You know it. I know it. The books know it. Pretty much everyone knows the Houston Texans are a lot better team than their record. It’s because they lost four games out of the gate with three of those setbacks nailbitters at the end that went against Houston that has the Texans now a longshot to secure a playoff date.
It is true that the Texans lost three of their first four games last year and then hit a stride that saw C.J. Stroud become only the third quarterback in NFL history to win a playoff game in each of his first three professional seasons. The other two were Joe Flacco of the Baltimore Ravens from 2008 to 2010, and Russell Wilson of the Seattle Seahawks in 2012, 13 and 14.
The Texans identified their problem early last year as tied to a weak offensive line. As the season progressed, head coach DeMeco Ryans and his staff improved that aspect of the Texans play and Houston opened the postseason with a lopsided win over the Pittsburgh Steelers in Mike Tomlin’s last game as head coach.
There seemed to be nothing wrong with the Texans defense, which for the past couple seasons has ranked among the best in the league in multiple statistical categories. Surprisingly, in the first month this year, it was more the defense's fault that the Texans failed in their first four games.
All this dimmed the high hopes the Texans brought into the 2026 campaign. After losing their first four games they are saddled with needing to become only the second team in NFL history to earn a playoff date after opening their campaign with four losses. The San Diego Chargers lost their first four games in 1992 and went on to win 11 of their final 12 games to crack the playoff field.
What we are now in the midst of is that revival for the Texans. Two weeks ago, they took out their frustrations on a weak Tennessee Titans team, 26-3. Last week, in London they handled one of the best teams in the league with a 34-31 victory over the talented Jacksonville Jaguars.