HOUSTON -- What the Houston Texans have dealt with since Monday night has been a lingering feeling throughout this disappointing season for the San Diego Chargers.On the cusp of a surprising victory over the AFC West-leading Oakland Raiders, the Texans (6-4) coughed up a seven-point lead with a fourth-quarter collapse and fell 27-20 in Mexico City. Instead of establishing a two-game lead over the Indianapolis Colts in the AFC South with a head-to-head victory in hand, the Texans dropped to 4-3 in the AFC and set the stage for a dogfight for the division title down the stretch.Its a must that we focus strictly on San Diego, Texans head coach Bill OBrien said. If you start looking ahead to whatever is the next game or the game after that, you know, theyre all important. When you only have, whatever it is, six games, five games left, every single one is important.The division obviously is very, very important, but AFC games are important. Any game is important. I think these guys came into the building today with great focus, energy and theyre very focused on the Chargers.Defensively, the Texans remain an upper echelon team, ranking 12th in scoring defense and fifth in total defense. But the manner in which they surrendered the lead to Oakland continued a recent trend that warrants attention and a reversal.After matching a Texans field goal with a 75-yard touchdown pass from Derek Carr to Jamize Olawale, the Raiders covered 85 yards in five plays in posting the winning score, a Carr to Amari Cooper 35-yard pass. That touchdown followed a fourth-down stand by the Raiders defense. When the Texans failed to match, it marked their fourth consecutive game without a touchdown in the fourth quarter.Since their spirited fourth-quarter rally to beat the Colts on Oct. 16, the Texans have been outscored 41-9 in the fourth quarter of their last four games. Given the ongoing struggles of the offense, its unjust to saddle the Texans defense with the blame for their late-game struggles, but what is true is that Houston has wavered when those tense moments arrive and a tenuous lead is on the line.We got beat. Thats all I can say, Texans defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel said. You saw the game. They made plays. We didnt make the plays, so we lost the game. The only thing that we can do now is we cannot cry over spilled milk. What we have to do is we have to move forward and try to play a better game versus the Chargers.The Chargers (4-6) have managed the frustration of having a losing record despite a positive point differential. All six of their losses have come by one score, with a spate of injuries and their own issues protecting leads undermining success.Three games behind the Broncos and Chiefs in the AFC West, the Chargers arent in a position to dwell too long on what ails Houston. Injuries have undercut the Texans, too, but theyve held the line defensively in spite of the losses.I think thats what the good coaches do in this business, Chargers coach Mike McCoy said of Houston surviving the loss of All-Pro defensive end J.J. Watt. You take advantage of your personnel. Theres little adjustments you make from week to week. The foundation has been laid a long time ago in his system and then you go into the game planning process of doing certain things. You educate your players and players go out and play. Its not shocking at all the way they are playing without those players either.That Houston has established quality depth in its secondary has helped offset the injuries up front. Watt is irreplaceable, but the Texans have rotated capable defensive backs liberally and to success, doing so with veteran cornerbacks Johnathan Joseph and Kareem Jackson serving as anchors in the secondary.Yeah, its a good group, Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers said. Obviously, those two corners are veteran corners that have been together for a long time now, and really just a solid secondary all the way around.Theres a lot of guys in the game, a lot of DBs play, especially third-down situations, theres a lot of DBs on the field and they make it tough on you. Theres not a lot of easy completions out there. Cheap Football Jerseys . On Tuesday, Ottawa placed forward Cory Conacher and defenceman Joe Corvo on waivers as trade rumours swirl around the Senators. Cheap NFL Jerseys China . -- Ohio States Urban Meyer has never had any issue acclimating to the biggest stages in college football. https://www.nflcheapjerseysfreeshipping.com/ . P.A. Parenteau scored early in the third period to help the Avs edge Toronto 2-1 on Tuesday night. Cory Sarich