For better finishes, Texans need better starts

Posted by ESPN.com's Paul Kuharsky This hardly qualifies as rocket scientology, but the Houston Texans could really help themselves by playing better offensively in the first quarter.
The Texans have been outscored 38-12 in the first 15 minutes.
Here's a breakdown of how their 13 drives, averaging just 5.6 plays, have ended:
Punt - 5
Field goal - 4
Interception - 3
Downs - 1
To make matters worse, Houston has scored first only once, in Tennessee on Sept. 21. The Texans still went into the second quarter of that game trailing 7-6.
First drives can do a lot to set a tone for a team and for a game. A good offense likes to show it can dictate things early, when the context of a game has less of a bearing on play-calling. The Texans have failed to land such a first punch in any of their games.
Their first drives have resulted in a turnover on downs, a punt, a punt, a punt and an interception.
But hope arrives Sunday.
How's this sound in terms of a prescription from the AFC South Blog's resident football doctor?
Detroit has been outscored 40-0 in the first quarter this season.


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