(SportsRadio 610) - The Texans were so close, they could almost taste it.
C.J. Stroud's fourth quarter comeback was nearly complete. Leading an 11-play 75-yard drive that ended in an 18-yard touchdown pass to Dalton Schultz on a 3rd-and-9, gave the Texans a 19-18 lead with just 1:49 left on the game clock. But DeMeco Ryans' defense couldn't hold the line.
It's a tough loss to take for a team that missed an opportunity to show the NFL they're for real. Instead of talking about Stroud's fourth quarter heroics, focus stays on anemic run game, the offense's inability to finish drives and a lack of defensive pass rush.
Here are some other key observations from the Texans' 21-19 loss to the Falcons:
Defense
Ka'dar Hollman started for the injured Shaq Griffin (calf), who popped up on the injury reports late in the week and was scratched from the game.
Denzel Perryman and Henry To'oTo'o got the starts at linebacker. Perryman missed the game last week against the Steelers with a broken hand and wrist.
He recorded four tackles in Sunday's loss to the Falcons, playing with a club on his hand in just base defense while coming off the field when the Texans were in nickel.
The Texans were penalized three times for encroachment in the first half. The hard-count the Falcons were using absolutely worked.
Run defense continues improvement
The Texans held the Falcons to 96 yards on 36 attempts for an average of 2.7 yards per carry.
It's the first time all season the Texans have allowed fewer than 110 yards rushing by an opponent.
Turnovers
Defensive tackle Khalil Davis and nickel cornerback Grayland Arnold both forced fumbles.
They weren't fluky plays either. Davis lowered a shoulder into the ball carrier as the defense swarmed on Bijan Robinson, while Arnold punched the ball out of the hands of Jonnu Smith on the next defensive possession.
The Texans recovered both but were only able to muster three points.
Heads up coaching
Credit to DeMeco Ryans for recognizing that and for calling a timeout on a key third down in the first half. After Kurt Hinish and Will Anderson Jr. were called for encroachment, Ryans dialed up a blitz in which Cashman hit Desmond Ridder as he threw incomplete, forcing a third-and-11.
Ryans called a timeout before the snap, presumably to make sure his defense didn't fall for the hard count again.
They didn't and instead, tight end Kyle Pitts committed a false start penalty which eventually led to the Falcons punting the ball away.
Unfortunately, Ryans and his defense couldn't hold the line at the end of the game, allowing a 10-play, 56-yard drive by Ridder to put them within field goal range for the win, picking apart the Texans' zone coverage.
Ryans just had no answer for Arthur Smith's offense in the second half.
Too many hats
The Texans were penalized for having 12 men on the field after a timeout. That's the first time we've seen that type of dysfunction this regular season from a Ryans coached defense.
Offensive line
Left tackle Laremy Tunsil returned for the Texans after missing the last three games with a left knee injury. He moved well and while playing alongside Tytus Howard, who was at left guard, helped keep Stroud clean for the third straight week, allowing just two QB hits and zero sacks.
Quarterback
Stroud finished 20-of-35 for 249 yards and a touchdown. He led a fourth quarter comeback drive that ended in an 18-yard touchdown strike to Dalton Schultz to give the Texans a 19-18 lead inside two minutes left.
It's a shame the defense couldn't have held up for one more drive so we could be talking about how Stroud led a game-winning drive in the fourth quarter.
It was a tough game for Stroud and the offense, who were just 2-for-11 on third down conversions prior to the offense's final drive.
The Falcons didn't seem to rush Stroud much, particularly on third downs. Instead, they kept an extra defender in coverage. That strategy by the Falcons seemed to eliminate the quick-pass game that had been so effective for Stroud in Bobby Slowik's offense the past two weeks.
Offense
The Texans never took a shot down the field. Yet, they connected on four plays that went for at least 22 yards (Robert Woods, Teagan Quitoriano and twice to Tank Dell before he left the game with a concussion) but those all came in the first half.
The run game was horrendous in the first half, amassing just 16 yards on nine attempts for an average of 1.8 yards per carry.
However, with the game on the line during the offense's final possession, Slowik dialed up the run-game with success as Dameon Pierce ran it eight times for 43 yards for an average of 5.3 yards per carry.
Pierce finished with 66 yards on 20 attempts.
The run game has to be better. Maybe it improves when the Texans can get their starting offensive line back to full strength and playing their natural positions.
Tank Dell suffered a concussion in the first half after making the play of the game at the time. A 29-yard catch on a third-and-10, Dell landed awkwardly on his head and never returned.
Dell's absence hampered the offense, which never took a shot deep down the field.
The offense was pitiful in the second half.
Prior to the late touchdown drive, Slowik's offense ran just 17 plays for 49 yards culminating in three punts and a field goal.
