The Houston Texans are 0-3 for the second straight season after falling 19-17 to the Indianapolis Colts. Spencer Shrader’s 53-yard field goal with 16 seconds left handed Houston another painful loss despite multiple opportunities to win.
Owner Cal McNair acknowledged the obvious situation for his team, pointing to DeMeco Ryans’ ability to keep the team working through adversity and noting that Houston’s games have come down to a play or two.
“We’d rather be 3-0 than 0-3, certainly. We have been in this situation, DeMeco’s really good at keeping the team together, working hard, and these games are coming down to a play or two, a series at the end of the game, and we just want them to flip our way and have a different result, and hopefully we see that starting Sunday,” McNair said.
McNair has reason to remember the situation. Houston also started 0-3 in 2025 before recovering and becoming one of only seven teams in NFL history to reach the playoffs after an 0-3 start. The Texans ultimately reached the divisional round.
The difference now is that Houston cannot simply rely on last year’s comeback story. The offense has struggled, injuries have mounted, and a matchup with the Dallas Cowboys is next.
Texans’ Overall Issues
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C.J. Stroud threw for only 167 yards against Indianapolis, completing 16 of 27 passes with one touchdown. Through three games, he has accumulated 794 passing yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions, but Houston has struggled to turn possessions into points.
Houston is averaging just 86.7 rushing yards per game, 30th in the NFL, and produced only 70 rushing yards against Indianapolis. The offensive line has also struggled, with Stroud taking three sacks against the Colts. The defense is giving Houston chances, but the team is not finishing games.
Will Anderson Jr.’s strip-sack of Daniel Jones produced Houston’s first takeaway of the season, but the Texans failed to capitalize. Ryans has repeatedly stressed execution and finishing, and after the Colts loss he took responsibility for the slow start.
Dallas presents an immediate test, with reinforcements potentially coming. Ryans said Houston is hopeful Nico Collins and Ed Ingram can return for Week 4, while Jadeveon Clowney remains week-to-week.
