HOUSTON — The Houston Texans experienced a disheartening setback on Sunday night as they fell to the Detroit Lions, despite achieving a franchise-record five interceptions against quarterback Jared Goff.

In a game that seemed promising for the Texans at halftime, where they held a 16-point lead, everything changed in the second half. The Lions surged back to score 19 unanswered points, ultimately claiming a 26-23 victory.

Quarterback C.J. Stroud struggled after halftime, throwing two interceptions within the first three drives of the third quarter. This was followed by three consecutive punts, leaving the Texans with a chance to reclaim the lead late in the game. However, Ka’imi Fairbairn’s attempt at a 58-yard field goal was unsuccessful, veering wide to the left.

Houston’s misfortunes escalated when Jake Bates kicked a 52-yard field goal as time expired, marking the Texans’ third loss in four games after an impressive 5-1 start. Coach DeMeco Ryans expressed his disappointment, stating, “We didn’t play winning football. We stalled on a lot of drives and didn’t score any points in the second half. To beat a good football team like that, we have to be able to sustain drives and score.”

Stroud, who had not been intercepted in the previous three games, expressed regret over his performance during the second half. He emphasized that while the defense was generating turnovers, they needed to capitalize on those opportunities. “I feel like I’m the one to blame when it comes to that,” he acknowledged.

The Texans faced challenges putting together drives, often finding themselves in third-and-long situations due to a struggling ground game, accumulating merely 56 rushing yards—ranked as the second-lowest this season. “We have to win first and second down,” Ryans noted, emphasizing their need to avoid negative plays.

Despite the offensive struggles, the defense made headlines with their five interceptions, the highest number logged in the NFL since the Carolina Panthers secured the same number against Jameis Winston on October 14, 2019. Houston’s young players were instrumental, including Kamari Lassiter, a second-round pick from Georgia, who recorded two interceptions, and Calen Bullock, a third-round pick from USC, who added another. Bullock’s four interceptions tie him for the most among rookies this season.

However, a pattern emerged for the Texans, who have been unable to hold leads at halftime. Out of their last four matches, although they led at the half in all but one, they lost three of those games. The team has scored just 15 points combined in the second halves of those contests and has not managed a single touchdown after the halftime break. Stroud noted the inconsistency, saying it’s “different every week” and acknowledged that he needs to improve.

On a brighter note, wide receiver John Metchie III emerged as a rising star, achieving a career-high 74 receiving yards and scoring his first NFL touchdown with a 15-yard reception in the second quarter. Metchie, who missed his entire rookie season recovering from leukemia, received accolades from Stroud for showing his potential.

Conversely, wide receiver Tank Dell experienced a drop in performance with only 39 receiving yards following a season-high of 126 yards in the previous week. Consistency will be essential, especially with the absence of star receiver Stefon Diggs, who is sidelined for the season due to a knee injury.

Injuries continued to plague the Texans, with wide receiver Nico Collins activated from injured reserve but remaining inactive against the Lions, marking his fifth consecutive game out. Additionally, defensive end Will Anderson Jr. missed the matchup due to an ankle injury, and Lassiter may be sidelined for the next game after sustaining a concussion.

In terms of performance metrics, Stroud’s situation became increasingly challenging, as he was sacked four times during the game, bringing his total sacks to 34—second-most in the NFL this season.

Looking ahead, the Texans have gained an extra day to regroup and address their mistakes before facing the Dallas Cowboys in an intra-state matchup on Monday night. The Cowboys have been struggling, having lost their last four games, presenting an opportunity for the Texans to rebound.