Going into the 2026 season, the Houston Texans were a trendy dark horse pick to come out of the AFC and make the Super Bowl. On the backs of one of the best defenses in the NFL and a retooled offensive line in front of QB CJ Stroud, the Texans were expected to wreck shop through the AFC. Four games into the season, and we still haven't seen the Texans pick up their first win.
The offense has been inconsistent, battling through Nico Collins injuries and an offensive line that hasn't truly gelled together yet. Defensively, a unit that was supposed to be elite has looked the opposite during the early quarter of the season. Their 2.42 points allowed per drive is the highest through four games since Demeco Ryans took over as head coach and is a far cry from last season's 1.21 points allowed per drive.
The spin zone for Texans fans is that this organization came back from being 0-3 to making the playoffs in 2025, but 0-4 feels like a deep hole to climb out of, with the 1992 Chargers as the only team to make the playoffs after starting 0-4. The Texans go into their game against Tennessee (who is also winless) desperately needing a win to keep their season alive, but how and why did we get to this point? Let's start with the bad for the Texans right now, which focuses on the defensive side of the ball.
Yes, they've faced a lot of the NFL's best offenses in Buffalo, Cincinnati and Dallas to start the season, but something about the group has felt…off. It's why head coach Demeco Ryans took back playcalling duties from defensive coordinator Matt Burke and why the team overall has looked the way it has. For the 2026 Texans to work, this defense would have to be an elite group as the offense found its way and gelled together, and the defense hasn't been that.
Again, they've faced some tough offenses and were without starting LB Azeez Al-Shaair in their loss to the Cowboys, but the underlying metrics this season have revealed a much larger problem. Through four games, the Texans are allowing the most explosive passes since Demeco Ryans took over. Despite still being a top ten defense based on success rate (how often teams move the ball against them), they're 25th in defensive per play (geared more toward explosiveness) and 28th in explosive play rate allowed this season.
They've given up far too many big passes, and it's taken a major hit to their entire defense. Now, the first issue seems to be communication, which is why Ryans is taking over. There have been far too many coverage busts in the secondary for a unit as talented as the Texans.
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