DENVER, CO - AUGUST 07: A referee collects his penalty flag as the Seattle Seahawks face the Denver Broncos during preseason action at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on August 7, 2014 in Denver, Colorado. The Broncos defeated the Seahawks 21-16. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)

Houston (CBS Houston) – The Houston Texans will fail to get a first down after a penalty 88 percent of the time.

The number is startling and shows the Texans, in their current incarnation, rarely can overcome their own mistakes. The team is able to earn a first down after a penalty just 12 percent of the time.

Self-inflicted wounds almost always lead to the drive’s quickest possible fourth down.

Here is how the percentage came into existence.

The Texans have 19 accepted penalties on offense so far this season. This includes plays only for the offense. It excludes declined penalties and offsetting penalties. It excludes penalties by the special teams unit.

There are just 17 actual chances for the Texans to get a first down after a penalty. Here is why there are two less than total accepted penalties: A portion of one drive was 1st and goal when the penalty occurred and one scenario exists with back-to-back penalties with no down change between snaps.

This leaves 17 as the number of possible first downs after a penalty.The Texans earned a first down just 2 times after a penalty. One was an Andre Johnson screen pass going for 20 yards. Another was a Bills penalty, illegal contact, which gave the Texans a first down.

The Texans get a first down just 11.7 percent of the time after they have committed a penalty on offense. 12 percent if you round up leaving you with an 88 percent failure rate on the team’s ability to get a first down post-penalty.

9/17 drives end in a punt

6/17 drives end with a made field goal

2/17 end with a Ryan Fitzpatrick interception

The Texans are not built to overcome a penalty. The data shows as much. A penalty almost always leads to the drive ending as soon as possible. Unless a huge improvement on the offense occurs, the Texans won’t succeed when their offense is penalized.

Game Player Penalty Down Distance Before Distance After First Down(Yes/No) Drive Result WAS Brooks Holding 2nd 10 20 No Punt WAS Hopkins False Start 2nd 13 18 No Field Goal OAK Griffin Holding 2nd 9 19 No Field Goal OAK Griffin Holding 2nd 9 19 No Punt OAK Newton Holding 1st 10 20 Yes Field Goal OAK Brooks Chop Block 1st 10 25 No Field Goal NY Fiedorowicz False Start 2nd 1 6 No Interception NY Brooks Illegal Use of Hands 2nd 6 16 No Interception NY Clabo/Hopkins Illegal Formation 1st 10 15 No Interception BUF Brown False Start 3rd 8 13 No Field Goal BUF Brown Offensive PI 1st 10 20 Yes Punt BUF Brooks False Start 3rd 2 7 No Punt BUF Hopkins Offensive PI 1st 10 20 No Field Goal DAL Fiedorowicz False Start 1st 10 15 No Punt DAL Jones Holding 2nd 6 16 No Punt DAL Brown Inelgible Down Field 2nd 10 15 No Punt DAL Fitzpatrick Delay of Game 3rd 12 17 No Punt DAL Brooks Holding 2nd 11 21 No Punt

Stoots on Twitter – @Cody_Stoots

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