After winning the division title each of the past two years, the Houston Texans were the team to beat in the AFC South. However, they're 0-2 to start the season, and the Jacksonville Jaguars could extend their losing streak to three in a row when they face them in Week 3.
The Texans managed to make the playoffs in 2024 despite the fact that their offensive line couldn't protect quarterback C.J. Stroud or open holes in the running game. Rightly, the position seemed as an area of need, but Houston didn't do enough to address it, and it's come back to haunt them.
Couple that with the fact that Stround doesn't seem to be on the same page with his head coach, DeMeco Ryans, and it's fair to assume that things aren't going great.
DeMeco Ryans calls out CJ Stroud after the Texans loss
The Houston Texans lost to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday Night Football. DeMeco Ryans met with reporters and called C.J. Stroud out, pointing out that he needs to complete passes at crucial times.
"I have to check the film," Ryans responded when asked about Stroud, via DJ Bien-Aime of ESPN. "It's a collective effort, but we go two for nine on third down. What do we expect if we can't get the ball in at the goal line? What do we expect is going to happen?
Stroud was 13-of-24 for 207 yards with one touchdown, so there's merit to Ryans' claims. Having said that, the loss wasn't solely on him. He was sacked four times, and the offensive line gave up 13 total pressures. On top of that, the decision to fire offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik and replace him with Nick Caley hasn't paid off.
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What's wrong with C.J. Stroud and the Texans?
From an outside perspective, it's hard to tell what kind of dynamic C.J. Stroud and DeMeco Ryans have, so maybe saying that he must deliver on key downs was his way to get his quarterback to wake up. At this moment, there doesn't seem to be serious friction between the two, so perhaps the remarks turn out ot be much ado about nothing. That said, this is worth keeping an eye on. On the other hand, it's relatively easy to diagnose what's holding the Texans offense back.
The team's brass made several offseason moves in an attempt to beef up the offensive trenches. However, most of the additions they made didn't truly move the needle. After trading left tackle Laremy Tunsil to the Washington Commanders, Houston signed the underwhelming Cam Robinson. Nevertheless, rookie Aireontae Ersery got the starting nod.
The Texans also signed Laken Tomlinson and traded for Ed Ingram to bolster the interior, but neither has been good the past few years. Fast forward to the regular season, and their unwillingness to invest in the line of scrimmage is already backfiring.
The Jaguars must take advantage of the Texans' disarray
Even though the Jaguars passing game is a work in progress, their running game has been effective. On the other hand, their defense has played well to start the season, registering an NFL-best six interceptions in two games. They've also logged four sacks and a jaw-dropping 41 pressures in that snap.
This is a long-winded way to say that the Jacksonville defense matches up favorably against the Texans. It will now be up to them to exploit their weakness on the offensive line.
In Week 2, the Jaguars couldn't seize the opportunity. They cannot afford to do the same when they face the vulnerable Texans.
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