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Brock Osweiler struggling through disappointing season

By The Sports Xchange
Houston Texans quarterback Brock Osweiler (17) is sacked by New England Patriots defensive lineman Jabaal Sheard (93) and Trey Flowers (98) in the fourth quarter at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts on September 22, 2016. The Patriots defeated the Texans 27-0. Photo by Matthew Healey/ UPI
Houston Texans quarterback Brock Osweiler (17) is sacked by New England Patriots defensive lineman Jabaal Sheard (93) and Trey Flowers (98) in the fourth quarter at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts on September 22, 2016. The Patriots defeated the Texans 27-0. Photo by Matthew Healey/ UPI | License Photo

HOUSTON -- The book on Houston Texans quarterback Brock Osweiler is still being written.

However, it's not off to an encouraging start with plot lines dominated by his interceptions, errant throws and a lack of touchdowns and decisiveness.

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With five games remaining in the regular season, Osweiler is hoping to flip the script and reverse the fortunes of the offense by writing a more promising final chapter.

Signed in March to a four-year, $72 million contract that included $37 million guaranteed, Osweiler is tied for the league high with 13 interceptions and tied for the worst passer rating with a 72.2 mark.

Nonetheless, Osweiler emphasized that he's eager for the opportunity to turn things around.

"I love it," Osweiler said. "Since a very young age, I've always wanted to be the guy to have the ball in his hand every single play, and especially when our back is against the wall. Not a lot of people believe in us right now.

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"But I can promise you there's nobody who believes in this team more than myself. There's nobody who believes in this coaching staff more than myself. I really think this two-game losing streak that we're on, it's going to set us up for a great story in the long run."

Osweiler has completed just 59.5 percent of his throws and is averaging just 5.8 yards per attempt. He's thrown just 12 touchdown passes one year removed from throwing 10 touchdown passes with six interceptions last season for the Super Bowl champion Denver Broncos.

Despite how mightily he's struggled, Osweiler expressed confidence and an eagerness as the Texans travel Sunday to square off with the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. The Texans are 6-5 and mired in a two-game losing streak, but remain in first place in the AFC South.

"I don't think there's ever been a successful NFL season that didn't have adversity somewhere in that season," Osweiler said. "I couldn't be more excited about the opportunity at hand to truly write a great ending to this story."

--When the Texans travel to play the Green Bay Packers, one of their major adjustments will be dealing with the wintry weather of Wisconsin.

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Although it won't quite be "frozen tundra" conditions at Lambeau Field, it will still be cold with a high of 39 degrees and a low of 28 degrees with a mixture of rain and snow.

The Texans play the majority of their games in warm weather, including eight regular-season games inside climate-controlled and close-roofed NRG Stadium.

"It's still going to be cold, especially compared to what we're used to," said Texans veteran tackle Duane Brown, who played during a 24-21 Texans win in 2008 at Green Bay in nearly zero-degree temperatures. "They say it will be a snow-rain mixture, which is always terrible. I'm sure guys have played in worse. It shouldn't be too bad."

Texans cornerback A.J. Bouye expressed confidence that the cold will become an afterthought once players get into the action of the game.

P lus, Texans players will wear cold-weather gear and there will be heated areas on the sideline.

"Football is football, you just can't let it get to you," Bouye said. "Once you get the pads going, hitting, you forget about it. As long as you're focused and know what you came here for, the weather shouldn't matter."

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