Osweiler knows 2015 win over Patriots helped him earn big-money gig in Houston

Share

FOXBORO -- When Brock Osweiler hit free agency in the offseason, there may have been no more valuable bullet point on his resume than the performance he turned in for the Broncos against the Patriots in Week 12 of last season.

Statistically, he didn't light the world on fire in that one. Far from it. He completed 23-of-42 passes for 270 yards, a touchdown and an interception.

Pedestrian.

But the result was impressive in that it was a 30-24 overtime victory over a team coached by Bill Belichick and quarterbacked by Tom Brady that was undefeated to that point in the season. 

Almost four months later, after seven total starts filling in for Peyton Manning, Osweiler signed a four-year deal with the Texans worth $72 million, including $37 million guaranteed.

“We looked at a lot of different games that he played in, whether it was college or the games that he played in the pros," Texans coach Bill O'Brien said on Tuesday. "Regular season last year and preseason games. We had some experience, we scrimmaged against them a couple years ago. We had that as an evaluation, too. 

"As it relates to that game last year [against the Patriots], I think that was a very, very tough game. Two really good teams playing against each other. He wasn’t perfect in the game, but he really hung in there. He took some shots. He completed some balls. He got Denver into the right play. 

"You could tell that he knew his game plan very well. You could tell that he was tough, that he was going to keep his eyes down field, and try his best to complete the pass while the rush was bearing down on him. Those were some things as it relates to that game that stood out to me."

Osweiler remembers that game, which ended with a 48-yard touchdown scamper by CJ Anderson over snow-covered turf, as one of significant personal growth as well as an image-enhancer.

“I know just from things Coach O’Brien has told me, things that he’s told to the media, as far as him really wanting to bring me to Houston, I know that New England game really played a large part in that," Osweiler said. "As far as my personal self, I think playing and ultimately winning the game against a great football team like the New England Patriots, it certainly gave me a lot of confidence very early in my career."

Osweiler is now 2-0 as the full-time starter in Houston, and he'll go up against an unbeaten Patriots squad for the second consecutive year. This time he'll be on the road, though, and he knows he can't try to take too much from last year's experience and apply it to Thursday night. 

"I think the first thing is you do have to say they’re going to be two completely different football games," Osweiler said. "At the same token, just getting a little bit of experience in game time against a Bill Belichick team, a Matt Patricia defense, it’s not going to hurt you, I can tell you that much. It’s definitely going to help you. 

"I definitely am looking at it as two different football games, but I definitely went back, I looked at last year’s game, I looked at my notes from last year and I can definitely use that as a tool moving forward for Thursday night."

Contact Us