The Houston Texans win on the last day of the regular season against the Indianapolis Colts and lose the first pick in the NFL draft. Is there even a vendetta behind this from some team members?

Astonishment in Indianapolis: Many NFL fans could not believe their eyes when they saw how the Houston Texans suddenly came up trumps in the last game of the regular season.

The worst team of the season so far turned up the heat after falling behind and won the game 32-31 with a risky call on a two-point conversion with 50 seconds left – knowing full well that they would lose the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft as a result.

Houston Texans: New number one pick wanted

This one now went to the Chicago Bears, who lost to the Minnesota Vikings at the same time. It is quite possible that the Bears will give up their pick for an attractive consideration to another NFL team in more dire need of a new franchise quarterback. The Bears similarly secured the rights to Justin Fields, who had a strong sophomore season as a Bears playmaker, in the 2021 draft.

The Texans are also looking for a new No. 1 at the quarterback position. However, with the surprise win over the Colts, they now took an unnecessary risk of not getting their desired player. How can it come to such a bizarre and possibly future-serious decision?

Houston Texans: Smith and Mills with a vendetta?

The assumption is that it could have been a personal vendetta of some team members. The main suspects are head coach Lovie Smith, who has already been dismissed, and quarterback Davis Mills. Both players had nothing to lose after a season in which the only thing that mattered was to get into a good position in the draft.

While Smith was relieved of his duties after the game, Mills’ time as a franchise quarterback in Houston is also likely coming to an end. While the 2021 third-round pick had a decent season by the Texans’ standards, it’s doubtful he’ll be a long-term solution;

Smith probably already suspected his days with the Texans would be numbered after the season, as a conversation with team owners a few days before the game suggests.

He opted for a two-point conversion after a touchdown near the end of the game with only one point remaining, rather than an extra point that would have pretty much meant overtime. The do-or-die approach ultimately paid off: Mills found Jordan Akins in the end zone, who ultimately caught the ball to give Houston a 32-31 win.

The outgoing coach did his team a disservice with his last official act, giving the Bears, whom he ironically served as head coach from 2004 to 2012, the unexpected No. 1 pick.

Draft 2023: Pick order can permanently change franchise

Although at first glance the difference between the first and second draft picks may seem marginal, it can have a big impact on the short and medium term future of franchises. Here, it’s worth looking again at the 2021 draft. t

Back then, the Jacksonville Jaguars selected quarterback Trevor Lawrence with the first pick, who would lead them to the playoffs two seasons later. The New York Jets also selected a playmaker with the second pick, but experienced the complete opposite.

Zach Wilson came to the Jets as a future star quarterback, but has been anything but convincing so far. In his second NFL year, the 23-year-old repeatedly stood out with poor performances and a lack of self-confidence. Significantly, in the course of the season he lost his starting spot to former fifth-round pick Mike White, under whom the Jets offence harmonised much better.

As a result, the 23-year-old has not been a starter since Week 12 and has to watch his team from the bench most of the time. The fans have also criticised him, be it through booing in the stadium or malicious comments on social media – the former hopeful is facing a difficult offseason.

Wilson had 1,688 passing yards, 102 rushing yards and eight touchdowns in nine appearances in the regular season. However, he was also sacked 23 times and threw seven interceptions.

Draft 2023: Bryce Young or someone else as first pick after all?

Do the Texans face a similar fate due to their wild experiment on the final day of the game? Hard to say, though not out of the question either.

About four months before the 2023 draft, a frontrunner for the first pick is emerging: Bryce Young (Alabama) – at least if a quarterback is sought. Behind him, Will Levis (Kentucky) and C.J. Stroud (Ohio State) are being traded as other early passing alternatives.

In addition, Alabama defensive end Will Anderson and Georgia’s Jalen Carter are considered possible No. 1 picks – depending on who picks first.

The very preference and selection option the Texans have now robbed themselves of with their insignificant win over the Colts.

Instead of being able to determine the draft board with the first pick from the top, they now have to settle for only Plan B in case of doubt – or negotiate a trade of the two picks with the Bears after all, which is likely to be expensive and would certainly have to include the 12th pick they have from the Deshaun Watson trade from the Cleveland Browns.

Even if the dismissal of Lovie Smith provides some explanation here, many questions remain unanswered – and can probably only be answered by the Texans themselves.