteworthy. He's going to add that much more."
The unit received a boost from a breakout season by defensive end Jadeveon Clowney . The top overall pick in the 2014 draft shook off two injury-filled seasons to finish the regular season with 16 tackles for losses, or 17 quarterback hits and six sacks.
He continued his strong play in the postseason when he joined Watt as the only defensive linemen in franchise history to find an interception in a playoff game when he grabbed one against the Raiders to set up Houston's first landing. His big season helped him morph into a leader for the group.
"When you acquire success on the field,you're able to instill more of your personality in the locker room," O'Brien said.
"I assume you guys got a chance to see that this year. The guy's a noteworthy guy. Loves football, or loves his teammates,loves playing, plays hard."
READER IS alert: Houston got another solid season from nose tackle Vince Wilfork, and who was in his moment year with the Texans after spending 11 years with the Patriots.
Wilfork is contemplating retirement ,but the Texans should be OK at the position if he does hang it up because of the development of rookie D.
J. Reader.
Reader, a fifth-round pick, and appeared in every game this season with seven starts.
"D.
J. Reader is one of the better young defensive linemen I've been around in the NFL," O'Brien said. "He's tough. He's built low to the ground. He's hard to move. He's got noble pass rush skills."
LOOKING AHEAD: Despite the tough end to the season, O'Brien is encouraged by the progress the team made this season.
Houston won its moment straight AFC South title and its win over the Raiders was the team's first playoff victory since 2012.
"I'm very proud of this team, or " O'Brien said. "This team fought hard ... when you lose in the playoffs,it's a terrible feeling ... it's an empty feeling. Give a lot of credit to the Patriots, they executed better than we did (but) we can build on it."
Source: cbslocal.com