HOUSTON (AP) — DeMeco Ryans on Sunday became the first coach in Houston Texans history to win at least 10 games in three consecutive seasons. The Texans beat the Las Vegas Raiders 23-21 on Sunday.
“Getting ten is good, but that is not the goal. The goal is to reach the play-offs and fight to win everything,” said Ryans. “If our guys keep their eyes forward, keep believing, keep playing and finish the right way, we have everything we want in front of us.”
Ryans is also the 13th coach in NFL history and the sixth since 2000 to record at least 10 wins in each of his first three seasons as head coach.
Sunday’s win extended Houston’s winning streak to seven games, matching the second-longest streak in franchise history, following a nine-game streak in 2018. It is the longest active streak in the NFL and has allowed the Texans (10-5) to put their 0-3 start behind them and be in position to clinch a playoff berth with two regular-season games remaining.
They still have a chance to win the AFC South for the third straight season, but they would have to win all their remaining games and let the Jaguars (11-4) lose at least one.
“It’s super cool to get 10 wins in the three years I’ve been here,” quarterback CJ Stroud said. “It’s something that’s good, but right now our focus is on getting to the playoffs and going from there.”
While the Texans were happy to beat the Raiders (2-13) on Sunday, they were a little disappointed that they didn’t play better. Houston’s top-ranked defense was especially upset about rookie Ashton Jeanty allowing a 60-yard touchdown catch and a 51-yard touchdown run in the second half, allowing the Raiders to stay in the game.
His problems Sunday were not limited to defense. Houston didn’t score an offensive touchdown until Stroud connected with Dalton Schultz on a one-yard score with about seven minutes left.
What works
Although the Texans were disappointed with their defensive performance, they still have the highest-ranked defense in the NFL. Houston ranks first in yards (272.3) and points allowed (16.6) per game and its 25 turnovers are third-highest in the league.
need help
Houston managed just 83 yards on Sunday while playing without starter Woody Marks, who was out with an ankle injury. The Texans have struggled to run the ball this season with Joe Mixon out for the season and rank 23rd in the NFL with an average of 106.7 rushing yards per game.
Ryans said issues in the running game kept the offense off balance on Sunday.
“The biggest thing is we couldn’t run the ball. We didn’t control the line of scrimmage the way we needed to. They had a lot of tackles for losses, they backed us up a few times and we didn’t run the ball well.”
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