The Houston Roughnecks have now won 2 in a row, after suffering that 3 game losing streak. And this game, they seem to be heading in the right direction. It took a little while to get there, but in the second half, the Roughnecks started finding their rhythm in offense again, with help from their running game. On top of that, the defense came to play and we’re able to stall a Vipers offense that had been moving the ball well. Houston with this win secured home field advantage in the playoffs, and now the South runs through H-Town. Let’s see how it all came about.
Let’s start with the defense. They were great in this game. The offense was struggling, especially in the first half, and it was the defense who had to kick start the scoring. Deandre Johnson forced a fumble on Jalan McClendon and Tavante Beckett scooped it up and returned it for six. But that wasn’t the only defensive touchdown for this Houston defense. In what was probably the most impressive play of the game came, Ajene Harris who stripped Martavis Bryant, like I’m talking just took the ball right from him, ran it into the end zone for another defensive touchdown. It was amazing to watch, and it was a much needed play that gave this team the jolt it needed to get back on track. From then on, the defense was simply “shut down” and they never allowed McClendon and the offense to get into a rhythm. It was the Roughnecks defense from the first 4 weeks, and it was incredible to see. If this is the defense that we are getting the playoffs, Houston will have a shot against anybody. They aren’t the best defense in the league, but they are good enough to win a championship. But that totally hinges on what version of the offense are we going to get.
Speaking of the offense, it was not pretty, but it was encouraging. The first half especially, was the dreadful offense that we had been seeing since Week 6. It was not good, and it all stemmed from Brandon Silvers not playing a great game. He was not good, and his numbers show it. 16/27 for 105 yds, 2 INTs and 0 TDs. That’s not going to get it done in the playoffs, and if that’s the Brandon Silvers we are going to get, they aren’t getting out of the first round. Some of the throws he made were just awful. I don’t know what happened to Silvers. It really is mind boggling. But it really is not shocking. The first 4 weeks of this season was more the anomaly than the norm. This is why I was never sold on Silvers as the guy. But he really is the best option, unfortunately. So all the Roughnecks can hope for is that Silvers, for at least just 2 games in the playoffs, can revert back to MVP form Brandon Silvers. But what did finally look good for the Roughnecks offense was the running game, which had been pretty non existent. Max Borghi and Brycen Alleyne both had great games on the ground. Borghi went for 74 yds on 10 carries and 1 TD, and Alleyne went for 42 yds on 12 carries and also added another TD. The run game allowed the offense to find a rhythm, and it was an encouraging sign as they head into the playoffs. Now if we can just get the passing game, even to just decent level, the Roughnecks could make some noise in the post season.
The Houston Roughnecks are the number one seed in the South, and they will host the South Division Championship, but they still have a lot of work to do, to be an actual threat if they were to make it to the XFL Championship. Hopefully they can find it.
