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Houston Texans Struggle Against Ravens in 31-2 Loss: A Disastrous Performance on Christmas Day
The Houston Texans faced a devastating 31-2 defeat at the hands of the Baltimore Ravens on Christmas Day, highlighting a critical series of issues on both sides of the ball. From a defensive collapse to a lack of energy and poor execution, the Texans’ performance was far from what they needed to compete with a top-tier team like the Ravens. Head coach DeMeco Ryans and his squad had a lot of soul-searching to do following the loss, which was not only the worst defeat of the season but also a major blow to their playoff positioning.
Ravens Dominate with Run Game: Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry Shine
The main storyline of the game revolved around the Ravens’ relentless rushing attack, spearheaded by Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry. The two combined for a staggering 235 rushing yards and two touchdowns, dismantling the Texans’ defense with ease. Jackson’s ability to carve up defenses with both his legs and arm has been well-documented, but on this day, he and Henry were a lethal duo. Jackson broke an NFL record in the third quarter, surpassing Michael Vick for the most career rushing yards by a quarterback in NFL history. Meanwhile, Henry’s 74.1% success rate on his 27 carries marked the highest of any player with 25+ rushes in the Next Gen Stats era.
The Ravens’ 251 rushing yards were the most the Texans had allowed all season, more than 100 yards higher than their previous worst. It wasn’t just a matter of one or two big plays—Jackson’s 48-yard touchdown run in the third quarter highlighted the effectiveness of Baltimore’s entire game plan. For the Texans, it was a nightmare scenario as they struggled to stop the run all game long.
Defensive Struggles and Accountability: DeMeco Ryans Takes Responsibility
Houston’s defense, which had been a point of pride earlier in the season, could not keep up with the Ravens’ powerful ground attack. Head coach DeMeco Ryans, known for his defensive prowess, did not mince words in his post-game comments. “We didn’t play our best ball and all of that starts with me,” Ryans said, acknowledging the team’s lack of execution. “It was just lack of execution. If we want to beat a good team like that, you have to execute. We didn’t execute well. Credit to the Ravens. Really good football team. They came out, they played really well today. Obviously, we did not.”
Ryans’ candidness in taking the blame for the loss resonated with players who recognized that the preparation and execution were simply not up to standard. Defensive end Danielle Hunter agreed with his coach’s assessment, pointing to the Texans’ preparation as the root cause of their struggles. “We didn’t game plan well enough. They’re great football players, but we could have done a better job with our game plan,” Hunter said.
The Ravens’ Game Plan: Creative Schemes to Beat the Texans’ Defense
One of the biggest differences between the two teams was the way the Ravens executed their game plan. Baltimore’s ability to put the Texans’ defenders in difficult situations through motion and creative blocking schemes was evident. On their first drive, the Ravens used a motion to a spread formation with deep routes, setting up Jackson for a big scramble. That play was followed by a Derrick Henry touchdown, showcasing the effectiveness of the Ravens’ approach to breaking down Houston’s defense.
The Ravens continued to exploit Houston’s defense with unique blocking schemes that neutralized the Texans’ interior run-stoppers. A 20-yard rush by Henry on the next drive was a perfect example of how Baltimore took advantage of Houston’s weaknesses. Jackson’s long touchdown run in the second half exposed defensive end Will Anderson Jr., who bit on a fake handoff to Henry, allowing Jackson to run untouched down the sideline.
“We’ve just got to be better up front,” Anderson said, reflecting on the defense’s struggles. “We’ve got to be able to know what’s coming, and we have to be able to play it and adjust to it. The D-line that we are, we have to look ourselves in the mirror and take accountability for all our actions.”
Energy Deficiency and Sluggish Play: A Lethargic Texans Team
Another concerning factor for the Texans was their lack of energy. Several players, including Hunter, Anderson, and linebacker Henry To’oTo’o, noted that the team felt sluggish before the game and carried that lethargy into the matchup. Given that it was a nationally televised Christmas Day game, this lack of excitement was puzzling to many.
“I have no idea, I really don’t,” To’oTo’o said when asked about the energy deficiency. “But that energy just wasn’t there. We’ve got to pick it up. This is the most critical time of football, and we’ve got to play our best ball right now.” The lack of intensity was surprising considering the high stakes of the game, as the Texans were looking to improve their playoff positioning against a team that had knocked them out of the playoffs the previous year.
Fatigue or Excuses? No Justification for Poor Play
A possible explanation for the sluggishness could be the Texans’ brutal schedule, which included three games in 11 days. However, no one on the team used this as an excuse. Despite the grueling stretch, To’oTo’o made it clear that fatigue was not an acceptable reason for the poor performance. “You can’t blame it on that,” he said. “Everybody’s tired. They had three games in 11 days and they came out and executed. It just comes down to us doing our job.”
While the compressed schedule might have contributed to physical exhaustion, it was clear that the Texans failed to execute their game plan. The Ravens had no such issues, as they came out prepared, focused, and ready to play from the opening whistle.
Focus on Execution: Texans Need to Improve Attention to Detail
A recurring theme in the Texans’ post-game comments was the need for better execution. “It sucks that we have to just keep on talking about the same thing week in week out with execution and having attention to detail,” Anderson said. “That’s really all it is. It’s not like it’s a lack of effort, it’s not a lack of want to. It’s just we’ve got to find a way to stop making these simple mistakes.”
Execution has been an ongoing issue for the Texans, and as the season progresses, this becomes a growing concern. With the playoff race intensifying, the Texans cannot afford to continue making the same mistakes, especially when facing high-caliber teams like the Ravens.
The Road Ahead: Time for Reflection and Improvement
Despite the disappointment of the loss, the Texans now have a valuable opportunity to regroup. The loss to Baltimore locks Houston into the No. 4 seed in the AFC, meaning they have a playoff berth secured, but they must use the time leading up to their final regular-season game against the Tennessee Titans to correct their mistakes. Anderson emphasized the importance of this time to refine the team’s performance.
“We’re a playoff team,” Anderson said. “We have a playoff game coming up soon. We’ve got to play Tennessee. So we have more than enough time to really get this thing figured out and see what type of team we want to be.”
With the Texans locked into the playoffs, they must focus on improving execution, game planning, and energy. The team has shown flashes of potential this season, but the loss to the Ravens exposed areas that need significant improvement before the postseason. The next few weeks will be critical for the Texans as they aim to regain their form and make a deep playoff run.
In conclusion, the Houston Texans’ performance against the Baltimore Ravens was a wake-up call for a team that has struggled with execution and consistency. With the playoffs on the horizon, the Texans must use this loss as a learning experience to get back on track and improve in all aspects of the game. The road to success will require better preparation, focus, and execution, and the Texans must use their remaining time wisely to ensure they are ready for the postseason.
