In a season defined by grit, Coach DeMeco Ryans saw his Houston Texans reach a historic milestone on Sunday, December 21, 2025. With a narrow 23–21 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders, Ryans became the first coach in Texans history to secure three consecutive 10-win seasons.

Despite the record-breaking achievement and the extension of a seven-game winning streak, Ryans’ post-game demeanor was a blend of pride and characteristic "tough love" coaching.

Standing at the podium at NRG Stadium, Ryans was quick to acknowledge the resilience of his squad. The Texans (10–5) overcame a sluggish offensive start and a late-game surge by Raiders rookie Ashton Jeanty to seal the victory.

“Everything is about winning," Ryans said post-game. "And you win, no matter how it looks, and you finish the right way, it doesn’t matter. You want to finish with the win. That's what we did today."

Ryans emphasized the team’s journey from an 0–3 start to the season, noting that many teams would have "folded" under that pressure. Instead, the Texans "stayed the course," a mantra Ryans has instilled since his arrival.

True to his defensive roots, Ryans did not sugarcoat the lapses that allowed the 2–13 Raiders to stay within striking distance. The Texans' top-ranked defense surrendered two massive explosive plays to Jeanty, a 60-yard touchdown reception and a 51-yard touchdown run

Ryans was vocal about the areas that need immediate correction as the playoffs approach:

Communication: Ryans noted breakdowns that led to "too many explosive plays."

Physicality: He specifically called out the tackling, stating, "The tackling is not good. That's not the defensive performance that we look for."

Line of Scrimmage: Offensively, Ryans expressed frustration with the run game, noting that the team failed to control the line and allowed too many tackles for loss.

“Overall, the defensive performance, it’s too many explosive plays. That’s not what we’re about," Ryans said. "We got to clean up the communication. The tackling is not good. That’s not the defensive performance that we look for. And so, we have to play better.”

While Ryans admitted that reaching 10 wins for the third straight year was "super cool," he was adamant that the regular-season record is not the finish line.

The victory keeps the Texans firmly in the hunt for the AFC South title, trailing the Jacksonville Jaguars by just one game. For Ryans, the "ugly" nature of the win was secondary to the result. "The goal is to get into the playoffs and make a run at winning it all," Ryans said. "If our guys keep our eyes forward... we have everything we want in front of us."

As the Texans prepare for a pivotal matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers on December 27, Ryans' focus remains on sharpening the "standard" of play to ensure his 10-win team is ready for the postseason intensity.