HOUSTON (AP) - Despite a 3-1 record and a two-game lead in the AFC South, there is still plenty the Houston Texans need to work on before they travel to Minnesota.
Quarterback Brock Osweiler has thrown six interceptions in the first four games, including two against Tennessee Sunday. Osweiler has thrown five touchdowns this season, with two of those coming in a 27-20 win over the Titans .
However, Houston coach Bill O’Brien said Monday he was not concerned about the number of interceptions Osweiler has thrown.
“I believe it will get fixed,” O’Brien said. “Brock has played well for us. Other than the two interceptions, I thought the guy played a good football game for us, got us into the right plays, good tempo. We have to stop turning the ball over, and I think a lot goes into that, not just one player.”
O’Brien said that when he looked at the interceptions, there was a lot that went into them, including Osweiler’s decision, the way the receiver’s route was run, protection and if Osweiler had to rush to get rid of the ball.
“The thing about interceptions is that when you study them, there have been a couple that haven’t been good decisions that we have to clean up,” O’Brien said.
Elsewhere on the offensive side, O’Brien said the Texans have to do a better job of getting DeAndre Hopkins the ball. Hopkins had one reception for 4 yards on six targets against Tennessee.
“They basically doubled him quite a bit,” O’Brien said. “He had a big catch. Even though he had one catch, the catch he had was a big catch at the end of the game. It was a third-down conversion that took some more time off the clock.
“It’s not like he didn’t have a productive game. He blocked well, too.”
Hopkins, who led the Texans in receptions last season, has 17 catches for 227 yards and two touchdowns through the first four games this season, but he is the second-leading receiver on the team. Rookie Will Fuller is the leading receiver with 19 catches for 323 yards and two touchdowns.
On the defensive front, the Texans’ run defense showed some improvement despite playing their first game without J.J. Watt, who is out for the season following back surgery.
The Titans rushed for 124 yards and two touchdowns on 32 carries, but Tennessee only had 32 rushing yards in the second half.
“One of the things we had to do a better job of was set the edge,” O’Brien said.
“They got around the edge a couple times in the first half with a couple of scheme plays, some misdirection-type plays that helped them. We set the edge better (in the second half). I think overall we tackled better and played better gap control defense.”
For the season, Houston has allowed 501 rushing yards.
“Defensively and on special teams, we need to come out with a better sense of urgency in the second half and that’s going to be a big focus for us as well as other things as it relates to Minnesota this week,” O’Brien said.
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