The Texans have been off since Tuesday and don’t return until Monday when they start to prepare for the next game at Washington. They’ve got a six-game winning streak, a 6-3 record and continue to lead the AFC South over Tennessee (4-4), Indianapolis (3-5) and Jacksonville (3-5).

I’ve received e-mails, tweets and calls on Sports Radio 610 complaining about Bill O’Brien calling so many running plays, especially on first down. As I wrote Wednesday, he’s running more so Deshaun Watson can drop back less and be exposed to fewer hits. Running and controlling the clock sets up play-action passes and keeps the defense fresh.

So, because of your e-mails, tweets and calls, I went over every first down play of the last three games. When Deshaun Watson ran on first down, I counted it as a pass play because that’s what O’Brien called.

As always, I enjoy hearing from readers and listeners each week. I welcome your comments and questions. Please send them to john.mcclain@chron.com, and don’t forget to put mailbag in the subject line. You also can tweet them to me at on Twitter @mcclain_on_NFL or #askmcclain.

This mailbag is always posted Friday morning at Texas Sports Nation, which you can now get if you subscribe to the Chronicle.

Now, on with the show:

Q: Why does O’Brien run on every first down, especially when it’s not working? Does he not realize other teams get wise to his play calling? On the NFL’s “Mic’d Up” against Denver, defensive end Bradley Chubb said, “We knew what y’all were going to run.” – Justin A.

A: Justin, I looked it up, and O’Brien called 11 pass plays and 15 run plays on first down against the Broncos. On the first possession of the first quarter, on first down Lamar Miller ran for 9 yards. Deshaun Watson completed passes of 31 and 18 yards to Demaryius Thomas. And Miller ran for 2. Before the first quarter ended, there were four more pass plays called on first down and two runs. In the second quarter, there were three runs and three passes. What you’re talking about was the second half, I imagine. They had eight runs and two passes on first down. Some of those runs were for negative yards.

Q: I’m up at 5 a.m. daily waiting for the Chronicle and always read the sports section first. I was pleased to read your column Wednesday regarding O'Brien's plan on first down. I guess what bothers me is not the running every first down as much as the results. It certainly would be interesting to know what the average yards gained on first down runs are from his strategy. And someday, he might fool the other team, our team and all who watch the game by trying a quick pass in the flat, over the middle or even a bomb on first down. That would definitely catch the other team - and all of us - by surprise. – Charles S.

A: Charles, in the Denver game, the Texans averaged 1.8 yards on first down runs. They averaged 4.2 against Miami and 4.5 against Jacksonville. So the complaints should be about the Denver game only. In the last three games when the Texans haven’t committed a turnover, O’Brien has called for 45 runs and 24 passes on first down. In the 13-point victory at Jacksonville, O’Brien called for 10 passes and 11 runs on first down. When they had the lead, seven of the last nine first down plays were runs.

Q: How do you address the allegation that BOB’s play-calling is weak and unimaginative? At Denver, on fourth-and-1, he ran Alfred Blue straight into the pile for a loss on a day that we had been running very poorly. This is the same reason we have struggled in the red zone, I believe. – Larry G.

A: Larry, the Texans have scored eight touchdowns in the red zone in their last three games. It doesn’t appear to be an issue any more. As for weak and unimaginative play calling, I didn’t hear anybody complain after the 42-23 victory over Miami when Watson threw five touchdown passes. I think everyone complaining means the Denver game. The Broncos played great run defense, and the Texans had negative yards on five first down running plays. Here’s why O’Brien is running a league-high 274 times. In the Texans’ first six games, Watson averaged 36.1 passes, and they were 3-3. He was sacked 25 times and knocked down an additional 65 times. During that stretch, the Texans averaged 28.1 rushes and 109.1 yards. In the last three games, the Texans are 3-0, and they haven’t committed a turnover. Watson, who has eight touchdown passes during that period, has been sacked five times and knocked down another 10 times. They’ve averaged 35 carries and 142.3 yards. He’s averaged 22.6 passes.

A lot of fans may not like the run-first philosophy, but it’s working.

Q: Was Tyler Ervin's release and the signing of DeAndre Carter a case of disappointment in Ervin’s production or not wanting to let Carter get away? – The Sarge

A: Ervin was placed on waivers and Carter claimed on waivers from Philadelphia, Byron, when the Texans were off, so we won’t have a chance to ask O’Brien about it until Monday. But I can tell you what he’ll say: He and general manager Brian Gaine make moves that are designed to make the team better. Carter, who can play in the slot, averaged 10 yards on punt returns. I don’t know if they’ll use him in that capacity or if he’s insurance if Keke Coutee is slow to return or gets hurt a third time as a rookie. I do know this: When it came to returning punts, Ervin didn’t fumble. The player who takes on that roll better not lose a fumble that contributes to a defeat.

Q: Do you really think Bill O’Brien was making derogatory remarks about Vance Joseph as per the video on Twitter, and do you think Joseph will be fired soon because of his poor calls during the Texans’ game? – Jimmy B.

A: Jimmy, I saw the clip of O’Brien walking toward the dressing room at halftime, and the angle was to the side. I’m not a lip-reader, so I have no clue what he was saying. And anybody who says they know what he was saying doesn’t. Now, if the camera was a straight-shot facing O’Brien, and a lip reader was hired to interpret, then I’d believe it. Joseph did make a boneheaded decision to have Brandon McManus try a 62-yard field goal that gave the Texans great field position and Watson enough time to get Ka’imi Fairbairn a field goal before halftime. I think Joseph will be fired by John Elway but not just because of his decisions against the Texans. It’ll be because of his bad record and bad decisions over two seasons.

Q: I've not read anything lately about Kevin Johnson's status since Aaron Wilson's Sept. 11 article in which he reported that the Texans may consider placing Johnson on injured reserve and designating him for return in eight weeks since it was his second concussion in a matter of weeks. It's been almost eight weeks since the New England game, any word? -- Marilyn K.

A: We’ve asked O’Brien about Johnson two times over the last three weeks, in particular about a possible return after the bye. O’Brien said not immediately after the bye. But he didn’t rule out Johnson returning this season. I believe he will.

Q: The Texans have a plethora of talent on the team's roster, but who do you think are the three most impactful players on the team? -- Samuel T.

A: What an interesting question, Samuel. Can I give you four, please? Watson, Watt, Hopkins and Clowney.

Q: What is the status of D’Onta Foreman after last year’s Achilles tendon injury? -- Edward E.

A: Edward, we’ve asked O’Brien about Foreman in each of the last three weeks. He told us Foreman could return to practice after the bye week. Last week, he said he wasn’t sure. He said he’d let us know. When Foreman returns to practice, there’s a 21-day window before they have to make a decision to leave him on physically unable to perform for the season or place him on the roster. Once he returns to practice, he can be activated any time during that three-week period. He’s going to return at some point. Hopefully, for Texans fans, he’ll be in great physical condition and will contribute to a playoff run for an offense that has a league-high 274 rushing attempts.