NEU » to stay behind the quarterba

HOUSTON -- Another lopsided loss on the road has the Houston Texans searching for ways to jumpstart their stalled offense.The Texans fell to 3-2 with a 31-13 loss at the undefeated Vikings on Sunday in a game that illustrated that quarterback Brock Osweiler has plenty of room for improvement.I need to play better, he said. I need to do my job better, and as an entire team we need to play better.Osweiler isnt off to a great start in his first season in Houston after the Texans lured him away from Denver this offseason with a massive $72 million contract. Hes thrown seven interceptions and just six touchdown passes.His seven interceptions are tied with Ryan Tannehill for third-most in the league behind former Houston quarterback Ryan Fitzpatricks 10 and Jameis Winston, who has eight entering Monday night.Osweiler leads an offense that ranks 29th in the NFL by averaging just 208.6 yards passing a game. Houstons offense was terrible on third downs on Sunday, converting just one of 13 opportunities. Osweiler often seemed frazzled in the pocket and once bounced a short pass to a wide open receiver.Of course, the quarterback isnt the only one to blame for Houstons woes. Hes playing behind a line that allowed four sacks on Sunday and that let him be hit 13 times against the Vikings.Despite Osweilers struggles, coach Bill OBrien refused to criticize him, instead taking the blame for the teams poor performance.I think overall Ive been happy with the way the guy has prepared, havent been happy with the way the offense has played, not blaming it on anybody, except right here, OBrien said pointing at himself.OBrien also didnt blame the line for not protecting Osweiler better, claiming that the excessive number of hits he took were because he didnt call the right plays.Another area of concern for this offense is that Osweiler failed to get the ball to star receiver DeAndre Hopkins enough to impact the game. Hopkins had a touchdown late on Sunday, but it was after the game was already out of hand.He finished with five receptions for 56 yards, but had no receptions at halftime. This came a week after Hopkins was limited to one catch for 4 yards in a win over the Titans.Didnt get involved until late (Sunday), we need to do that earlier obviously, OBrien said. We know what a player he is ... and so were going to work really hard to try to figure out how to get him the ball more often.Hopkins was asked about the struggles of the offense on Monday and how they can correct things to improve this week. He was unusually short in his response to this question and all other queries thrown his way.Working every day, he said. Nobodys perfect.Its clear that teams focus on limiting Hopkins every week and often double team him. Despite that, Osweiler knows that he has to do a better job of getting the ball to both him and rookie Will Fuller , who was held to one reception for 4 yards against Minnesota.The bottom line, if the receivers are not getting the ball, who is the first person you need to look at? It is me, Osweiler said.I need to play better and I need to find a way, regardless of what the defense is doing, to get those guys the football.As bleak as things looked on Sunday, the Texans still lead the AFC South , and a win against the Colts would push their cushion to two games against Indy in the division.Weve got a lot of good things ahead of us if we can correct a lot of these things, OBrien said.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and http://twitter.com/AP-NFLCheap Nike Shoes . -- The Bishops Gaiters are showing they belong among the countrys top varsity football teams. Nike Shoes China . -- Yogi Ferrell orchestrates pretty much everything in Indianas offence. https://www.fakenikeshoeswholesale.com/ .Y. -- Buffalo Bills coach Doug Marrone has drawn on his Syracuse connections once again by hiring Rob Moore to take over as receivers coach. Fake Nike Shoes From China . Now, correct me if Im wrong but I saw one official distinctly pointing at the net indicating a good goal but after an inconclusive review they overturned the goal. Shouldnt the ruling on the ice (good goal) stand after an inconclusive review? Why was this overturned? James Veaudry Pembroke, ON -- Hey Kerry, Youll get a lot of these, but why was the Montreal goal against Nashville Saturday night overturned? Eller puts the puck on net and the on ice ruling from the ref behind the net is a Montreal goal. Black Friday Nike Shoes . Louis Rams wide receiver Stedman Bailey last Sunday. The fine is the fourth this season for Goldson. He was fined $30,000 for a hit on the New York Jets Jeff Cumberland in Week 1.LAKE FOREST, Ill. -- Jay Cutlers return has come at the right time for the Chicago Bears.Cutler is back as the starter after five weeks away with a thumb sprain as a replacement Brian Hoyer, who went on injured reserve with a broken left arm.And Bears coach John Fox is thankful to have Cutler healthy enough to play, even if earlier he hinted there was a chance Hoyer could keep the job.He doesnt have a choice, I guess, at this point, Cutler said about Fox. Brian is out, so Ive got to go.Ive had good conversations with Foxy this week, last week, the week before. Theres never been any strain in our relationship. Were both very open and honest, and were on the same page. We just want to win football games.While Cutler was away, Hoyer played five-plus games without an interception and a 98.0 passer rating.It led to talk Cutler might have played his last down for the Bears, who are 1-6 on the season. And Fox didnt exactly throw cold water on the situation by saying the starting position is performance-based.It is what it is, Cutler said. Anytime you have a backup quarterback -- and to Brians credit, he played well.I think as a team, we wish we would have won some more of those ball games. But Brian went in there and did a great job.My discussions with everybody that I have relationships with in here were positive, and whenever I was ready to go, Id be ready to go.There was never any discussion regarding that with me.Cutler said he didnt expect to have a discussion.It didnt concern me, he said. I wasnt ready to play. My thumb wasnt healed.The future, Cutler said, will be an issue when it comes.Whatever happens at the end of the year, its supposed to happen, and will go accordingly, Cutler said. But right now its not something that I worry about.Its my 11th year, my eighth year here. Ive seen a lot of ups and downs, and its how it goes. At the end of the year, we can have those conversations. Whatever happens, happens.Cutler said the thumb sprain is no longer giving him pain.I havent gotten hit, Cutler said. Throwing good -- you cant feel it throwing.Fox on Monday said the plan all along was to bring Cutler back when he was healed, regardless of what he told reporters about performance-based starters.I think JJay kind of knew all along what our plan was, Fox said.dddddddddddd And thats the important thing.Cutler said he wanted to return before Monday nights home game against the Minnesota Vikings.I mean, as a player you always want to come back probably sooner than you should, than the doctors allow, Cutler said. This being my right thumb and being kind of vitally important to my job.We thought that erring on the side of caution was best.It wasnt a situation Cutler enjoyed.Ive never liked being hurt, never liked being out, Cutler said. It could get to be a lonely feeling at times watching everyone else go out there and try to win ballgames. Youre kind of just a helpless bystander.So being able to get in the mix and trying to help these guys is going to be fun.Cutler threw in practice on the side the past few weeks, but wasnt involved with team drills except for one brief appearance three weeks ago. Its the first time in his career hes returned to play in a season after a layoff this long.Anytime you take a layoff like that and come back, theres going to be some (rust) youve got to knock off, he said. Luckily I was still around, saw the game, visualized the game, was able to stay behind the quarterback and stay involved, and weve got a long week.When Cutler started out the season with a 75.7 passer rating for two games, he was playing behind a completely revamped offensive line with Josh Sitton and Cody Whitehair making their first Bears starts.Now he returns with Sitton suffering from an ankle injury and right guard Kyle Long suffering from a pectoral muscle strain. Their status for the game is unknown. Eric Kush replaced Sitton and Ted Larsen took over for Long against Green Bay in a 26-10 loss Thursday.Its how it goes, Cutler said. Weve got a bye week after this, so hopefully well get those two guys back. Kush played well. Ted has played a lot of football. The good thing about it is we have had a lot of different guys in there through camp and during the games and stuff.We shouldnt miss a beat with those guys.---Online:AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '