Will Anderson Jr. Sends Message to Texans After Another Late Collapse

Will Anderson Jr. set the record straight following the Houston Texans’ 34-30 loss to the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday.

After Houston fell to 0-4, Anderson pointed directly at the defense and its inability to finish games.

“Just got to finish, walk in, do your job,” Anderson said. “It starts with all of us. All of us have to look ourselves in the mirror.”

The message was simple.

The Texans had another opportunity to close out a game, and once again, the defense could not get the job done.

Houston held a 30-27 lead with just over two minutes remaining before Dallas drove 74 yards for the game-winning touchdown. It was the second consecutive week the Texans’ defense failed to protect a late lead after C.J. Stroud and the offense put Houston in position to win.

For Anderson, there was no reason to point fingers.

“We got to hold up our end of the bargain, man,” Anderson said. “We got to get better. We got to continue to grow, we got to continue to go through this fire.”

Anderson also made sure to recognize what Stroud and the offense have done.

“CJ’s been balling, the offense has been doing a good job,” Anderson said. “We just got to hold up our end of the bargain.”

That is becoming an increasingly difficult reality for Houston.

Stroud threw for 347 yards and two touchdowns against Dallas without turning the ball over. He helped the Texans score 30 points and gave the defense a three-point lead late in the fourth quarter.

The defense needed one more stop.

But they couldn't get the job done.

Anderson’s comments reflect the frustration inside a locker room that expected much more from itself entering the season. Houston has talent on all three levels of its roster, but the Texans have been unable to consistently put everything together.

Anderson knows that has to change.

“We got to be able to stop those plays at those big times,” he said.

Perhaps most importantly, Anderson made it clear that the Texans cannot wait for someone else to fix their problems.

“Nobody’s coming to save us,” Anderson said. “We got to go out there and play long-game football, and we got to take accountability in order to do our jobs.”

That accountability will be important for a team sitting at 0-4.

There is still time for Houston to change the direction of the season, but the Texans cannot continue giving away opportunities to win. For Anderson and the defense, the challenge is straightforward. When the offense gives them the lead late, they have to find a way to finish.