Texans to Start Case Keenum Over a Healthy Matt Schaub vs. Colts
Houston Texans quarterback Matt Schaub had more than a week to rest his injured ankle during the team’s week 8 bye, but despite being listed as active for Sunday’s match-up against the AFC South-leading Indianapolis Colts, he will not return to his starting position under center for the Texans this week.
According to CBSSports.com, Texans head coach Gary Kubiak announced on Monday that former third-stringer Case Keenum will get the nod instead. Sunday’s game will mark Keenum’s second straight start, after making his regular-season debut in a 17-16 loss to the Kansas Chiefs in week 7.
Although the Texans dropped their fifth-consecutive game two weeks ago – after starting the season 2-0 – Kubiak was ultimately impressed with what Keenum was able to do against the undefeated Chiefs. In the loss, Keenum was more effective than even a healthy Schaub has been all season, as he completed 15 of 25 throws for 271 yards and a touchdown.
Still, the move will undoubtedly be a shock to some, who expected Houston to go with the more proven Schaub. With a chance to gain ground in the standings against the division-leader, there’s no question that the 2-5 Texans need a win this week now more than ever, and although Schaub has struggled this season up until now, he is still the same QB who has led the Texans to the playoffs and the AFC South title two years in a row.
Of course, whether or not Keenum keeps the starting job all season remains to be seen. Kubiak stressed that the lineup is not set in stone, and considering his own job could be on the line at the end of the year, he’ll likely go with whoever has the hotter hand week-to-week. However, one thing has been made very clear during this recent quarterback controversy: Schaub is not “the guy” in Houston anymore.
Most Texans fans will likely be pleased with the decision – especially the ones who cheered when Schaub initially went down with the injury – not only because Keenum is that hotter hand at the moment, but also because he’s a homegrown product, who played his college ball a stone’s throw away (at least for him) from Reliant Stadium at the University of Houston.
Unfortunately for Keenum, the support of the home faithful will be the only thing on his side come Sunday. Not only do the Colts have one of the league’s most balanced and efficient offenses, but they also field a defense that has limited opponents to fewer than 230 yards through the air per game.
For those betting this game, it probably wouldn’t matter who the Texans start, especially with the Colts being one-point favorites on the road. Take Indy to cover -1 in this one and send the Texans to their sixth-straight defeat.
