Texans OC Bobby Slowik explains how Ka’imi Fairbairn injury changed play-calling

The Houston Texans were put in a unique position to start the second half against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 9 at NRG Stadium.

Trailing 17-10, the Texans would have to mount a comeback without kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn, who injured his quad. The Texans had running back Dare Ogunbowale take over the kickoff duties, but trusted him with just a 29-yard field goal out of desperation to take a skinny 33-30 lead early in the fourth quarter.

According to offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik, the Texans’ play-calling felt some effects from the Fairbairn injury.

“I would say the only thing it really changed was third-down going into fourth-down,” Slowik told reporters Nov. 9. “First, second-down, it didn’t adjust much. We were confident in what we were doing, and we were going to keep doing it. The only difference really becomes when you get into like high-red areas — normal field-goal areas — you knew rather than punt, we were going to be aggressive on fourth.”

There was an instance where a conservative third down play-call was acceptable due to the Texans’ willingness to go for it on fourth down, as exemplified by Houston’s sequence with 14:20 to go in the game facing goal-to-go on the 9-yard line.

“It happened once in the red-zone where we had a third-down call that we knew we could take a pretty aggressive in the end zone because we felt confident about our fourth-down call as well,” Slowik said. “That really was about the only time it came up as far as changing what were doing.”

Stroud hit tight end Dalton Schultz for a 9-yard touchdown to give Houston a 30-23 lead.

Regarding two-point conversions, Slowik indicated they immediately became options.

Said Slowik: “We had already gone into the game — we were already prepped with two-point plays, two-point thoughts — not necessarily three of them — but that’s always something we talked about.”

The Texans signed kicker Matt Ammendola to the practice squad earlier this week.