The Houston Texans May Not Have Same Defensive Lifeline To Escape 0-3 Start

The Houston Texans have found themselves in a familiar position, but there is reason to believe this 0-3 start could be much more difficult to overcome.

Houston opened the 2025 season with three consecutive losses before completely turning things around. The defense became one of the best units in the NFL over the next 14 games, giving the Texans a path to recover from their early hole and remain in the playoff race. That same formula may not be available this season.

ESPN's Bill Barnwell pointed out the difference between last year's team and the current Texans, noting that Houston's defense has not performed at the same level through the first three games, "The Texans were able to overcome their 0-3 start a year ago by fielding one of the league's best defenses over the ensuing 14 games of the season. And as I wrote last Thursday, this year's defense has not yet been on that level. Even after their impressive performance against the Colts, the Texans are 17th in EPA allowed per play and 20th in points against per drive through three games," Barnwell wrote.

The timing of that defensive improvement last season was critical. Houston was able to erase the damage of its slow start because the defense consistently gave the team opportunities to win games. Through three games this year, the Texans have not established themselves as that type of unit.

There have certainly been positive individual performances. Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter remain capable of creating pressure, and the defense showed improvement against Indianapolis despite Houston ultimately falling to 0-3. However, the overall numbers suggest the unit still has plenty of work to do before it can carry the team the way it did a year ago.

That puts more pressure on C.J. Stroud and the offense to help Houston climb out of the hole. The Texans have also dealt with an inconsistent rushing attack through the opening weeks, making it even more difficult to consistently control games. Stroud has shown the ability to produce through the air, but relying on the quarterback to repeatedly overcome offensive and defensive shortcomings is a difficult formula over a 17-game season.

At 0-3, Houston still has plenty of football left to play. The schedule provides opportunities to get back into the race, starting with a home matchup against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 4. But the path back may require more than simply repeating what happened last season.

If the defense cannot develop into the dominant unit Houston had in 2025, the Texans will need to find another way to make up for their disastrous start.