The Texans’ defense is on the wrong side of history.
After another dreadful performance in a 31-23 loss to Minnesota on Sunday, it’s historically bad.
The defense is a big reason the Texans are 0-4 for the first time since 2008, when Gary Kubiak was their coach.
In Anthony Weaver’s first season as defensive coordinator, the Texans have gone four consecutive games without forcing a turnover, tying the team record set in 2005 when they finished 2-14 and got coach Dom Capers fired.
Interestingly, Kubiak is the offensive coordinator on a Vikings staff that includes Capers as a senior defensive assistant.
Getting trampled by Kansas City, Baltimore and Pittsburgh, who have a combined record of 9-1, is admittedly tough, but getting mauled at home by the 0-3 Vikings is downright embarrassing.
If you don’t believe it, just ask defensive end J.J. Watt, who wore that hound dog look after a defeat in which the defense allowed the Vikings to generate 410 yards, score four touchdowns and control the clock for 36:31 compared to the Texans’ 23:29.
“This is terrible,” Watt said. “It’s brutal. I mean, it’s depressing. It sucks. I don’t know any other way to put it.”
That pretty much sums up how the Texans feel after another defeat that leaves them in dubious company with the Falcons, Jets and Giants as teams still looking for their first victory.
The defense was dominated again. The Vikings were the third of four teams to score at least 31 points against the Texans, who are surrendering 31.5 points a game.
The defense was steamrollered by a Vikings running game that produced 162 yards and three touchdowns on 40 carries. Dalvin Cook did most of the damage with 27 carries for 130 yards and two touchdowns.
The Texans entered the game last in rushing defense with 188.3 yards allowed per game.
“We have to do something different,” Watt said. “Whatever we’re doing is not working. Something needs to change.”
It’s amazing how far the run defense has plummeted in a short period of time. In 2018, the Texans gave up 82.6 yards rushing per game. Through the first nine games last season, they gave up 84.1. Over the last 13, including the playoffs, opponents average 170.5.
“The story of us is we’ve got to stop the run, and that starts with us (players),” Watt said. “We have to get them uncomfortable. We have yet to put ourselves in a situation where we have a lead almost at any point so that we put them in tough situations, get them off schedule and give ourselves a chance to get after the quarterback.”
In four games, opponents have controlled the ball by crushing the defense. The offense hasn’t had the ball longer than 25:13, and that was against Kansas City in the first game.
The Texans have allowed opponents to possess the ball for 34:47 (Chiefs), 34:51 (Ravens), 36:51 (Steelers) and 36:31 (Vikings).
The Vikings scored touchdowns on four of five trips into the Texans’ red zone, including two touchdown runs by Cook.
“He’s a very good running back,” Watt said. “He can make cuts all over. He can take the ball to the front side, stretch it out and get to the edge with speed. He can have vision to cut it all the way back and make plays on the back side.
“It’s a matter of playing our gaps, every single gap all the way across the line, setting the edges and building a wall, and today we didn’t do that. I didn’t do that at times, (and) other guys didn’t do it at times. It’s a matter of all 11 of us doing our job on every single play, and it starts with me.”
The Vikings had touchdown drives of 56, 75, 75 and 73 yards. The defense was helpless, allowing Kirk Cousins to complete 16 of 22 passes for 260 yards and a touchdown. His rating was 127.1. It was 73.8 going into the game.
“It’s frustration all around,” Whitney Mercilus said. “There were a few plays we wish we could get back, especially making it close at the end, just give us a chance to probably go into overtime.”
Mercilus recorded two of the Texans’ three sacks, his first of the season. P.J. Hall registered the other one.
“I wish we could play a little better,” Mercilus said. “Starting up front, setting the edge — that’s on me and everybody else who sets the edge — and just playing much more disciplined football.”
Cousins burned the secondary, especially down the field. Adam Thielen had eight receptions for 114 yards and a touchdown. Rookie Justin Jefferson had 103 yards on four carries — a 25.8-yard average.
A frustrated and exasperated Watt put Sunday’s performance in perspective.
“It needs to be fixed,” he said.
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