HOUSTON — The Houston Texans faced a disappointing defeat against the Tennessee Titans on Sunday, with the final score reaching 32-27. Among the players, C.J. Stroud, the second-year quarterback, was particularly vocal about taking responsibility for the loss.

“I recognize that I haven’t performed up to my own standards lately,” Stroud stated. “There are moments when I complete some good drives and make solid plays, but overall it’s been inconsistent… I need to hold myself accountable because winning often hinges on my ability to make key plays.”

In the game, Stroud managed to throw for 247 yards and secured two touchdowns, yet he also recorded two interceptions. This loss marked the Texans’ third in just four games after enjoying a strong start at 5-1. “I need to improve, and I completely understand that,” Stroud added.

Stroud’s recent performances have seen him throw a total of five interceptions in the last three games, increasing his season total to nine, a stark contrast to the five he threw in 15 games during his rookie year.

The Texans (7-5) did manage to score a touchdown through Jimmie Ward’s interception return in the third quarter; however, their offensive production dissipated in the second half, where they only recorded a field goal. This trend continued from previous games, as Houston has only accumulated nine points in the second half of their last three losses, despite previously scoring 10 points in the second half of a win against the Cowboys.

“We need to focus on creating positive plays,” commented head coach DeMeco Ryans. “Too often, whether it’s a run or a pass, we encounter negative plays that derail our drives. Our priority should be maintaining positive plays to establish a rhythm.”

Despite their offensive setbacks, the Texans still had an opportunity to equalize the game with under two minutes remaining. However, Ka’imi Fairbairn’s 28-yard field goal attempt went wide left, missing a crucial chance.

On a positive note, Houston’s defense tied a franchise record by recording eight sacks during the game. Danielle Hunter notably achieved a season-high with three sacks, bringing his total to 10½ for the year. Will Anderson Jr. returned to the field after injury, contributing two sacks and reaching a career-high of 9½ this season. Houston currently stands second in the NFL with 42 sacks.

However, the running game struggled significantly, as the Texans could only muster 40 rushing yards against a strong Titans front. This was despite Joe Mixon’s earlier successes, as he had been a standout with 109 yards and three touchdowns against the Cowboys. Coach Ryans remarked, “We anticipated a tough challenge from their front, but we must be able to control the line of scrimmage to run effectively. Unfortunately, we faced too many negative plays in our ground game.”

This performance represented one of Houston’s worst rushing outputs of the season, second only to a previous game where they managed just 38 yards against Minnesota while Mixon was sidelined due to injury.

On a brighter note, Dameon Pierce excelled in kickoff returns, garnering 135 yards, including an impressive 80-yard return on the opening kickoff, which set up the Texans’ first touchdown.

Conversely, Fairbairn has struggled with field goal attempts, becoming one of only four kickers to miss twice from 28 yards or closer this season. His latest miss came after a previous failed attempt from 27 yards in a loss to the Jets.

Injuries also posed issues for the Texans, with S Jalen Pitre leaving the game in the second quarter due to a shoulder injury, and CB Ka’dar Hollman exiting in the fourth quarter with a knee problem. Additionally, OT Blake Fisher missed another game while in concussion protocol.

One key statistic from the game was Houston’s dismal 23% conversion rate on third downs, managing to convert just 3 out of 13 attempts.

Looking ahead, the Texans will aim to rebound next week as they face the struggling Jaguars (2-9), who have lost four consecutive games. “We made numerous errors,” said Hunter. “Our focus wasn’t what it needed to be. The important thing now is to learn from this and prepare for the next match.”

Following the matchup with Jacksonville, Houston will enjoy a bye week before facing the Dolphins, Chiefs, and Ravens in a challenging ten-day span from December 15 to December 25.