The Texans have a key stat to improve upon squarely in their crosshairs: turnover differential.
"Overall as a team, we have to make sure that we try to flip the turnover/takeaway ratio," head coach Bill O'Brien said on Monday. "Right now we're 29th in the League, and it's not very good."
Houston's turned the ball over 13 times in 2016, and taken the ball away six times. At minus-seven on the season, they're tied with the Giants and better than only the Jets and Jaguars in that category.
"In the past couple years that we've been here we've been able to turn that around and we need to try to turn that around because that stat right there points right toward the won/loss record," O'Brien said.
The Giants are also 5-3 in the win/loss column, while the other two are a combined 5-11 this year. Picking off passes and recovering fumbles is bound to happen soon, according to cornerback A.J. Bouye.
"I feel like they're going to come," Bouye said. "We haven't been getting as many as we wanted. But we just have to keep pounding and eventually they're going to come."
O'Brien acknowledged that there's a bit of "luck of the draw" when it comes to getting takeaways. In 2014, the Texans finished with an NFL-best 34 picks or fumble recoveries. They were plus-12 in turnover differential that season, which was tied for second-best in the League.
"Sometimes takeaways come in bunches," O'Brien said. "You just get hot like we did two years ago."
Outside linebacker Whitney Mercilus said the Texans can definitely make a change, and that it starts during the week, not necessarily on gameday.
"Just doing it in practice," Mercilus said. "Just making it a habit. That's it."
The Texans will practice again Wednesday through Friday, and play the Jaguars in Jacksonville this Sunday at noon CT.
The Houston Texans roster in photos. (Updated 2/24/2021)
ILB, Tyrell Adams #50
TE, Jordan Akins, 88
DT, Auzoyah Alufohai, #98
P, Bryan Anger, 9
CB, Cornell Armstrong, 30
C/G, Beau Benzschawel #62
DT, Ross Blacklock #90
ILB, Curtis Bolton #47
DT, Andrew Brown, #97
TE Pharaoh Brown #85
C, Cohl Cabral #72
WR, Randall Cobb #18
ILB, Dylan Cole, 51
CB, Gareon Conley, 22
WR, Brandin Cooks #13
WR, Isaiah Coulter #82
WR, Keke Coutee, 16
CB, Keion Crossen, 35
ILB, Zach Cunningham, 41
DE, Brandon Dunn, 92
OLB, Duke Ejiofor, 53
ILB, Kyle Emanuel, 56
K, Ka'imi Fairbairn, 7
TE, Darren Fells, 87
CB, Mark Fields II #39
G, Hjalte Froholdt #77
OL, Zach Fulton, 73
CB, Phillip Gaines #29
FB, Cullen Gillaspia, 44
OLB, Jonathan Greenard #52
ILB, Nate Hall, 48
NT, P.J. Hall #96
WR, Chad Hansen, #17
CB, Vernon Hargreaves III #26
T, Charlie Heck #67
RB, Dontrell Hilliard, #22
OL, Tytus Howard, 71
RB, Buddy Howell, 38
RB, David Johnson #31
RB, Duke Johnson, 25
CB, Lonnie Johnson, Jr., 32
T, Roderick Johnson #63
LS, Anthony Kukwa #45
LB, Jacob Martin, 54
C, Nick Martin, 66
QB, AJ McCarron #2
QB, Josh McCown, 3
LB, Benardrick McKinney, 55
OLB, Whitney Mercilus, 59
WR, Steven Mitchell, Jr., 11
S, A.J. Moore, 33
S Eric Murray #23
DE, Charles Omenihu, 94
S, Jonathan Owens, 36
RB, Scottie Phillips, #40
G/T Brent Qvale #76
WR, Damion Ratley, #19
CB, John Reid #34
S, Justin Reid, 20
OLB, Brennan Scarlett, 57
OL, Max Scharping, 74
S, Michael Thomas #28
TE, Kahale Warring, 81
DL, Carlos Watkins, 91
QB, Deshaun Watson, 4
LS, Jon Weeks #46
