Fansided

Bears, Texans, Giants, Bills, Steelers: The Missing Ingredient For 3-3 NFL Teams

By Henry McKenna

Sep 8, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning (10) against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 8, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning (10) against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 9, 2014; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Texans quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick (14) attempts a pass during the first quarter as Indianapolis Colts outside linebacker Erik Walden (93) applies pressure at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 9, 2014; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Texans quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick (14) attempts a pass during the first quarter as Indianapolis Colts outside linebacker Erik Walden (93) applies pressure at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Houston Texans

The Texans defense has been good enough to win three games for the team. The defense is scoring points for the impotent offense. J.J. Watt has two defensive touchdowns and one offensive touchdown (when he lined up at tight end). Thus, for a team that has not exceeded 30 points this year, the lack is obvious.

Missing Ingredient: A Better Quarterback

Serviceable isn’t working — Fitzpatrick isn’t working.

The Texas skill players are very talented. They may not have a tight end in the same echelon as Martellus Bennett, but their wide receivers and running backs — when healthy — are comparable to that of the Bears.

If only Ryan Fitzpatrick could safely and efficiently get them the ball. Fitzpatrick may be completing his passes at 65 percent, which isn’t so bad, but he’s also completing interceptions at 3.8 percent. His six interceptions are seventh in the NFL.

The problem for the Texans is that one does not easily acquire a better quarterback. It is probably the most difficult task in professional football. So while the Texans acquired Ryan Mallett in a trade and drafted Tom Savage, they would be playing if they were better than Fitzpatrick, presumably. So it appears that Texas may have to wait until next offseason to find their missing ingredient.

That doesn’t mean that the Texans won’t make the playoffs. It just means they may need a little help from the other teams on this list. They’ll need some of their 3-3 compadres to starting losing.

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