Seidel: Jim Caldwell, Lions outsmart themselves in Houston

With all three timeouts left, the Lions could have kicked deep and tried to give Stafford a shot at a tying touchdown. The decision was nearly universally panned by fans, but let’s dive a little deeper into the strategy and see arguments for both sides. The Texans ran out the clock out after recovering the onside kick by rushing for two first downs.

The line has been a revolving door this season after rookie center Nick Martin, the Texans’ second-round draft pick, went down during training camp with an ankle injury; right tackle Derek Newton (knees) was lost for the season in Monday night’s defeat at Denver.

Caldwell’s explanation has some merit to it, but let’s break down each side of the argument.

-Lions DE Ziggy Ansah vs. Texans RT Chris Clark. He’s a flex play at the very least. Lamar Miller chipped in with a pair of eight-yard bursts, and the Texans were able to get a Nick Novak 36-yard field goal and a 10-point cushion. The Lions did get three sacks, but couldn’t force Houston’s inexperienced quarterback out of the pocket on a consistent basis.

The Texans have been patient through his growing pains since he’d started just seven games in his first four National Football League seasons.

The Lions defense is frightful, we all know that. Eric Ebron had some success, with seven catches for 79 yards, but too much of Detroit’s offense came on check-down passes.

The Lions (4-3) have became the most recent version of the “Cardiac Kids”.

The Lions come into this game at 4-3 on the season thanks to a 3-game winning streak, with all three wins coming at home. “I’ve got to play better and we have to play better as a team, as an offense, earlier in the game so we’re not in that situation”.

What are the chances he turns it around in Week 8 against the Detroit Lions?

In the end, field position didn’t even end up mattering.

Texans: Houston is off next week before visiting the Jaguars on November 13. Of course, that’s precisely when the Lions lose, right? The Packers are 4-2, but both teams are trying desperately to keep up with the 5-1 Minnesota Vikings who sit at the top of the division.

The Lions did not challenge the play, and Glover Quin was called for pass interference one play later to put the Texans in field-goal range.

To me, that answer is not as clear as some are making it out to be. The Lions have yielded 7 TDs to opposing tight ends so far, and I’m betting on a bounce-back performance from Osweiler on his home turf. Those of us hoping we see a 2 half of the season turnaround from Seattle’s offense like we did past year are counting on the ‘Hawks to show us something this week down in the Big Easy.