In 2014, the Houston Texans had six takeaways through the first two weeks of the season.
This year, they've managed just one.
After Week 2, the Texans were a perfect 2-0 and were plus-5 in turnover differential.
It's a different story in 2015, as they're winless in a pair of contests and minus-2 in turnover differential.
"We have to try to do a better job of getting some takeaways," head coach Bill O'Brien said on Wednesday. "That's something that'll really help us. It really helped us last year."
J.J. Watt said he and his defensive teammates need to get back to their playmaking ways.
"I feel like we haven't played our brand of football yet on defense," the defensive end said. "I feel like we haven't played the way that we should be playing on defense."
O'Brien, however, pointed out that some of the disparity in takeaways last year versus this year, is due to good fortune.
"We've had some batted balls, some of those went our way last year, where the ball was batted in the air and we intercepted it, or the ball was on the ground," O'Brien said. "(Jadeveon) Clowney has had a couple plays where he's stripped the quarterback or the back out of the backfield and the ball's rolled out of bounds. I don't think I'm using that as an excuse, I'm just telling you that the ball really hasn't bounced our way."
Quarterback Jameis Winston and the Buccaneers come to town even on the year in turnover differential. They've been picked off twice and fumbled the ball away two more times. But they've also recovered three opponents' fumbles and come up with an interception on defense.
The Texans, at minus-2, are tied with seven other teams for the next-to-worst mark in the NFL in the turnover differential category. At 0, the Bucs are tied with two other teams for 13th overall in the League.
The Houston Texans roster in photos.
DL, Thomas Booker, #56
TE, Pharaoh Brown, #85
RB, Rex Burkhead, #28
OL, A.J. Cann, #60
LB, Blake Cashman, #53
DL, Maliek Collins, #96
WR, Nico Collins, #12
WR, Brandin Cooks, #13
OL, Austin Deculus, #76
WR, Phillip Dorsett, #4
DL, Michael Dwumfour, #50
K, Ka'imi Fairbairn, #7
OL, Kenyon Green, #59.
DL, Rasheem Green, #92
DL, Jonathan Greenard, #52
LB, Kamu Grugier-Hill, #51
FB, Troy Hairston, #34
LB, Jake Hansen, #49
DL, Demone Harris, #94
OL, Charlie Heck, #67
LB, Neville Hewitt, #43
DL, Kurt Hinish, #93
TE, O.J. Howard, #83
OL, Tytus Howard, #71
DL, Jerry Hughes, #55
WR, Tyler Johnson, #14
P, Cameron Johnston, #11
TE, Brevin Jordan, #9
DB, Desmond King II, #25
LB, Christian Kirksey, #58
DL, Roy Lopez, #91
OL, Justin McCray, #64
QB, Davis Mills, #10
WR, Chris Moore, #15
OL, Jimmy Morrissey, #79
DB, Eric Murray, #23
DB, Steven Nelson, #21
RB, Dare Ogunbowale, #33
DL, Ogbo Okoronkwo, #45
DB, Jonathan Owens, #36
RB, Dameon Pierce, #31
DB, Jalen Pitre, #5
OL, Scott Quessenberry, #54
LB, Jalen Reeves-Maybin, #44
DB, Tremon Smith, #1.
DB, M.J. Stewart, #29
DB, Derek Stingley Jr., #24
OL, Laremy Tunsil, #78
LB, Garret Wallow, #32
LS, Jon Weeks #46
An image from the Aug 19, 2022 preseason week 2 game between the Houston Texans and the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, CA.
