The Texans did enough on defense to make this feel like a game they should have won. They forced three turnovers against the Colts, shut down Jonathan Taylor to 68 rushing yards, and still walked away with another loss. Houston is 0-3 for the second straight season, and this time the problems look bigger than a bad break or two.
The issue starts where it always starts when an offense can’t get moving: up front. Houston’s offensive line gave the Colts far too much control, and the run game never found any breathing room.
David Montgomery led the Texans with just 33 rushing yards on 11 carries. C.J.
Stroud was also under steady pressure, taking three sacks and pushing his season total to 10, which is the second-most in the league behind only Baker Mayfield’s 13.
That kind of protection problem can wreck a season fast, and it’s doing real damage to Houston now. It could even keep the Texans out of the playoffs. For Stroud, who is playing for a new contract, it could cost him millions.
The slide has been obvious since the Texans opened with 31 points in a 36-31 loss to the Bills in Week 1. Since then, the offense has lost steam. Nico Collins and guard Ed Ingram have missed the last two games, and while Collins’ value was already clear, Ingram’s absence may be hitting even harder.
With Ingram in the lineup against Buffalo, Houston ran for 124 yards and scored two rushing touchdowns. In the two games since, the Texans have managed only 130 rushing yards total and one touchdown on the ground. Without him, the interior of the line has been a revolving door for opposing defenses.
The receiving corps behind Collins hasn’t offered much help either. Dalton Schultz leads the team with 19 catches, 25 targets and 205 yards, and no other Texan has more than nine receptions. Xavier Hutchinson has been the main perimeter target, but he and Stroud still haven’t found much of a connection.
There is at least a little hope on the injury front. DeMeco Ryans said he is "hopeful" Collins and Ingram will be back for the Cowboys game. Dallas is 1-2 and has allowed 387 yards per game through three weeks, one of the worst marks in the league.
That sets up a chance for Houston to get right against an intrastate rival. If the Texans can’t take advantage, the alarm bells will get louder in a hurry.
A loss to Dallas would push this from concern to panic, and it could put offensive coordinator pressure squarely in play. It would also put Nick Caserio and DeMeco Ryans in the spotlight, if they aren’t there already.
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Texans Need To Let C.J. Stroud Change Everything Against Dallas
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The Cowboys have shown vulnerability in coverage, which makes this a natural week for the Texans to let Stroud carry more of the load if needed. Houston would also love to get Nico Collins and Ed Ingram back for the matchup, since either return could help shape how aggressive the offense can be, but the bigger issue remains whether the Texans are ready to stop treating the passing game as a complement and start using it as the driver. [Read more 🡒]
Texans Face A Season-Shaping Test As Nico Collins Returns
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Collins brings the kind of target who can change how defenses play Houston, and his presence should at least make life easier for the passing game. The game also comes with the sort of high-end individual battles that can tilt the afternoon, from Collins working against Joey Porter Jr. to Derek Stingley Jr. matching up with CeeDee Lamb, with both teams looking for an edge in a matchup that could shape the direction of Houstons season. [Read more 🡒]