It was a one-score game in the fourth quarter as the Texans trailed the New England Patriots 24-16 on the road. However, their playoff hopes slipped away when the offense committed two turnovers and was only able to score one field goal in the second half.
Minutes after the Texans 34-16 loss, head coach Bill O'Brien discussed what the Texans needed to reach the next level.
"It starts with me," O'brien said. "I don't point fingers. I look in the mirror. I look right square in the mirror and I figure out what I can do better and I'm already thinking about that right now. You can't have the offense where it's at in this league and expect to win a championship and so we've got to figure it out, we've got to improve."
It's not rocket science, he added.
The Texans offense rushed for 104 net yards, controlled time of possession, was gifted three rare Patriots turnovers, but scored just one touchdown in the loss. Brock Osweiler threw three interceptions too, including two in the fourth quarter.
"I made a clear read," Osweiler said. "I thought I was going to have a big explosive play completion and I think the ball just got away from me a little bit, sailed a tick high, and the next thing you know, it's intercepted. So, that's my fault and I'll clean that up. I can promise you I'm going to throw about a thousand of those routes in this offseason and get that fixed."
But the issue wasn't just interceptions or Will Fuller V's dropped pass in the endzone, according to O'Brien. It has been a culmination of factors that has led to the Texans struggling on offense. Against New England, Houston was just 3-of-19 on third downs and 1-of-3 in the red zone, both areas which O'Brien has wanted to improve all season.
"I think we have a good football team," O'Brien said. "We are better than how we played tonight. I think coaching in this league is a very, very, very large part of success as witnessed tonight on that sideline. I think we can do better and it starts with me."
The Texans ended their 2016 campaign with Sunday's Divisional Round loss at New England, to finish the regular season at 9-7 and the postseason with a 1-1 record under O'Brien.
The Texans and Patriots faced each other in the Divisional Playoff at Gillette Stadium.
