Texans Target Penalties After Bye Week
The Houston Texans are focusing on cutting penalties after their bye, ahead of a Week 9 game against the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday in Los Angeles.
Houston is trying to address a costly pattern as it returns from its Week 8 bye. The Texans rank among the NFL’s most-penalized teams, have surrendered more than 500 yards through penalties and have been flagged at least 70 times. The team enters Week 9 three games below .500.
Coach DeMeco Ryans said players and coaches both need to improve, and that the issue will receive greater attention in practice. He singled out offensive holding, which has repeatedly wiped out Houston’s gains on the ground. The Texans rank third in holding calls per game, and are among five teams losing more than 20 yards per game to those penalties.
Ryans said Houston’s blockers need to recognize when to release defenders on the edges, where holding calls have negated long runs. He pointed to gains of more than 20 yards that were erased, saying cleaner play could help the team’s rushing numbers.
The Texans will try to make those adjustments against the Chargers on Sunday. Los Angeles has also struggled with penalties, averaging more than eight per game and ranking among the league’s most-penalized teams before the snap. Houston’s ability to reduce its own flags could be important in the matchup.