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With offense struggling, Texans' Bill O'Brien taking over play-calling duties

With three full weeks of the NFL season gone, the Houston Texans are struggling on offense. They are coming off a 27-0 shutout to the New England Patriots, and have scored just three offensive touchdowns, all by pass. Their 14.0 points per game is tied for fewest in the league with this week’s opponent, Tennessee.

Bill O'Brien on the sidelines (AP)
Bill O’Brien on the sidelines (AP)

They’re also near the bottom of the league in several other offensive categories: first downs per game (just 17), yards per first-down play (4.06), and red-zone efficiency – the Texans have been inside their opponents’ 20-yard line seven times, with just one touchdown.

All of those numbers, and likely more, have led head coach Bill O’Brien to make a decision: according to John McClain of the Houston Chronicle, he’s taking over play-calling.

O’Brien called Houston’s plays on offense during his first year with the team, 2014, but then gave the duties to offensive coordinator George Godsey last year and for the first three games of this season.

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The Texans spent big money on quarterback Brock Osweiler and running back Lamar Miller in free agency, and have one of the NFL’s best young receivers, DeAndre Hopkins, though the offensive line could be better.

Houston came into the season a favorite to win the AFC South, and with the division once again looking like it could be the worst in the NFL, O’Brien clearly believes this change will help get his team heading in the right direction.

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