After Firing Bill O’Brien, Texans Listed as 6.5-Point Favorites vs Jaguars in Week 5; Will Change Spark Houston?
- The Houston Texans have fired coach Bill O’Brien following an 0-4 start
- Assistant head coach Romeo Crennel will serve as interim head coach for the remainder of the season
- The Texans next host the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday Oct. 11
Bill O’Brien’s seven-year run as the Houston Texans’ coach is over.
With his team off to an 0-4 start, O’Brien was fired Monday. The move came a day after the Texans lost at home to another winless team, the Minnesota Vikings, 31-23.
O’Brien, whose odds to be fired first were +900 prior to the latest loss, also took over general manager duties this past offseason.
Bill O'Brien in 2020:
🔘 Blew a 24-0 lead in the playoffs vs. Kansas City
🔘 Traded away DeAndre Hopkins
🔘 Started the season 0-4 in a year where Houston does not have their first and second-round picks
🔘 Fired by the Texans pic.twitter.com/K3IQ3yMrst— ESPN (@espn) October 5, 2020
Assistant head coach Romeo Crennel will serve as the interim boss for the rest of the season. The Texans’ first game under Crennel comes Sunday when they host the Jacksonville Jaguars. The latest Jaguars vs Texans odds show Houston as a 6.5-point favorite.
Jaguars vs Texans Odds
| Team | Moneyline | Point Spread | Over/Under Total at FanDuel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jacksonville Jaguars | +215 | +6.5 (-110) | Over 54.5 (-105) |
| Houston Texans | -260 | -6,5 (-110) | Under 54.5 (-115) |
Odds taken Oct. 5 from FanDuel
Barely a .500 Coach
O’Brien finishes his tenure in Houston with a 52-48 record, a .520 winning percentage. His teams won the AFC South title in four of his six full seasons but never advanced past the divisional round of the playoffs.
The Texans also posted winning records in five of O’Brien’s six seasons. The exception was 2017 when Houston went 4-12 in quarterback Deshaun Watson’s rookie year.
A statement from Cal McNair. pic.twitter.com/5JbZylPTbp
— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) October 5, 2020
As GM, O’Brien’s biggest trade has turned out to be a flop (so far). On March 16, wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins and a fourth-round draft pick were dealt to the Arizona Cardinals for running back David Johnson.
Johnson’s career decline has continued in Houston. He has rushed for just 197 yards this season and two touchdowns on 51 carries while catching nine passes for 100 yards.
Hopkins, a four-time Pro Bowl selection, leads the NFL with 39 receptions through four games for 397 yards and one TD.
Ceding Control
A former offensive coordinator with the New England Patriots, O’Brien called the Texans’ plays throughout his first six seasons in Houston. He ceded those duties to offensive coordinator Tim Kelly this season.
However, the Texans did make a change in the loss to the Vikings. While Kelly continued to call the plays, O’Brien relayed them to Watson.
That alteration seemed to have a positive effect. The Texans had 386.0 total yards after averaging 308.0 in their first three games.
Some believe the offense has become stale.
The Houston Texans is one of a couple of jobs I think would be a great fit for Eric Bieniemy. A veteran club that needs a change in culture and someone who can build a vibrant offense around a dynamic quarterback. Texans would be crazy not to hire him in January IMHO.
— Matt Derrick (@mattderrick) October 5, 2020
The Texans are 29th among the 32 NFL teams in scoring, though, with an average of 20.0 points a game. At 327.5 yards per game, they rank 27th in total offense.
That is not what owner Cal McNair had to be expecting when he signed Watson to a four-year, $140-million contract extension prior to the season.
Crennel Steps In
The 73-year-old Crennel becomes the NFL’s oldest head coach. He has six years of head coaching experience with the Cleveland Browns (2005-08) and Kansas City Chiefs (2011-12).
Crennel’s career record is just 28-55 and 10 of those wins came in 2017 when the Browns missed the playoffs by a game. None of his teams have reached the postseason.
Romeo Crennel takes over as Texans interim head coach https://t.co/joXrB94115 pic.twitter.com/VnQ8X1vBJL
— SportsRadio 610 (@SportsRadio610) October 5, 2020
Unlike O’Brien, Crennel’s specialty is defense. He was the Texans’ defensive coordinator the previous five years, and he has served in that role for a total of 13 season, including stints with the Browns, Patriots, and Chiefs.
The offense figures to be unchanged.
However, Crennel may want to take a hands-on approach with the defense. Under coordinator Anthony Weaver, the Texans are 22nd in total defense (393.2) and last in rushing defense (181.8).
In a Big Hole
If the Texans aren’t buried in the AFC South, they are close. The Tennessee Titans are in first place with a 3-0 record and the Indianapolis Colts are 3-1.
The one hope for the Texans is they still have two games left with both the Titans and Colts this season. However, it seems highly unlikely Houston can win the division.
Crennel is not the most inspired choice. So, it is difficult to imagine the Texans drawing enough inspiration to cover the 6.5-point spread against a Jaguars team that’s playing better than expected.
John Perrotto has been covering and writing about sports for various outlets for over 40 years. His work has appeared in the likes of USA TODAY, ESPN.com, SI.com, Forbes.com, The Associated Press, Baseball Digest, and more. John is based out of Beaver Falls, PA.
