Houston Texans head coach Bill O’Brien told his team, then the media on Monday that Tom Savage will be his starting quarterback in Week 16.
"I've let the team know this afternoon that Tom Savage will be the starting quarterback this week against Cincinnati" Texans HC Bill O'Brien pic.twitter.com/xv3yNo7Vvb
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) December 19, 2016
O'Brien said he feels Tom Savage gives them the best chance to win this week. Said it's a hard for a coach to make these decisions
— James Palmer (@JamesPalmerTV) December 19, 2016
This is absolutely the only thing O’Brien could have done to keep faith with his locker room — something we touched on here.
Osweiler has been awful all year long, throwing 14 touchdowns and 16 interceptions in less than 14 full games. Worse still is the awful decline in production for prolific receiver, DeAndre Hopkins, who immediately became a huge factor as soon as Tom Savage was inserted into the starting lineup on Sunday against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Houston is locked into a tie with the Tennessee Titans heading into the season’s final two weeks. The Texans are hosting the Cincinnati Bengals this upcoming weekend and then will finish out the season against the Titans, when the divisional crown will likely be up for grabs.
Savage does give the Texans the best chance to win. He showed that clearly on Sunday, leading the Texans in a comeback win over the Jaguars. Thankfully O’Brien made the right call here before it was too late.