Texans Aim to Build Momentum After Bye Week

photo credit/ Getty Images

By TSMO

HOUSTON — The Houston Texans began the 2025 season with a disappointing 0–3 start but enter their bye week with signs of promise and renewed determination.

Early in the season, the Texans struggled to finish games — a surprising shift from the identity head coach DeMeco Ryans built during his first two seasons. Known for closing out tight contests, Houston had previously gone 14–8 in one-score games under Ryans. However, consecutive last-minute losses to the Los Angeles Rams, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Jacksonville Jaguars forced the team to confront its inability to execute late.

Offensive struggles compounded those issues, as Houston averaged only 12 points per game through the first three weeks. The tide turned over the last two contests, though, when the Texans erupted offensively, outscoring the Tennessee Titans and Baltimore Ravens by a combined 70–10 margin. While those teams have struggled this season, wins are always valuable in the NFL.

“You always want to go into the bye week with a win,” said Ryans. “It’s much better when you roll in with a win. We’ll get a chance to take a breather here and reset.”

Now 2–3, the Texans find themselves in a more encouraging position. General manager Nick Caserio believes steady progress is key moving forward. “A big thing from our perspective is continuing to improve and make progress as a team,” Caserio said. “That’s where our focus should be. There’s a lot of football in front of us.”

The defense has been Houston’s foundation, ranking among the NFL’s best. The Texans lead the league in points allowed (12.2 per game) and sit third in total defense (265.8 yards per game). Their secondary has excelled, tallying five interceptions while surrendering only three passing touchdowns.

The Texans’ defense has also faced formidable offenses, including the Rams, Buccaneers, Jaguars, and Ravens — all top-15 scoring teams led by Pro Bowl quarterbacks. In Week 5, with Baltimore’s Lamar Jackson sidelined by a hamstring injury, Houston’s defense dominated backup Cooper Rush, intercepting him three times.

Under new offensive coordinator Nick Caley, the Texans’ offense has shown steady improvement. Quarterback C.J. Stroud threw six touchdown passes across the past two games, including four against Baltimore. Through five weeks, Stroud ranks thirteenth in the NFL in passing yards (1,076) and tied for ninth in touchdowns (nine). As a unit, Houston ranks twenty-second in total offense (314 yards per game) and twenty-first in scoring (21.6 points per game).

“Caley has done a great job,” Ryans said. “It didn’t show the first few weeks because we didn’t execute well. But against the Ravens, we came out and ran our offense the right way.”

Following the Texans’ 44-point outburst in Week 5, Stroud expressed confidence in the team’s growth. “We can be really good when we clean up mistakes,” he said. “You always want to see your proof in the pudding. You want to take a step forward every game. I thought today, we did that in a lot of ways. We still have to clean some things up, but I’m happy with the win.”

When Houston returns from its bye, it will travel to face the Seattle Seahawks (3–2) on Monday Night Football. The Seahawks average 29.2 points per game, ranking fifth in the league.

As the Texans look to build on their recent momentum, the message remains clear: keep improving, finish strong, and “flip the script” on a season that began in disappointment.