NFL World Baffled By Texans’ Decision to Punt While Trailing Late vs. Patriots

A Texans team defined by their ferocious defense let their season come to a meagerly end.

Despite another strong performance from Houston’s valiant defense—forcing three turnovers and sacking Drake Maye five times—the Texans' defense was unable to overcome their own offense’s turnover woes. Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud threw four interceptions while running back Woody Marks fumbled.

The Texans entered the fourth quarter trailing the Patriots 21-16 and New England added another touchdown to go up by two scores. They punted on their first drive after the Patriots’ last touchdown, and got the ball back again with 5:48 remaining. Similarly to much of the game, the Texans' offense struggled to move the ball and found themselves in fourth-and-18 from their own 21-yard line with under 4:17 remaining after Stroud was sacked on third down.

Though the Texans still needed two scores to try and come back, head coach DeMeco Ryans opted to punt, a decision that left many viewers befuddled given the score and how little time was left in the game.

Punt?
— Wade Phillips (@sonofbum) January 18, 2026

They gave up.
— Brett Kollmann (@BrettKollmann) January 18, 2026

Texans coach DeMeco Ryans down 12 is punting with 4 mins left in the divisional round.

clear sign of waving the white flag.
— DJ Bien-Aime (@Djbienaime) January 18, 2026

Texans concede.
— Kevin Seifert (@SeifertESPN) January 18, 2026

How can you punt down 12 with less than five minutes left and only one time out?
— Greg Auman (@gregauman) January 18, 2026

DeMeco Ryans just punted on the game. Apparently he's seen enough of his offense.
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) January 18, 2026

The Texans are completely unserious
— JJ Zachariason (@LateRoundQB) January 18, 2026

Down 28-16, 4 minutes left, on the road, in a blizzard.

That’s gotta be the most cowardly punt of all time by DeMeco Ryans.
— Jake! (@JakeAndBall) January 18, 2026

Surrender punt
— Trill Withers (@TylerIAm) January 18, 2026

Perhaps Ryans felt that their defense—which scored two touchdowns the week prior—gave them a better chance to put points on the board. Ultimately though, the Patriots ran enough clock to secure a 28-16 win while the Texans come up short in the divisional round once again.