Underachieving defense is Texans' biggest problem right now

After their 34-30 loss to the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday, the Houston Texans, one of the popular preseason Super Bowl picks in the AFC, are 0-4 and in serious trouble, even in the traditionally wide open AFC South. 

Their biggest issue right now might be the side of the ball that was supposed to be their biggest strength. 

Underachieving defense is Texans' biggest issue right now

If the Texans had a concern coming into the 2026 season, it was probably going to be the state of their offense and whether or not quarterback C.J. Stroud would be able to get back to playing like an elite quarterback the way he was earlier in his career.

While the offense has had some highs and lows, the bottom line is this:

• The offense has scored 30 points in two of the team's four games. When Houston scored 30 points a year ago, it was 5-0, including in the playoffs. This season, it is 0-2. 
• It has handed the Texans vaunted defense a lead with less than three minutes to play in three different games.
• Even with the first two points being true, the Texans are still 0-4 as the defense has failed to get a big stop and hold a late lead on multiple occasions.

In Week 1, Houston allowed the Buffalo Bills to march 96 yards in seven plays in the closing minutes to take a 36-31 lead.

In Week 3, Houston allowed the Indianapolis Colts to go 29 yards in six plays to get into range for a game-winning field goal.

On Sunday, it allowed Dallas to go 74 yards in 11 plays (in less than two minutes of clock time) for the game-winning touchdown.

Two of those three games (and three of the four losses overall) have come at home.

They have come with the defense on the field in a position to wrap up the game and secure it. 

Those are supposed to be the spots that defense locks things down and secures a win. 

It has failed every time. 

They keep coming up short, and it's not good enough for that unit given the resources they have invested in it, the talent it has on paper and the hype that followed it coming into the season.

The Texans defense was one of the fiercest, most dominant groups in the NFL in 2025 and nearly took them to the AFC Championship game. It was a big part of why the Texans were able to overcome an 0-3 start and play nearly unbeatable football the rest of the way. It was because of that defense that there was still some optimism lingering with this year's 0-4 start.

It's going to be awfully difficult to keep that optimism going into another week following another blown lead and another disappointing showing. They need better from that defense. They should also be getting it. The fact they are not getting it is starting to ruin the season.