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2019 NFL Wild Card weekend: Top 5 takeaways from Round 1 of playoffs

By Peter Panacy

ARLINGTON, TEXAS - JANUARY 05: Michael Gallup #13 of the Dallas Cowboys comes down with the touchdown reception against Shaquill Griffin #26 of the Seattle Seahawks in the second quarter during the Wild Card Round at AT&T Stadium on January 05, 2019 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - JANUARY 05: Michael Gallup #13 of the Dallas Cowboys comes down with the touchdown reception against Shaquill Griffin #26 of the Seattle Seahawks in the second quarter during the Wild Card Round at AT&T Stadium on January 05, 2019 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /
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HOUSTON, TX – JANUARY 05: Kendall Lamm #74 of the Houston Texans helps Deshaun Watson #4 off the turf in the fourth quarter against the Indianapolis Colts during the Wild Card Round at NRG Stadium on January 5, 2019 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TX – JANUARY 05: Kendall Lamm #74 of the Houston Texans helps Deshaun Watson #4 off the turf in the fourth quarter against the Indianapolis Colts during the Wild Card Round at NRG Stadium on January 5, 2019 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) /

No. 3: The Texans Are a Massive Disappointment

Gosh, it’s got to be tough for Texans fans right now.

Sure, 2018 got off to a cold start. But after kicking off the year with a 0-3 record, Houston managed to rip off nine straight wins en route to an 11-5 finish and being crowned AFC South division champions.

So, what happened at home against the Colts?

Well, falling behind 14-0 in the first quarter wasn’t exactly ideal. And that should cause some frustrations within what should be one of the better defensive front sevens in the NFL right now.

Yet Houston’s defense clamped down in the second half, shutting out Indianapolis after halftime and giving the Texans offense a chance to stage a comeback.

That didn’t happen, though.

The Texans struggled to get wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins going, and it didn’t help he was banged up. Quarterback Deshaun Watson only took three sacks, but he was under duress for much of the game.

Remember, Houston’s offensive line ranked dead last in pass protection in 2018, according to Football Outsiders.

This early playoff exit won’t make head coach Bill O’Brien’s seat any cooler.