The Texans were favored on the road for the first time since December of 2020 when they were obliterated at Chicago.
They were favored by three points at winless Carolina and lost by two. They were coming off the bye week and had extra time to prepare for this game, but the offense didn't play like it.
The Texans just played poorly offensively. The defense played well except for one series.
Unfortunately, the defense couldn't stop the Panthers on their last possession, and they lost on a field goal with no time remaining for the second time this season.
Grade: F
C.J. Stroud played his most unproductive game of the season. He also was outplayed by his good friend, Bryce Young, who connected on 22-of-31 for 235 yards and a touchdown without an interception.
Young's rating was 103.6. Stroud completed 16-of-24 for 140 yards. His rating was 81.9. He was sacked two times, one clearly his fault when he held the ball too long instead of throwing it away. He didn't throw an interception, but he also didn't throw a touchdown pass, either.
Stroud also had three passes knocked down at the line of scrimmage. He engineered two impressive touchdown drives, but the offense produced only 62 yards on its other possessions.
Grade: D
Against the NFL's worst run defense, the Texans generated 110 yards on 30 carries. That's a 3.7-yard average per carry.
They went into the game averaging 108.5 and 3.2, so the running game was nothing special again. Interestingly, the Texans ran for two touchdowns – fullback Anthony Beck's 1-yard run and C.J. Stroud's 1-yard sneak – doubling their season total of one through the first six games.
Offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik tried a little of everything to jump start the running game, but it was still mediocre. Dameon Pierce carried 12 times for 46 yards, including a 16-yard run. Devin Singletary had 10 carries for 30 yards. Mike Boone (one for 5) and Beck (two for 1) also had carries.
Grade: C-plus
Robert Woods missed the game with a foot injury and might not return anytime soon. The Panthers' game plan was to keep C.J. Stroud from not getting explosive plays, and it worked.
Nico Collins had four catches for 30 yards, and one was good for 15. Tank Dell returned from his concussion and had three receptions for 16 yards. He also ran three times for 15 yards.
The most productive was Noah Brown – three catches for 57 yards, including a 31-yarder.
Overall, the receivers struggled to get open, and Stroud struggled to find them enough against a defense that was allowing 31 points a game.
Grade: D
The most disappointing game of the season for this position.
Dalton Schultz, who had been so impressive in recent games, was targeted five times but produced only two catches for 5 yards.
No other tight end figured into the passing game.
Grade: F
The Texans lost rookie center Jarrett Patterson, who was carted off the field with what looked like a serious ankle injury. He's the third starting center the Texans have lost since the start of training camp.
Michael Deiter replaced Patterson and could start against Tampa Bay unless rookie Juice Scruggs (hamstring) is ready to be activated from injured reserve.
Run blocking was good enough to average only 3.7 yards a carry. C.J. Stroud was sacked two times, once that was his fault.
Grade: B-minus
The best game of the season. Jonathan Greenard and Maliek Collins were outstanding. Greenard had 2.5 sacks and Collins two.
Greenard, who wore out offensive tackle Ickey Ekwonu, knocked down Bryce Young four times, and Collins did it three times. On a magnificent goal-line stand in the second quarter, Greenard and Collins threw running back Chuba Hubbard for a 1-yard loss on third down. Greenard also tied for the team high with two tackles for loss.
Collins was in on seven tackles and Greenard six. Rookie Will Anderson Jr. got good pressure and had a sack with Jalen Pitre nullified because of a holding penalty.
The line did its best job of getting to the quarterback and shutting down the run. The Texans smothered Carolina's running game, allowing only 44 yards, including 1.8 a carry. Just a tremendous job by the linemen.
Grade: A-plus
Blake Cashman registered the first of the Texans' season-high six sacks. He also tied for the team lead with two tackles for loss and participated in five tackles. He allowed a 3-yard touchdown pass to tight end Tommy Tremble.
Denzel Perryman, who shared a sack with Jonathan Greenard, was in on a team-leading nine tackles. Henry To'oTo'o and Christian Harris started but combined for only three tackles, all by To'oTo'o. Harris had one pass defensed.
Overall, they struggled in coverage. Cashman was the most productive linebacker by far.
Grade: B
The defensive backs didn't produce an interception or force a fumble. Receivers were left open in too many crucial situations.
Still, the secondary contributed to the overall terrific performance by the defense.
Adam Thielen led the Panthers with eight catches for 72 yards. Rookie Jonathan Mingo added four for 62. He had a 40-yard reception. Thielen's longest was 31.
Shaq Griffin had a team-high eight unassisted tackles. Tavierre Thomas returned from a broken hand and made a couple of big plays early but a couple of bad ones late.
Grade: B-minus
Punter Cam Johnston had his best game as a Texan, and that's saying something. On six punts, his gross average was 47.8 yards, and his net was 45.8.
Punting from his end zone, he boomed a 74-yarder – the longest in team history. Four of his punts were downed inside the 20.
Ka'imi Fairbairn didn't get a chance to kick a field goal. Kickoff coverage was the worst of the season. The Panthers averaged 35.7 yards on returns, thanks to running back Raheem Blackshear's 52-yard return.
Tank Dell had a 20-yard punt return and would have had a 17-yarder if not for a penalty.
Grade: B
Whatever DeMeco Ryans and his coaches did during the bye week didn't work because the Texans should have won this game. The defensive coaches deserved a better fate after their side of the ball allowed only one touchdown and 15 points.
Still, Ryans' defense couldn't get off the field on the Panthers' winning field goal drive – the same thing that cost them a victory at Atlanta. Bobby Slowik's offense was a huge disappointment against a winless team that allowed 31 points a game, tied for the most in the NFL.
This team is too well-coached to let what should have been a victory slip through their fingers.
Grade: D-plus
John McClain can be heard Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday on SportsRadio 610 and Monday, Thursday and Sunday on Texans Radio, also on SportsRadio 610. He writes five columns a week and does three Houtopia Football Podcasts for SportsRadio610.com.
