The Jaguars hammered the Texans on Sunday. Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images.
Texans fans in full-on panic mode after just one loss
The Houston Texans finished the home slate of their schedule with a loss falling to the Jacksonville Jaguars 31-3. Here are 11 observations from the game.
1. It is the first time in franchise history the Texans have failed to win a home game. The Texans didn’t lose all eight, but they lost seven straight after opening the season with a tie against the Colts
2. This is the largest losing margin this season for the Texans. The last time Houston lost by this much was last season against the Colts. It came on the heels of three of the best weeks of play from Lovie Smith’s team.
3. The defense was horrid again, reverting to their early season form. The tackling was poor and the rush defense against the Jacksonville starters left a lot to be desired.
4. Jalen Pitre and Desmond King each had interceptions, but each had a hand in part of a horrible display of tackling on a 62-yard touchdown scamper from Travis Etienne. King just pushed him while Pitre failed to finish the play. There were plenty of poor tackling displays but this one stood out.
5. Jalen Pitre will end up as a bright spot. He will have played a ton and has solidified himself as something positive heading into next season. There were plenty of ups from his season to offset the downs.
6. This is one of the worst offenses in franchise history. The talent is lacking at skill positions, but the plays called for the players are bad too. The team ran a fade to Rex Burkhead on fourth down. Next year, it will be an offense that needs some reshaping with a different offensive mind.
7. The Texans should thank their lucky stars the Jaguars drafted Travon Walker. He’s been terrible compared to a number of other players selected in the first round. Walker amassed just one QB hit in the game. That’s all. Meanwhile, the number two overall pick Aidan Hutchinson has as many interceptions as Sauce Gardner and Derek Stingley combined to go along with his seven-and-a-half sacks.
8. The loss secures a top-two selection for the Texans.
9. The Chicago Bears are the only team who can earn the top pick other than the Texans. A win by the Bears secures the top choice for the Texans. A loss next week in Indianapolis secures the top pick for the Texans. A win by the Texans and a loss by the Bears lands Chicago the top spot.
10. Lovie Smith said if he was a betting man he would bet the Texans show up against the Colts next week. The Colts are spiraling out of control, having been demolished by the New York Giants on Sunday.
11. Lovie Smith’s job is in jeopardy and if I was making a call as you read this, I would believe he is fired and the Texans have their third head coach search under general manager Nick Caserio.
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Astros get just enough but lose a key contributor late
Jun 12, 2025, 11:22 pm
NFL analyst Albert Breer isn’t buying the quiet offseason surrounding the Houston Texans. In his view, the buzz — or lack of it — isn’t reflective of what this team actually is: a legitimate AFC contender that should be taken seriously in 2025.
Much of the skepticism, Breer believes, comes from surface-level narratives. The Texans went 10-7 in the regular season last year, a step back from the lofty expectations set after C.J. Stroud’s electric rookie year and Houston’s dramatic playoff push. And while the offense didn’t maintain its early-season explosion under Bobby Slowik, people seem to be overlooking how that same Texans team ended the year: as one of the last four teams standing in the AFC — alongside the Chiefs, Bills, and Ravens.
In Breer’s eyes, Houston belongs in that group. The defense is championship-caliber, with rising stars and playmakers at every level. And offensively, the switch to Nick Caley as offensive coordinator could be just what the unit needs. Caley brings a fresh voice and perspective, and paired with a fully settled-in Stroud, the Texans are well-positioned to take another leap forward.
One moment Breer points to as underrated: Houston’s Divisional Round game against Kansas City at Arrowhead. While most remember the Texans bowing out of the playoffs there, many forget they were trailing by just one point going into the fourth quarter — toe-to-toe with the defending Super Bowl champs in one of the toughest environments in football.
The Texans’ current win total is set at 9.5 by oddsmakers — a line Breer believes is too low. His expectation? Twelve wins and another deep playoff run. To him, the narrative that Houston is being “slept on” will disappear soon enough — likely around the time the Texans remind everyone why they’re still a problem in the AFC.
You can watch the video below for the full conversation.
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