The margin for error in 2020 is all but gone.

You don't have to contact the Elias Sports Bureau to understand that the Texans' season is on the ropes and they are in desperate need of a huge winning streak or tremendous run to even get close to what they envisioned prior to the campaign.

Before we get into Sunday's game, just understand that it will likely take a record of 10-6 or at least 9-7 to get into the post season.

Now you're going Jim Mora on me – "Playoffs?!"

I get it. But that's what we're here for, right? And I will cling to the possibilities as long as they exist.

There's too much talent on this team to think they can't be competitive for the rest of the schedule. And if you're competitive, you can win. It's a long shot to completely escape from this hole but it's hardly impossible.

In order to have a chance to reverse this shocking trend they'll need to quickly correct some of the same things that keep plaguing them. Not getting enough ground yardage combined with giving up too much is a recipe for disaster.

Yet here were the Texans in the last two weeks with reasonable opportunities to win.

We knew the Vikings would run the ball and they did, to the tune of 162 yards with Dalvin Cook getting over 100. But it was also Kirk Cousins cashing in with chunk passes to Justin Jefferson and Adam Thielen that did the Texans in.

On the other side of the ball, Houston was held to two field goals in the first half. 17 second half points brought the game within reach but the Texans couldn't close the deal, coming up short in their third goal-to-go situation of the afternoon, with the game on the line.

In goal-to-go moments, the Texans hit two chip shot field goals and turned it over on downs. They were efficient in such situations through last year and the first three games but missed the mark against Minnesota.

The game had its moments. Watson's 4th and 10 touchdown pass to Kenny Stills would have been talked about forever if this was a win. Same with Fuller's close-but-no-cigar TD reception attempt on 4th and five at the end.

Fuller had his second 100-yard game of the young campaign and Whitney Mercilus added two sacks along with one from P.J. Hall. Zach Cunningham has more tackles through four games than any player in the history of the franchise.

But no one is happy. 0-4 is not what this team had in mind and they must remedy the situation as fast as possible or the ditch will get too deep.