Right from the start, when the Texans methodically drove 66 yards for a touchdown in the first quarter, you had a feeling the Bucs’ playoff party would have to wait.

Jon Gruden gave Jeff Garcia another week to rest his ailing back, and the result was a workmanlike effort by Luke McCown - one that didn’t inspire nearly as much excitement as his previous start against New Orleans. Neither did the play of the offensive line (four sacks allowed), defense (which gave up too many big plays to a backup QB), and special teams (allowing a kickoff return to open the second half).

Do you chalk this up as a tough road loss against a fired-up opponent, or are there warning signs here?

The Bucs still are a defensive focused team.  When the defense plays well and the offense does not turn the ball over, they have been able to win games this year.  Yestereday, the defense had a sub-par day against an average offense in the Texans.  On top of that, the good Texan rush was able to pressure the backfield all day.  Graham did not get a lot of yardage, and McCown was hurried most of the day.  That would be the inexperienced and young offensive line’s concern, not necessarily the backfield.

Tribute this loss to the Texans exploiting the Bucs weaknesses: inexperience on the o-line, inexperience in the backfield of the offense, and taking what the defense gave up (which was too much in the end).

Bucs finish the year with a sub-par 1-3 record versus the AFC - good thing they are not in that conference for most likely the team would be well below .500 if that was the case.  Can you imagine having to play the Colts, Jaguars, Texans, and Titans twice?  The Bucs would be lucky to be 4-4 versus that group, rather than the opportunity to go 6-0 as they are on track to do against the relatively weak NFC South.  Watch out next year as the Bucs will be playing Dallas, Green Bay, Seattle, and the AFC West!

Well I’ve never thought much of our special teams so them giving up the points doesn’t shock me.  Better now then in some must win game I suppose. Maybe get them to work a little harder.

The oline flat got smoked a few times. Mario totally schooled Tru and Davin on one big play. That wasn’t pretty, but on the TD run Tru got all the way out to the MLB and the whole oline executed to a degree I’m not sure I’ve ever seen from a bucs oline. 

On D is was great to see some pressure again. Now maybe that’s houston’s oline? but none the less they actually got good pressure on consecutive plays, hard to remember the last time that happened.

Basically win the home games and it’s all good.

The Texans were prepared. They played better and deserved the win.