Most companies who does large volumes of business or is involved in the entertainment industry have their employees sign a non-compete clause which is a clause where one party agrees not to enter into or start a similar profession or trade in competition against another party. On Sunday it looked as if the Houston Texans had signed one before they took the field against the Chicago Bears.

Houston was blown out by the Bears by a score of 36-7 in a game where the Texans did not look ready to compete from the beginning of the game. Bears running back David Montgomery set the pace when he scored on an 80-yard run on Chicago’s first offensive possession of the game to put the Bears up 7-0 on their way to a huge first half offensive outburst as Chicago scored 30 points before halftime. Houston has now given up an average of 27 points in the first half in the last two games.

“It was uninspired,” said Texans interim head coach Romeo Crennel on his team’s performance on Sunday. “You know, we didn't have the energy that we have been having the last couple weeks. I don't know why, what it was. But that will, that attitude the last couple weeks that we've played with, we didn't have that today.”

What the Texans also lacked was the ability to stop Bears quarterback Mitchell Trubisky who made the Chicago organization look smart for at least one day by taking him in the first round ahead of Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson in the 2017 NFL Draft. Trubisky’s 267 yards passing and three touchdown passing was complimented by the Bears 169 yards rushing on 23 carries.

“Today my goal was to go out there and be present,” said Trubisky “Just play each play as its own entity and whatever happens, happens. Then the next play, it's the next-play mentality.

So, every single time I was just trying to go out there and find completions and I think that's just allowed me to be focused and dialed in today.

One group that has not been dialed in the last two weeks has been the Texans offensive line. They have given up a combined 12 sacks in the last two games including the seven given up against the Bears on Sunday. That amount of sacks along with the hits Watson has taken over the longevity of the season makes it hard for a quarterback to operate. Especially one who has seen his starting wide receivers group be reduced to guys receiving their first NFL action due to suspensions and injuries. Still Watson did as much as he could against Chicago finishing the day with 219 passing yards and one touchdown.

“It's hard for guys to get rhythm, especially on the O-line,” Watson said in his postgame press conference. “And then at the receiver, just things happen. You know, second game with some new receivers, and we tried to make some things happen, and it just didn't go our way.”

Another issue amongst the plethora of others that have presented themselves this season is the Texans sudden inability to score in the second half. Houston has been held scoreless in the second half over the last two games and their last points came on a 40-yard touchdown pass from Watson to suspended wide receiver Will Fuller on Thanksgiving Day against the Detroit Lions.

With the loss on Sunday, Houston has been mathematically eliminated from participating in the 2020 NFL Postseason. It is only the second time in Watson’s NFL career that he will miss the playoffs. The last coming due to injury that cut his rookie season short in 2017. With three games remaining the Texans must now come up with a positive plan that will help carry momentum into the 2021 season. That plan will include Watson being behind center for the remainder of this season.

“I'm going to play,” said Watson when asked if he considered sitting out the last three games of the season. “That's my job. I've got to be out there every game. I've got too much pride and respect for myself and this organization and this team to go out there and just get embarrassed again or lose.