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Texans coach shoulders blame for AFC divisional round loss to Patriots
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- Texans coach shoulders blame for AFC divisional round loss to Patriots
The Houston Texans went into their AFC divisional round game against the New England Patriots boasting a top defense in the NFL.
It was a big talking point all week, but it was the Patriots defense that dominated C.J. Stroud and the Texans. Four first-half interceptions and three sacks of the quarterback helped lift New England to a 28-16 win and a trip to the AFC Championship Game .
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While fingers could be pointed at Stroud or the Texans for being without Nico Collins and Trent Brown , DeMeco Ryans shouldered the blame for the loss.
“Things don’t go your way, you have bad performances, it’s not a time to point fingers or say it’s all one person,” the coach told reporters after the game . “It all starts with me as the head coach of this team. We didn’t perform well, obviously, I didn’t have our guys ready to go in this moment. So that starts with me. We stick together.”
Stroud will go into the 2026 season in the final year of his contract. His performance Sunday — 20-of-47, one touchdown, four interceptions and three sacks — will likely raise questions about how the team moves forward with him and whether the Texans want to commit to Stroud for the long-term.
“I think about the man first and foremost,” Ryans said of Stroud . “It’s not about the player. Of course, it’s not what we would have hoped for it’s not what we would have thought would happen, but I still stand by the young man, believe in him and what he’s done for us to be in the position we’re in right here today. It’s because of him and all of the guys on our team.”
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