Houston just dropped a gut-wrenching 19-17 loss to the Colts, and get this: they’re 0-3. Seriously. After all the offseason hype, the free agency splashes, the draft picks, and the supposed offensive line upgrades meant to finally establish a ground game after years of sloppiness, the Texans are right back in the same hole they started the 2025 season with. It’s not just one issue this year, either; 2026 has been a total menagerie of problems, not just a purely putrid offense like last season.
A Masterclass in Self-Sabotage
Man, you remember their first loss against Buffalo? Great offense, sure, but the pass defense was just shockingly poor. Game two saw the defense show up, but the offensive line completely regressed. And now, against the Colts, they absolutely failed to overcome their first-half and fourth-quarter mistakes. The offense in those first two quarters? Ugly as sin, getting only 15 yards on three of four drives! And get this, they turned the ball over on 4th & 1, even after DE Will Anderson Jr. *forced* a fumble from Colts QB Daniel Jones! Three sacks given up, too. Colts DTs Grover Stewart and DeForest Buckner were just ripping Texans linemen Wyatt Teller and Evan Brown apart. Offensive coordinator Nick Caley’s aggressive plan led to multiple punts, plain and simple. On defense, it felt like Week 1 all over again, with Daniel Jones consistently finding WR Josh Downs for big gains. He picked on Calen Bullock, Reed Blankenship, and rookie LB Wade Woodazz to set up Indy’s first touchdown. Brutal stuff.
A Flicker of Hope, Then Back to the Doldrums
Then, for a hot second, a flicker of life! On their very next drive, the Texans finally found a consistent blocking rhythm. RB David Montgomery got downfield, drawing crucial penalties, including a pass interference call targeting WR Jared Wayne in the end zone. That led to a CJ Stroud touchdown pass to TE Foster Moreau, making it a 10-7 game! For a moment, you could feel that hope, like maybe they were emerging from the offensive rut that reminded fans of their early 2025 woes. Even after the defense gave up a field goal to make it 13-7 at the half, there was a pulse. 0-3 looked inevitable in the first quarter, but by halftime, they looked like they might have life, even if it *was* against the NFL’s worst defense. But don’t blink; the second half saw the Texans offense return to the doldrums they began the game with. The defense, thankfully, started to improve, with Bullock’s reaction time and coverage seeming to improve. Small mercies, right?
So, yeah. Heartbreak city, 19-17, and a harsh 0-3 record staring the Texans in the face. It’s early in the season, but this is a rough, rough start for a team that made so many moves to *avoid* this exact situation. They have to fix these glaring issues, and fast, or this season is going to be over before it even really begins. This isn’t just a tough start; it’s a full-blown crisis, and the clock is ticking.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Battle Red Blog.
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