The Houston Texans lost 33-13 to the Seattle Seahawks in Week 14 at NRG Stadium. Although the score seemed to show that it was another Texans beating throughout the game, Houston was in the game early the fourth quarter.
The Texans, who had turned to rookie Davis Mills as their starter once more, were down 19-13 when the Seahawks took over after a Houston punt with 11:38 to go. The Seahawks mounted a 10-play, 67-yard drive with Russell Wilson throwing a 1-yard touchdown to tight end Gerald Everett to make it a two-score game after the two-point conversion, 27-13.
Throughout the game, Houston couldn’t stuff running back Rashaad Penny, and with a lead to protect, he went off and finished with 16 carries for 137 yards and a 47-yard touchdown to ice the game with 5:35 to play.
According to linebacker Christian Kirksey, what cost the Texans was not staying disciplined defending the run.
“Just us being undisciplined at times, knowing we have a responsibility to do and we just didn’t do it all game,” Kirksey said. “We wish we could get some of those plays back, but we have to play better football.”
Kirksey pointed to individual breakdowns as being the impetus for the defense struggling to contain the Seahawks’ ground game, which finished with 29 carries for 193 yards and two touchdowns.
Said Kirksey: “Our defense is built on everybody individually doing their job. A defense is supposed to move as a unit and when we don’t all do be on the same page, things can happen. Negative plays can happen for us. I would just say that we all need to be responsible for what we’re supposed to do, all 11 guys and make sure we play complementary defense. At times we did and at times we didn’t, and when we didn’t it cost us.”
Week 14 marked the fourth straight game and 11th of 13 games that the Texans defense gave up over 100 yards rushing.