Texans Face Criticism After Disappointing Loss to Ravens
HOUSTON —
The Houston Texans certainly fell short of playoff expectations in their recent game against the Baltimore Ravens, suffering a significant defeat. With only one game remaining before the postseason, the champions of the AFC South acknowledge the need for improvements to compete effectively.
Head Coach DeMeco Ryans expressed his disappointment, stating, “That’s not who we are. That’s not what we represent. What we put out there on the field, that’s not Texans football.” He emphasized the necessity for the team to evaluate their performance, highlighting the importance of elite execution and high energy levels moving forward.
The Texans experienced their most considerable loss of the season, falling by 29 points to the Ravens. Defensively, the team permitted a staggering 251 yards on the ground, marking a season high. Meanwhile, the offense struggled significantly, only managing to score via a safety in the second quarter.
Quarterback C.J. Stroud described his performance as “one of the worst games of my whole career,” after throwing an interception and missing numerous opportunities. When asked about the next steps, he acknowledged the necessity of moving forward, stating, “That’s the only thing we can do… You hit rock bottom; the only way is up.” He also reminded his teammates of the positive aspect of clinching their division, adding that hope still exists for the playoffs.
Currently, the Texans hold a record of 9-7 and have seen their red zone efficiency dwindle to 50.94% after failing to convert two opportunities against the Ravens, placing them 26th in the league. After scoring a safety, the team had a chance to score when they reached the opponent’s 10-yard line but ultimately failed to capitalize, which resulted in a turnover and allowed Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson to orchestrate a 99-yard scoring drive.
In terms of bright spots for the Texans, a standout play came from Dameon Pierce, who returned a kickoff for 45 yards in the second quarter. However, the Texans managed only 58 rushing yards during the game, with Mixon contributing just 26 yards on nine carries. This marked the third consecutive game where the Texans failed to achieve over 100 rushing yards, intensifying the need for a revitalized running game to ease the pressure on Stroud, especially considering the absence of key receiving threats Tank Dell and Stefon Diggs due to injuries.
On a positive note, wide receiver John Metchie made a strong impact, leading the Texans with five receptions for 48 yards, stepping up in the absence of Dell. This performance marks the second-highest yardage of Metchie’s career, particularly notable given his battle with cancer that sidelined him during his rookie season.
Conversely, running back Joe Mixon faced challenges yet again, managing fewer than 30 yards rushing for the second time in three games. Despite a spectacular start to the season where he rushed for over 100 yards in six of the first eight games, Mixon has only achieved that milestone once in the past five outings.
Injury news continues to concern the Texans, with guard Shaq Mason missing the latest game due to a knee issue sustained during a previous match against the Chiefs, casting doubt on his availability for the next game. Center/guard Juice Scruggs also remained sidelined for a fourth consecutive game due to a foot injury.
A key statistic emerging from the game was Stroud’s passer rating of 59.2, which ties for the third-lowest rating in his career thus far. Given the swift schedule with three games in 11 days, the Texans will welcome an extended break before culminating the regular season next weekend against Tennessee. Stroud views this setback as a learning opportunity, stating, “There’s not sunny days if there are not days with rain… We have another crack at this thing next week to keep rolling.”
