An effective run game is a huge boon to the Texans when they throw it, because of how they like to use play-action.

With the run game slowed in the second half in Sunday's come from ahead loss to Indianapolis, Matt Schaub and the Texans were unable to duplicate their first-half success with play-action. Houston rolled up 90 yards on the ground in the first 30 minutes, compared to just 32 in the second half.

Once the Texans weren’t running it effectively, faking the run bought them very little in the pass game.

Floyd Hanson and Mike Rodriguez ESPN Stats & Information had Matt Schaub at six-for-seven for 90 yards and a touchdown for a perfect 158.3 passer rating on play action passes in the first half.

In the second half, he connected on just one of four play-action attempts for four yards, threw an interception and had a 0.0 passer rating.

The running game’s troubles are one thing. When they drip into the passing game -- the backbone of Houston’s whole team -- that’s a giant problem.