Through the first three weeks of the season, the Houston Texans found themselves at 0-3 and looked every bit like a rudderless ship. The main culprit was a sputtering offense that averaged 12.6 points, 1 touchdown, 267 total yards and 23.7% on third downs. 

This was while the defense let up an average of only 17 points per game. 

Starting the season 0-3 would've been bad enough on its own, but the events of last season loomed large over the team as it scuffled out of the gate. For, after the 2024 postseason, the Texans decided to part ways with then offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik and pursue a new voice to help lead the point production department on Kirby drive.

After interviewing multiple candidates, head coach DeMeco Ryans and co. landed on Rams tight ends coach and passing-game coordinator Nick Caley to be their next play caller and collaborator with third year quarterback C.J. Stroud. 

With hopes high amidst visions of their first AFC championship game in franchise history, a winless first month of the season brought all positive expectation crashing through the floor. 

There were already calls for Caley's job by fans and media, as well as simmering tensions over the perception that Ryans' personnel judgement allowed Houston's offensive aspirations and planning to spiral out of control. 

Since then, the Texans have gone 7-2 and are now in the thick of the AFC playoff race with five games left in the season.

Since September 28th, the offense has engineered their dramatic turnaround via averages of 25 points, 2.4 touchdowns, 346.5 total yards and a 38.4% third down conversion rate. 

Caley certainly deserves a lot of credit for helping the offense find more of its footing, especially after receiving the bulk of the criticism early on. 

Instead of running back Nick Chubb getting starting duties, it's now rookie back Woody Marks who has taken the lion's share of carries the last few games.

Rookie receiver Jayden Higgins has also seen his workload grow as of late, taking advantage of his opportunities and creating mismatches in the passing game with his ability to separate from defenders, pick up key first downs and manufacture scoring opportunities in the red zone.

While the Texans still have their struggles in the red zone (43.59% TD conversion rate - 31st), they rank 17th in red zone scoring attempts per game with 3.3. Thus, even though they haven't maximized their opportunities as much as they'd hoped, the number of red zone trips have helped to offset some of the mistakes.  

Caley and the offense has a major opportunity Sunday night at Arrowhead Stadium. 

If the offense can execute an effective enough offensive game plan against Kansas City's ninth ranked total defense (seventh in scoring, 19.3 pts/game), Houston can leave Kansas City with their eighth win of the season and their second victory against the Chiefs in the Patrick Mahomes era. 

It's time for the Texans to put their improvements to the test. 

Do you think Caley and the offense find a way to overcome Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo and his defensive playmakers? Let us know in the comment section below and on the official Texans Roundtable X account, @Texans_RTB!