Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images
A frustrated Texans fan
After their disheartening 16-10 home loss to the Panthers, I knew several Texans fans that are fed up. They're ready for change. Whether it's a new head coach, new play caller, or whatever, they're tired of the status quo with this team. There are people that put their heart and soul (not to mention a bleep-ton of money) into rooting for a team that doesn't give them much of a return on their investment. As a Saints fan, I know the feeling all too well. Been there. Done that. Got the scars to prove it. I asked a few of them to pen an open letter to Bill O'Brien since he seems to be the crux of much of their collective angst. Here's what they had to say:
Daniel B
Dear Coach O'Brien,
I can't stand your arrogance! You act like someone who's won more than what you have. Your arrogance should match your coaching: average! Win something more than a down division before you run around here thinking you're Bill Belichick.
Sincerely, @htxmyhome
Swan
Dear Coach,
I have a real problem with your stubbornness, and arrogance, especially when it comes to these things: your scheme isn't flexible unless on short notice, you're a poor evaluator of talent who overvalues leadership over talent, too loyal to a staff when it's obvious they're incompetent, refusal to delegate & accept that you can't do it all, poor game management and poor play calling. You’re ruining my quarterback! I would give more detailed answers, but I'm busy right now. Catch me later when I have more free time so I can tell you how I really feel.
With All Do Respect, @BlackSundayTxns
Dre
Dear Bill,
There's a few things I need to get off my chest when it comes to you man: your dumb ass challenges, you act like your sh-- don't stink, and you remind me of Kubiak with your sayings "we're gonna have to fix that" and "we're gonna have to look at the film." Either fix whatever you need to fix, or go back to college coaching! I never have a problem with Lil Dre having to go home sad after an Astros game because he's seen them win and win big so he knows that team plays hard. Until then, I'll root for the Cowboys chump!
Kindest Regards, @DRDREon290
Raul
Dear William James O'Brien,
First off: yes, I called you by your government name because you I'm not calling you anything other than what your parents named you, William. I no longer let you ruin my days with your foolishness. Matter of fact, I went to the casinos in the middle of that debacle against the Panthers. I’m not wasting any more of my time and money on a team coached by someone like you until you prove me wrong!
Later William, @CobosQue
As you can see, Texans fans aren't pleased with Bill O'Brien. Personally, I'm tired of writing the same crap over and over again when I watch Texans games. On The Sideline podcast we recorded today, I expressed some of the same concerns. One of my mentors, Craig Shelton, expressed some concerns as well. He said he's not a Texans fan, but wants the team to do well because Houston is his hometown. He also said he feels bad for fans who spend their hard-earned money supporting this team, only to get nothing back in return. That conversation took place a few years ago and still rings true to this day. I truly hope this team turns it around and does so quickly. This fanbase deserves more than what this organization has given them. As a resident of this city and a person who writes recaps of this team, I hope they improve and turn into a consistent AFC contender, as well as a Super Bowl threat. I'm tired of purgatory for this team. I'm tired of the fans having to suffer through mediocrity. This city and it's football fans have been through enough dammit! Give them a consistent winner, or get your ass out of town O'Brien!
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Jan 17, 2025, 3:11 pm
When DeMeco Ryans became coach of the Houston Texans before last season, the two-time Pro Bowl linebacker brought his swarm defense with him.
It’s an identity the Texans have embraced as they prepare for their second straight trip to the divisional round of the playoffs Saturday where they’ll face the Kansas City Chiefs.
“You really can’t go out there if you’re not about it,” Ryans said.
And while every member of the defense has bought into Ryans’ aggressive style, there is one player who epitomizes it like no one else.
“Will every time,” cornerback Derek Stingley said of defensive end Will Anderson Jr.
Anderson, last year’s AP Defensive Rookie of the Year, has taken his game to another level this season and had 1½ sacks last week after piling up 11 in the regular season.
He described what playing swarm defense means to him.
“Do whatever it takes to get the ball, attacking the ball,” Anderson said. “We’ve got this saying in our D-line room; ‘who gonna pop it off?’ Whoever pops it off first, that’s swarming. Like who’s gonna make the big play? And I feel like there’s a lot of guys on defense that pop it off, who swarm.”
The Texans intercepted Justin Herbert a career-high four times, including one which was returned for a score, in last week’s win over the Chargers after he had been picked off just three times all season. Houston’s four takeaways in the first week of the playoffs are tied with Philadelphia for most in the NFL.
That performance came after Houston ranked fifth in the league in the regular season by forcing 29 turnovers.
Stingley, who had two of the interceptions last week a day after earning AP All-Pro honors, shared his mindset on the team’s defensive mentality.
“It really just comes down to if I was to tell you this is the last time you’re gonna do something, how you gonna do it,” Stingley said. “It’s simple as that. Just do that every single play.”
Ryans said there’s really no secret to why his team has such a knack for forcing turnovers. He believes it’s because he has good players, and they emphasize it in practice which translates to games.
“That’s our main thing that we go into every week is talking about attacking the football, taking the football,” Ryans said. “Because we know, when you take the football away, it just raises your percentages of winning the football games… it’s the defense helping the team win the game.”
While all of Houston’s takeaways last week came on interceptions, Stingley was quick to point out that those picks wouldn’t have happened if not for the pressure the defensive line put on Herbert. The Texans sacked him four times and hit him another nine in the 32-12 victory.
“The defense starts with them up front,” Stingley said. “They’re doing their job and it just makes it easier for us on the back end.”
Anderson said with each turnover, the defense got more and more amped up and was pushing each other to see who the next player would be to force one.
“That’s just that swarm mentality and we just feeding off each other,” Anderson said. “This person can’t do it by themselves so who is gonna be next and that just generates that contagious energy.”
The Texans were the fifth team since 1963 to have at least four sacks, four interceptions and an interception return for a touchdown in a playoff game last week. The past three teams to do it all went on to win the Super Bowl, with Tampa Bay doing so in the 2002 season, Baltimore in 2000 and San Francisco in 1989.
This Texans team would love to keep that going. But first they’ll need a win Saturday to put them in the AFC championship game for the first time after losing their previous five divisional matchups.
“That’s what you come here for,” Anderson said. “That’s what they’ve been rebuilding for is moments like this… we’ve got all the right pieces, we’ve just got to go out there and make it happen.”