Brock Osweiler looks and sounds as comfortable as ever in the starting quarterback role for the Houston Texans and it’s beginning to show.

The 2009 Flathead High School grad closed out the NFL preseason with an 11 for 13 throwing performance for 146 yards, a touchdown and an absurd sounding 139.1 passer rating against the Arizona Cardinals, a team that enters the season as one of the favorites to win the NFC.

When he got on the phone the next morning, it wasn’t the game on his mind.

“You guys put me getting sacked? What’s up with that?,” Osweiler joked, noting the one picture on the Inter Lake sports front page that didn’t show him throwing for big yards in the win.

Finally in charge, Osweiler is showing the confidence that Houston put in him in the offseason. He improved in every game that he played in the preseason and his coaches and teammates have heaped praise on his play and leadership ability.

That skill set was something the team needed last winter. The Texans won the AFC South in 2015, but did so despite the talent under center, starting four different quarterbacks during the regular season including two they brought in midseason. While Osweiler and the Denver Broncos were on the way to winning the Super Bowl behind a strong defense and solid quarterback play, Houston, who possessed a strong defense of its own led by three-time defensive MVP JJ Watt, lost 30-0 at home in the wildcard round of the playoffs as starting quarterback Brian Hoyer threw four interceptions.

They needed a fresh start, so the Texans turned their focus to the 6-foot-7 Denver backup that seemed destined to fill the starting role for the Broncos in 2016. Osweiler showed promise in going 5-2 as a starter while filling in for an injured Peyton Manning, leading his team to wins against playoff-bound New England and Cincinnati. With Manning retired, it seemed like a lock for Denver to resign Osweiler in free agency to lead the team for the future.

But Houston believed in Osweiler more and outbid Denver for his services, giving the quarterback a four-year deal worth $72 million, including $37 million of guarantees, without ever having met him in person.

It was a big investment, but one Osweiler said doesn’t change his approach entering the season.

“Whether I was making a dollar or what I’m making now, I’m going to take the same exact approach every single day as far as how I study, how I practice, how I mentally prepare, how I physically prepare, in training and everything that goes into this deal,” Osweiler said.

“Really my biggest thing is trying to get a little bit better every single day. There’s always an area whether it’s the playbook maybe a certain route. Maybe it’s some type of leadership deal. There’s always some place that you can get a little bit better in. That’s my deal. I just don’t want to waste a single day. I want to make the most of every opportunity every single day and get a little bit better each and every single one.”

This will be the first year Osweiler enters a season as the unquestioned starting quarterback since his junior year at Arizona State. Even with the added expectation, he said his approach hasn’t changed.

“You understand being the starter going into Week 1 that the offense is expecting you to play at a high level, your coaches are expecting you to play at a high level and, obviously, lead the offensive unit,” Osweiler said.

“But, outside of that, it doesn’t change the mental approach, the physical approach. It doesn’t change how I study, how I practice. Yeah, I get a few more reps with the starting offense and things of that nature, but as far as how I approach the game, I’ve always approached the game as if I was the starter. The old saying is, ‘You’re always one play away from being the starter.’

“I always took that approach that I was going to play every single week. That’s how I prepare, that’s how I study film and that’s how I got ready for the games. Really outside of the expectations of what I need to accomplish, as far as being the starting quarterback, to put our team in a successful position, not much is changing with the approach.”

Houston has embraced Osweiler, hoping, as do many in Montana, that he’ll be able to guide the Texans the team’s first Super Bowl.

“My wife and I we’re settled,” he said.

“It took a little while. Moving from Denver to Houston is a big adjustment and my wife and I were completely new to the Houston area. The one thing I can say is the city of Houston and the people that are in this city welcomed us with open arms and really made the adjustment period go by much faster than it probably should have.

“Houston certainly feels like home and we’re completely settled and loving everything about the city and the organization.”

Even with a busy schedule, Osweiler tries to keep up with Flathead football scores on Friday nights. During and after Braves games he has a few friends text him scores and recaps. In return, he sends notes and encouragement to the Flathead coaching staff during the week.

“I’m very excited about what coach (Kyle) Samson has been able to do for the program since he’s been named head coach,” Osweiler said.

“I think he’s brought a lot of energy and excitement to the program, which is always great to see. I love the mentality that he has. of course I keep up to date with those guys.

“I’m pulling for the Braves. I hope they have a tremendous season. Obviously that football program means the world to me. That’s where it all started for me.

“I know it means a lot to me to be able to stay connected with the program. I love that I’m able to communicate with coach Samson and feel like I’m still part of the program.

“I know when I was playing there I gave everything I had to try to be successful and help that football team win games. It feels really good to still be connected to the program.”

As for his current program, the sky is the limit, especially with a lot of young, talented pieces on both sides of the ball. Even with the excitement, he’s tempering the high goals with a reminder of the work it takes to get back to the Super Bowl.

“We’re trying to take this deal one week at a time,” Osweiler said.

“Obviously there’s a lot of excitement. There were a lot of great pieces that were brought into Houston over the offseason and there were already a lot of great pieces here. What team we have and our biggest thing as a team, and where our focus is, is to just getting better every single day. Find a few things to improve upon, compete hard and just get a little bit better. If we constantly improve just little by little every single day I think the team will be happy with the results.”