Texans stick with QB Mallett – for now

Fantasy Impact: The Texans were absolutely obliterated against Devonta Freeman and the Falcons, losing by a score of 48-21. The Texans will stick with Mallett, who has started the last three games after replacing Hoyer in Week One.

The Houston Texans know their starting quarterback for Thursday night against the Indianapolis Colts.

Meanwhile, J.J. Watt has exactly one tackle.

KICKING CHANGE: The Texans released kicker Randy Bullock on Tuesday after he missed an extra point and a field-goal attempt last Sunday.

Falcons Desmond Trufant scoops up a Houston Texans fumble and… After intercepting a Ryan Mallett pass, the Falcons went down the field and scored on a Devonta Freeman touchdown. Two out of the other three times they performed this feat, the Falcons reached the NFC Championship game.

Houston Texans running back Chris Polk (22) runs as Atlanta Falcons…

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. – Just hand the ball to Devonta Freeman.

“Opportunity is everything”, the second-year running back said. He also had five catches for 81 yards. And we all have to play better. Coleman got the starting job, while Freeman remained in a backup role. Bobby Turner’s running backs ran hard and with a few authority. “Of course you don’t want to get hurt in no part of the game, but the last play, but it is what it is”.

Who expected both the Atlanta Falcons and Carolina Panthers to finish the first quarter of the season at 4-0?

The Bengals (4-0) matched the third-best start in franchise history, two wins shy of the club record.

The Texans were outplayed in every phase of the game, getting blown out 48-21.

Arian Foster rushed eight times for 10 yards, and caught 3-of-5 targets for 25 yards in his first taste of action in 2015.

Philip Rivers was 23 of 38 for 358 yards and three touchdowns for San Diego (2-2).

Mallett’s second pass was deflected and picked off by defensive tackle Jonathan Babineaux, the Falcons taking over at their 46. Freeman took a short pass 24 yards, then darted through a huge hole on the next play for his first TD. He’s got to do a better job of throwing the ball more accurately, be more controlled in the pocket, don’t turn it over, get us into the right play.

Let us all celebrate in the massacre we saw on Sunday. First-round pick Vic Beasley, who has sacks in two straight games, and the defense force Ryan Mallett into hurried throws. Newton was in Foster’s path because he was beaten badly off the snap by Falcons outside linebacker O’Brien Schofield and was trying to recover and throw a block. The Falcons put up 378 yards and led time of possession 35:42 to 24:08. Many key starters didn’t play in the 4th Quarter in Week 4 for Atlanta.

In relief of Mallett, Hoyer completed 17 of 30 passes for 232 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions for a 103.8 passer rating.

That can be good, but Texans cornerback Johnathan Joseph sees value in looking back at Sunday’s game.