Texans' Tom Savage: 'I played like crap'

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Tom Savage was disgusted with himself, extremely frustrated with a litany of errant throws that sailed out of bounds past the grasp of wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins and with squandering a prime opportunity to win the game.

Thrust back into the starting lineup because of the season-ending knee injury suffered by rookie sensation Deshaun Watson, the Texans' veteran quarterback was unable to capitalize on this second chance. He delivered three consecutive incompletions at the Indianapolis Colts' 7-yard line during the final minute before being sacked and fumbling on the final play of a demoralizing 20-14 defeat Sunday at NRG Stadium.

Standing at the podium afterward, Savage was in no mood to hear excuses or rationalizations about rust accumulated during the past six games while watching Watson operate a cutting-edge, creative offense that ranked first in the NFL in scoring during his electrifying run before tearing his anterior cruciate ligament Thursday.

This was brutal truth time for Savage as he acknowledged how his inaccuracy ultimately cost the Texans the ballgame as they fell to 3-5 midway through the season. Savage completed just 19 of 44 passes for 219 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions for a 66.4 passer rating.

"It's probably the most frustrating game of my life," Savage said following his fourth career start. "It's just one of those deals that I just wasn't making the throws and guys were open. I'm not going to give you the politically correct answer and say like blah blah blah we can get better. No, I have to make the throws. I played like crap. That's what it is."

With Savage back under center, the Texans' offense regressed from a blend of hybrid read option concepts and pro-style schemes under the dynamic Watson, a Rookie of the Year and Pro Bowl candidate who scored 21 total touchdown passes, into a traditional attack built around a much less mobile pocket passer. Savage simply didn't play fast enough or well enough to win the game. The Texans had set a franchise record in their previous five games by scoring 30 or more points each week.

"It got better as the game went along, but it wasn't good enough," Texans coach Bill O'Brien said of Savage. "We have to coach, we have to play better."

Houston Texans quarterback Tom Savage (3) fumbles as he is hit by Indianapolis Colts outside linebacker Jabaal Sheard on the final play of the fourth quarter of an NFL football game at NRG Stadium on Sunday, Nov. 5, 2017, in Houston. less Houston Texans quarterback Tom Savage (3) fumbles as he is hit by Indianapolis Colts outside linebacker Jabaal Sheard on the final play of the fourth quarter of an NFL football game at NRG Stadium on Sunday, ... more Photo: Brett Coomer, Houston Chronicle Photo: Brett Coomer, Houston Chronicle Image 1 of / 156 Caption Close Texans' Tom Savage: 'I played like crap' 1 / 156 Back to Gallery

Savage did throw his first NFL regular-season touchdown pass, but that didn't happen until the fourth quarter when he connected with Hopkins for a 34-yard scoring toss. He completed just 43 percent of his throws. During the final drive, Savage was incomplete to wide receiver Bruce Ellington to the left, incomplete to tight end Stephen Anderson to the right and incomplete to Hopkins over the middle before being sacked by Jabaal Sheard with Barkevious Mingo recovering the football.

"Listen the throws out of bounds, that's frustrating for a quarterback, because you know you can make the throw," Savage said. "There are times where it's my guy, no guy type of throw and throwing to 'Hop' high and away from the safety. Just got to keep the ball in bounds and know I'm going to make plays. It's not my game, never has been my game, of chucking the ball five yards out of bounds. That's where the frustration comes from, because I know I'm better than that."

For the most part, though, Savage was ineffective while targeting Hopkins or wide receiver Will Fuller. He completed just 6 of 16 passes for 86 yards throwing in Hopkins' direction. Savage was 2 of 8 for 32 yards throwing to Fuller.

Savage missed an open Fuller while trying to get the football to Hopkins.

Savage was only sacked twice against the Colts, the NFL's 31st-ranked defense after being sacked six times in one half in a season-opening loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars before being replaced at halftime by Watson.

Was his inactivity a factor?

"I don't know if it was difficult," Savage said. "I just didn't make the throws to win the game. I don't think confidence was ever an issue and never will be an issue for me. We were moving the ball. We went down there.

"Obviously, you don't want to be in the fourth-down situation. I could probably do a better job of stepping up in the pocket instead of taking a strip sack. Ultimately I was going to 10 (Hopkins). It's just frustrating."

By halftime, Savage had completed just 7 of 19 passes for 76 yards. He was 4 for 12 in the first quarter for 34 yards. The former fourth-round draft pick from Pitt finally heated up in the fourth quarter and nearly led the Texans to a comeback, but it was a case of too little, too late.

"Well, it showed we can move the ball," Hopkins said. "We just have to do it more consistent, come out and start fresh and not wait until late to pick things up."

Now, the Texans are in serious jeopardy of not winning the AFC South division title for the third year in a row. In order to be competitive, they'll need Savage to dramatically upgrade his accuracy and playmaking skills.

"The team and where they're at mentally is not an issue," Savage said. "It never will be here, that is the kind of culture that we have. It's just about holding yourself accountable and knowing when you need to pick it up. I need to pick it up."