The Houston Texans haven’t forced a takeaway through their first two games of the 2026 season, but DeMeco Ryans isn’t sounding the alarm.
For a team coached by a defensive-minded head coach, that kind of dry spell is obviously worth watching. Still, Ryans said the Texans are doing the work that should eventually lead to turnovers, even if the ball hasn’t bounced their way yet.
“We work on taking the football away. The ball is on our mind.
Turnovers come in bunches. We’re ready for the bunches to start rolling our way,” Ryans said.
Houston has opened the year without an interception or fumble recovery, leaving the defense still searching for its first turnover after two full contests. That matters because takeaways can swing a game in a hurry, and the Texans are still waiting for their defense to provide that kind of boost this season.
The timing makes the drought stand out even more after Houston’s 20-6 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. The offense had trouble putting points on the board, and a turnover would have given the Texans another chance to cash in. Instead, they came away empty again on the takeaway front.
Even with that, Ryans isn’t changing course. His message is that the process is sound, the emphasis remains on attacking the football, and the results should come if the Texans keep at it.
“Turnovers come in bunches” is the kind of line teams lean on all season, and it fits Houston right now. Two games is a small sample, and Ryans clearly believes the defense will start making those plays before long.
The Texans now turn their attention to the Colts, with another chance to finally get that first takeaway and turn the defense’s focus into a game-changing play.
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