also scored for Colorado (3-0-0), which is off to its best ever start. Cheap Jerseys Free Shipping . -- If Henry Burris has his way, he will be the starting quarterback to lead the Hamilton Tiger-Cats back to the Grey Cup next year. NFL Jerseys China . After taking two big hits this week -- losing at home and dropping back-to-back games for the first time all season -- Indiana struck back by playing its most complete game of the year. EVANSTON, Ill. -- After losing to a Mid-American Conference opponent to open the season, then an FCS school in week two, Northwestern got on the right track by beating a Power Five school.Clayton Thorson threw for 320 yards and three touchdowns, Justin Jackson rushed for 94 yards and Northwestern defeated Duke 24-13 on Saturday night.Northwestern avoided losing its first three games to start the season, something it hasnt done since 1992. They suffered losses to MAC-favorite Western Michigan and FCS-power Illinois State.I think I saw a bunch of guys that celebrated their rear ends off, said Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald. I think it just shows if you have perseverance and grit and you stay the course that you can do whatever you set your mind to.After being held to 7 points by Illinois State last week, Northwestern (1-2) scored on the games opening drive. Thorson connected with Garrett Dickerson for a 26-yard touchdown reception, capping a 10-play, 75-yard drive.I think it meant a lot. It was just the first drive of the game and it was Garretts first touchdown catch, so that was huge, and it was fun for us, said Thorson. When we get into that situation we have to capitalize more when we get down there.Northwestern capitalized on Blue Devils punter Austin Parkers gaffe in the third quarter to take a 14-7 lead. Duke (1-2) was lined up to punt, Parker dropped the snapped and wasnt able to get the punt away. Northwestern took over at the Duke 44. On the next play, Thorson found Solomon Vault wide open in the middle of the field for the go-ahead touchdown.We have shown flashes -- which is not what you want in game three -- of at times being a really good football team. We have shown flashes, unfortunately, of doing things bad football teams do. We are consistently inconsistent, said Duke coach David Cutcliffe.Thorson also connected with former walk-on Austin Carr on a 58-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter.Dukes Daniel Jones threw for 279 yards with one interception. Jela Duncan had 53 yards rushing and a touchdown.I felt like we were prepared going in and knew what they were trying to do. Its all abouut execution from there, said Jones.ddddddddddddByron Fields picked off Thorsons pass at the 1, setting up a 99-yard, 12-play drive to tie the game at 7 with 3:03 left in the second quarter. The drive was highlighted by Shaun Wilsons 39-yard catch from Jones.Thorson was hurried or on his back for most of the game. Duke was throwing a number of blitz packages at the Northwestern offensive line, which they werent able to pick up.He saw every pressure that I think he will see in his career, said Fitzgerald. Hes won 11 games as a starter, and I think he hung in there pretty well with the amount of time he got.TAKEAWAYDuke: The Blue Devils failed to finish on multiple drives. Late in first quarter on fourth-down and 10 at the Wildcats 38, it looked as if Duke was going to convert on a fake punt, but Erich Schneider, who was wide open in the middle of the field, slipped on the grass and fell before he had a chance to catch Parkers pass. Jones threw a pick to Godwin Igwebuike at the Northwestern 22 at the end of the first quarter and AJ Reed missed a 48 yard field goal attempt early in the fourth quarter.We shot ourselves in the foot a couple of times and it really hurt us in the end, said safety DeVon Edwards.Northwestern: Despite Thorson getting sacked five times, Northwestern showed some life on offense. The opening scoring drive featured Jackson, and then Thorson was able to open it up in the air in the second half.GETTING DEFENSIVEFitzgerald backed his coaching staff after his staff received criticism with losses to Western Michigan and Illinois State. Im very happy for our staff. Its the all-time winningest staff in Northwestern history. We had a couple tough losses and some people are going to take shots at them and I think they shut off the noise pretty well, said Fitzgerald.UP NEXTDuke: The Blue Devils visit struggling Notre Dame on Saturday.Northwestern: The Wildcats season-opening four-game home stand continues Saturday night against Nebraska, which beat Oregon on Saturday. ' ' '
