There are nine games left in the 2025 regular season and inside inside NRG Stadium there is still plenty of belief that the Texans can go on a run if they make some key corrections.
The forensics of their 3-5 'first half' of the season reveal that all five losses are of the one-score variety. Plus, there's no question they've made progress in many areas. At the same time, they clearly have much to improve upon.
We'll never know how Sunday's 18-15 loss to Denver would have played out had C.J. Stroud been able to stay in the game. Davis Mills came in and moved the ball at first, then the offense began to stall in the second half.
If Mills has to play in Week 10 vs Jacksonville, he'll clearly benefit from a full week of prep with the 'ones.' Mills threw it 30 times but the offense was unable to get the Texans in field goal range late.
Had they scored in first and goal situations from the one and the two in the first half, the day might have turned out differently. This is the NFL, where second guessing and 'what if-ing' are in large supply after games.
The defense, for the most part, was stellar. They got off the field time and again to give the team a shot at the win, yet the Texans went 0-7 on third downs after intermission.
The killer play for the Broncos was Bo Nix scrambling for 25 yards into field goal range on the final drive. It was reminiscent of Baker Mayfield's damaging run late in the Tampa Bay game. But credit the defenders for keeping the Denver attack in check for the bulk of the afternoon.
Now it's time to go back into the division. Big games are coming up with the Jags, Titans and eventually the Colts, who lost for the second time Sunday.
There's still a huge opportunity here but the Texans need to get healthy in a hurry and dramatically up the percentage of their drives that finish in the end zone.
Ka'imi Fairbairn knocked in a career-high-tying five field goals against Denver. Everyone at NRG Stadium is appreciative but wants to turn more of those kicks into extra points.
The Jaguars invade next week. This was a close game in Week 3. The Texans need to find a way to close the deal this time. If they do, there's still an ocean of possibilities ahead of them.
