It hasn’t been the start the Houston Texans were expecting, as the division favorites now sit at 0-2. Still, there’s plenty of time to turn things around, and over the course of the next 15 games, these first two could end up not mattering much at all.
Unlike other divisions where you can get buried quickly, Houston still looks like the best team in the AFC South on paper.
Because of that, head coach DeMeco Ryans doesn’t see the 0-2 start as a hole the Texans can’t climb out of — or even as a hole at all. He acknowledged it’s not the start anyone hoped for, but pointed out that both games were winnable. There’s optimism in knowing a few more plays could have swung the outcomes. Ryans also took responsibility, saying he has to coach better, while adding that the team as a whole has to execute better.
“Yeah it’s no hole. We lost a game. We lost two games. Games we should’ve won. To win games you gotta play better. Gotta coach better. It starts with me I gotta coach better," said Ryans on Monday.
The truth is, this Texans roster is still loaded with talent. They have everything needed to win the division and make noise in the playoffs. As simple as it sounds — even if it’s not easy to do — this team is just an offense away from being really good. One extra touchdown in each of their first two games, and they’d be 2-0 instead of 0-2.
These aren’t blowout losses. The Texans are falling short on small plays, and if they can flip those moving forward, there’s no question they can win the AFC South. Two weeks into the season, the struggles stand out, but with more than three months of football ahead, Houston has every chance to make sure these first two games end up meaning very little.