After starting last season 0-3, it did not seem impossible for the Houston Texans to make it back to the playoffs. However, things changed once they dropped their Week 4 matchup to the Dallas Cowboys and an 0-4 start to begin 2026.
With the Texans now sitting winless entering their matchup against the Tennessee Titans on Sunday, their chances of making the playoffs are incredibly slim. Only one team in NFL history has made it to the playoffs after starting the year 0-4, and that came in 1992, before nearly everyone on the current Texans' roster was even born.
Nonetheless, Houston head coach DeMeco Ryans remains optimistic about the rest of the season and is focusing on the next matchup against the winless Titans.
“I'm a very optimistic guy. That's
how I operate. I don't know any other way. Yeah, we can easily be 3-1. We're not,” Ryans said. “Let's find a way to go make those plays. Let's find a way to go get it done. That's my mindset and that's how it always will be. The next matchup is up. We didn't do it. So we, of course, I have to talk to you guys about it, but we didn't get it done. I'm back to work, see how we can find a way to get it done this week."
On the Texans' bright side, they have a good history against the Titans, winning six of their last seven games, including three straight at Nissan Stadium. Houston also has not lost on the road against Tennessee since 2020 and only trailed in one game during that span.
This is an ideal matchup for the Texans to finally get their first win of the season before having to go to London and face the Jacksonville Jaguars in their third division game of the year.
This article originally appeared on Texans Wire: Texans HC DeMeco Ryans staying optimistic this year despite 0-4 record
