Tom Savage, not $72-million quarterback Brock Osweiler, will start for the Texans this week

Brock Osweiler has lost his starting job in Houston.

After signing a four-year, $72-million contract, including $37 million guaranteed, Osweiler has struggled all season. He has thrown for 14 touchdowns and 16 interceptions this season for the Texans, who nonetheless are tied with Tennessee for first place in the AFC South.

With every game crucial at this point in the playoff race, Texans Coach Bill O’Brien finally had enough Sunday after Osweiler threw two second-quarter picks against Jacksonville. With his team trailing, 13-0, Osweiler was benched in the second quarter, and backup Tom Savage led Houston to a 21-20 victory.

During his two-plus quarters in the game, Savage completed 23 of 36 passes for 260 yards with no touchdowns and no interceptions.

On Monday, O’Brien annonced that Savage, a fourth-round pick for Houston in 2014, will start this week against Cincinnati.

“As I said yesterday, we don’t make decisions based on anything other than what’s best for the team. We make decisions on what we think helps the team win, and I think yesterday, this week, Tom Savage gives us the best chance to win,” O’Brien said. “We’re going to give him a week to prepare to start and see how he does on Saturday night against the Bengals.”

He added: “I have total respect for Brock Osweiler. Yesterday he did a nice job between series, helping Tom, telling him what he saw.”

On Sunday, Osweiler reminded reporters he had been through a similar situation last year, when he was benched during the final game of the regular season with the Denver Broncos.

“Unfortunately, I’ve been down this road before,” Osweiler said. “I understand what it’s like to get benched in the middle of a football game. And ultimately having a big picture view on the deal, it’s all about the next man up and being a good teammate.”

charles.schilken@latimes.com

Twitter: @chewkiii