The universe *finally* decided to balance things out for the Houston Texans yesterday in London. After five straight games where it felt like every bounce, every whistle, and every clutch play went against them, the Texans got some positive fortune. And honestly, it was about time!
The Numbers Don’t Lie, But They Don’t Tell the Whole Story Either
Look, if you just glance at the box score, you’d think this game was an absolute coin flip. The Texans had 426 total yards to the Jaguars’ 412. Rushing? Texans 114, Jags 106. Passing? Texans 312, Jags 306. Third downs were close, fourth downs almost identical. Sacks were a big fat zero for both sides, and each team had one turnover. Penalties were pretty even too: Texans 6 for 40 yards, Jags 6 for 66. Time of possession was split right down the middle, with the Jags barely edging it out 30:23 to 29:37. It was an even football game, no doubt. Both offenses moved the ball, both were effective in the red zone, and both had costly red zone turnovers. When games are this tight, and you snag the win, you’ve gotta feel good. Especially since this was technically a road game for them. This win just proves what the Pythagorean theory suggests: the Texans should be 3-3 right now, not sitting at 2-4, because they’ve actually scored one more point than they’ve given up all season. They’re not as bad as the record shows, even if they aren’t quite the powerhouse we thought they’d be coming into this year.
DeMeco Ryans Proved He Can Learn and Adapt
You know DeMeco Ryans. His overwhelming instinct when he’s up in a game? Turtle. He trusts that defense to lock it down. And for most of his tenure, that’s been a winning bet. But let’s be real, this season, that gamble hasn’t paid off the same way. What’s awesome is that he recognized it! Sure, instinct is instinct, and they *did* turtle a bit when they were up 24-14. But for the most part, Ryans overcame his gut feeling and kept the pedal to the metal, exactly what the moment called for. You’ve gotta respect that. The hardest thing for a coach is getting a feel for the moment, and he nailed it. He handled the end of the game like a pro, balancing the desire to let his kicker ice it versus guarding against a total disaster. And get this: he managed the clock at the end of the first half perfectly! That was a huge criticism after the Indianapolis game, so seeing that kind of growth in such a crucial spot? Man, that’s huge for this team.
This win in London was more than just a notch in the column; it was a sign that things are finally starting to turn. With three home games against division rivals coming up in the second half of the season, this team has a real chance to build on this momentum. Let’s see if they can keep this good fortune rolling and really show us what they’re made of!
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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