It was a rough day for the Texans.
On that, Bill O'Brien and the players agreed.
But where the responsibility resided in the 48-21 defeat was up for debate.
O'Brien placed all blame for the loss on himself, terming his head coaching performance on Sunday at the Georgia Dome as "terrible". In the locker room after, though, his players quickly dismissed that idea.
"I totally disagree," nose tackle Vince Wilfork said.
"It's not the coach's fault," Duane Brown said.
The Texans were behind 42-0 until the start of the fourth quarter, and they turned the ball over four times on the afternoon. While O'Brien insisted that the loss get pinned on him, the Texans steadfastly agreed that they were the ones responsible.
"Players play, and coaches coach," running back Chris Polk said.
Brown agreed.
"It starts as players," Brown said. "We play the game."
Defensive end J.J. Watt, who finished the day with a sack, three tackles for loss and two batted passes, maintained that the day was "awful".
"I think everyone deserves blame," Watt said. "I feel bad about every loss. Every single one is terrible, and today was especially terrible."
Defensive lineman Vince Wilfork explained some of the shortcomings on Sunday, insisting that the Texans have to "make those plays".
"We were in position to make them and we didn't," Wilfork said. "We're the ones that got the penalties. We're the ones that gave up the big plays. We're the ones that shot ourselves in the foot."
The team will regroup on Monday, practice Tuesday, and face the Colts on Thursday evening at NRG Stadium.
The Texans faced the Falcons in Atlanta during Week 4.
Atlanta Falcons running back Devonta Freeman (24) runs into Houston Texans inside linebacker Brian Cushing (56) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 4, 2015, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan (2) runs away from Houston Texans outside linebacker John Simon (51) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 4, 2015, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Houston Texans quarterback Ryan Mallett (15) passes as Atlanta Falcons inside linebacker Joplo Bartu (59) defends during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 4, 2015, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/David Goldman)
