Houston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans announced he will take over play-calling duties from defensive coordinator Matt Burke after Houston lost its last two games by giving up game-winning points in the final two minutes. They have also lost two games this season after scoring at least 30 points, including their most recent loss to the Dallas Cowboys, where CeeDee Lamb had 17 receptions for 189 yards and the game-winning touchdown.
Texans HC DeMeco Ryans said he now will take over defensive play-calling duties. pic.twitter.com/4hVKlRLGvf
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 7, 2026
This is Burke’s fourth season as Houston's defensive coordinator. Last season, their defense was one of the league's best, with the third-most takeaways, a top-10 passing defense, and a top-10 run defense. They
held opponents to 20 points or less in 14 games, including their wild-card win against the Pittsburgh Steelers. No opponent ever scored more than 30 points on them.
However, this season is a drastically different story on defense, despite having many of the same players, including All-Pro Will Anderson Jr. and Pro-Bowler Danielle Hunter. They have allowed over 30 points in two games and have allowed the fifth-most passing yards of any team in the NFL through the first four weeks. Houston has also already given up five rushing touchdowns, which is in the bottom half of the league.
The Texans are 0-4 for the first time since 2020 and started last season 0-3 before making it to the playoffs. However, only one team in NFL history has made the playoffs after starting 0-4: the 1994 Los Angeles Chargers. Their game against the Tennessee Titans is a must-win to have any chance of making the playoffs this season.
This article originally appeared on Touchdown Wire: DeMeco Ryans taking over Texans' playcalling duties after Week 4 loss
