HOUSTON — There have been many times this season that Houston Texans head coach Lovie Smith could be criticized by fans and some sports analysts for his decisions.
In the season opener against the Indianapolis Colts, he elected to end the game in a tie rather than go for the win.
Combine that with other questionable calls from the sidelines, and you end up with a 1-12-1 record.
In Houston’s 30-24 overtime loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, critics pointed out one coaching decision by Smith that made some scratch their heads in bewilderment. Many believe that the Texans’ record should dictate riskier calls by Smith, but in reality, coaches do not coach to their win-loss totals. They go as the game goes and get a natural feel for how the team is playing.
A deeper look into the questionable call will help clear up some confusion.
With a little over four minutes left in the second quarter, the Texans were leading the Chiefs 14-7. They faced a fourth-and-1 at midfield, and instead of going for it, Smith decided to punt the ball. The Chiefs’ punt returner downed the ball at the six-yard line, and after a holding penalty on Kansas City, the ball was placed at the three-yard line.
Many believe that Smith should have elected to go for it on fourth down since the team has long been out of playoff contention, and it could have boosted morale on the sideline, but football isn’t played that way.
What Smith observed was backup quarterback Jeff Driskel being held to one yard on third-and-2. Without the services of rookie running back Dameon Pierce and a backfield by committee, Smith decided to punt the ball.
It was a good decision.
“We had a lead, thought we were playing pretty good,” Smith said after the game about his decision. “I liked the position we were in. Backed them up a little bit. I would do the same thing again in that situation too.”
Smith also was watching how effective his defense had played in the last two series against the Chiefs.
Texans’ defensive lineman Mario Addison forced a fumble on Kansas City rookie running back Isiah Pacheco on the Chiefs’ second possession of the quarter to get Houston’s offense the ball back at Kansas City’s 22-yard line.
Two plays later, quarterback Davis Mills scored on a 17-yard run to give the Texans a 14-7 lead. Houston’s defense would come up huge on the Chiefs’ next offensive possession by holding them to a quick three-and-out.
With those two factors in mind, it is a no-brainer for the coach, who is also the defensive coordinator, to punt the ball away instead of risking not getting a first down. Making Kansas City’s offense, led by NFL MVP candidate Patrick Mahomes drive the field for a score, which they did, is the chance you take, especially with the way the defense was playing.
Smith may deserve a lot of criticism for how this season has evolved, and if you ask him, he will take full accountability for it, but on the fourth-and-1 play call, he was correct.
