Good backup quarterbacks are like insurance policies; you absolutely need them but hate to have to utilize them.
It's a question that came up during Texans All Access (Weekdays 6-7pm, Sports Radio 610) Tuesday – Who was the better Texans backup quarterback, Sage Rosenfels or T.J. Yates?
Yates is adored by the fans for the playoff run in 2011 and the 2015 resurrection that helped lift the Texans out of a 2-5 abyss on their way to a division title.
Rosenfels put up some big numbers and has a 6-4 record as a starter in 2007 and '08, including beginning a run that would help lift the Texans out of a 3-7 abyss on their way to 8-8 in the Hurricane Ike stained year of 2008.
Another entry in this competition could be original Texan Tony Banks. Banks didn't play at all in the inaugural season but looked good in relief of David Carr in '03 with an off-the-bench win in Buffalo and a starting victory over Super Bowl bound Carolina on the very first Battle Red Day.
I know a lot of you are pointing to Case Keenum right now as a candidate and that's fair. Unfortunately, although he brought some excitement to the derailment season that was the 2-14 2013 campaign, he didn't win any of his starts, going 0-8.
But he did have one of the great just-got-back-here performances in 2014 when he literally got the call to start for the Texans in week 16 as he was in a deer blind as a Rams practice squader. He went 2-0 to close out a winning season, including a rousing victory over a hot Ravens team.
But the winner here is clearly Yates. And it's not about numbers, it's about achievement and lore. Yates' performances in the first division clincher at Cincinnati and the playoff win will never be forgotten. And he followed that up by coming off the bench to help Houston beat an 8-0 Bengals team on the road on Monday Night Football in 2015.
The current QB, A.J. McCarron is a good one. But, he's an insurance policy you hope you'll never need, having one of the best QBs in the league at the helm.
All of the quarterbacks the Texans could face in 2020.
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) passes against the San Francisco 49ers during the first half of an NFL divisional playoff football game, Saturday, Jan. 11, 2020, in Santa Clara, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Seattle Seahawks' Russell Wilson warms up before an NFL divisional playoff football game against the Green Bay Packers Sunday, Jan. 12, 2020, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (9) passes in the first half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game against the Minnesota Vikings, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2020, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Brett Duke)
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) looks koto throw against the Washington Redskins during the first half of an NFL football game in Arlington, Texas, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2019. (AP Photo/Ron Jenkins)
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes drops back to pass against the San Francisco 49ers during the first half of the NFL Super Bowl 54 football game Sunday, Feb. 2, 2020, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) works in the pocket against the Tennessee Titans during the first half an NFL divisional playoff football game, Saturday, Jan. 11, 2020, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger throws a pass during the first half of a 28-26 loss to the Seattle Seahawks in an NFL football game in Pittsburgh, Sunday, Sept. 15, 2019. Roethlisberger did not play the second half of the game. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Gardner Minshew II (15) throws a pass against the Indianapolis Colts during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2019, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Stephen B. Morton)
Tennessee Titans' Ryan Tannehill throws during the first half of the NFL AFC Championship football game against the Kansas City Chiefs Sunday, Jan. 19, 2020, in Kansas City, MO. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers passes against the San Francisco 49ers during the second half of the NFL NFC Championship football game Sunday, Jan. 19, 2020, in Santa Clara, Calif. (AP Photo/Matt York)
Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield throws during the first half of an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2019, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Bryan Woolston)
New England Patriots quarterback Jarrett Stidham warms up before an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2019, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane)
Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Phillip Rivers in action during the second half of an NFL football game against the Oakland Raiders in Carson, Calif., Sunday, Dec. 22, 2019. (AP Photo/Kelvin Kuo)
Chicago Bears quarterback Mitchell Trubisky throws a pass during the first half of an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2019, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Andy Clayton-King)
FILE - In this Jan. 13, 2020, file photo, LSU quarterback Joe Burrow throws a pass against Clemson during the second half of the NCAA College Football Playoff national championship game in New Orleans. No. 1 overall pick Burrow and the rest of the rookie class will begin preparing for their first seasons in the NFL at home instead of at minicamps and team facilities this month. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert, File)
