The Houston Texans defeated the Minnesota Vikings 28-24 in the final preseason game on August 30th. The Texans wrapped up a 3-1 preseason, not that it matters.

Here's what we can take away from the Texans' win.

  • Justin Forsett may be the best third-string running back in football. He's looked spectacular all preseason. Of course, part of that is due to running behind the Texans' line. Injury insulation is a good thing at a collision position, and the Texans have it.
  • Keshawn Martin had a tough drop on a deep ball. I'm beginning to wonder about his hands. After two fumbles last week, a drop wasn't an encouraging way to finish the preseason
  • Whitney Mercilus has been as dominant as a rookie can be in the preseason. It's not just the 3.5 sacks he had, but he also looked good on run plays. If the draft was rerun today, he'd go at least 10 spots higher.
  • Rashad Butler's injury is a big blow for the Texans. No, he wasn't going to start, but Derek Newton had not exactly entrenched himself at tackle. Losing a quality backup along the line hurts any team. The Texans are that much thinner up front. In quotes provided by the Texans' PR department, Gary Kubiak confirmed he'll miss the season with a triceps injury.
  • Trindon Holliday ran back another touchdown, and he has to be on this roster, no matter how much Kubiak hates pure returners. He's a threat every time he touches the ball. If the Texans don't want him, I know 31 other teams that will.
  • DeVier Posey had a wonderful start to his career, but the fact that his first catch came in the second quarter of the fourth preseason games shows that he's still very much a work in progress. He's physical and strong, but I don't expect him to see the field much in 2012.
  • T.J. Yates didn't play in this game, and that is significant. Imagine how far this kid has come in the past year. One season ago, he was playing to make the roster. Now his position is so secure, he doesn't even have take the field in Week 4. That's quite a rise.