DeMeco Ryans Focused On Teachable Moments Following Houston Texans Loss To Atlanta Falcons

The Houston Texans may have dropped the ball in the final minute of Sunday's game, but coach DeMeco Ryans believes their loss against the Falcons was a teachable moment.

HOUSTON — Coach DeMeco Ryans is disappointed by the outcome of Sunday's game against the Atlanta Falcons. But the first-year coach believes the Houston Texans' 21-19 defeat at Mercedes-Benz Stadium was a "great learning lesson."

"We were close, and we feel like we should have finished that game," Ryans said. "But for me, it’s a great teaching moment for our guys to really understand what it takes to win games in this league."

The Texans had a chance to record their third consecutive victory until Falcons' kicker Younghoe Koo nailed a 37-yard game-winning field goal. Their subpar performance for the first three quarters led to the Texans holding a 19-18 lead with 1:49 left in the fourth quarter.

Rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud gave the Texans a chance at a victory by connecting with tight end Dalton Schultz for an 18-yard touchdown. But Houston's final offensive drive was the only series its offense looked efficient, which played a factor in the stiff contest the Texans found themselves in.

The Week 5 match marked Houston's first slugfest of the season. The Texans won their previous two games by an average margin of 22.0 points. And during their 0-2 start, Houston lost by an average of 13.5 points. 

Bijan Robinson is tackled by Houston Texans linebacker Jake Hansen (35) during the first half at Mercedes-Benz Stadium / Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

But as a young team, losing to the Falcons gave the Texans a foundation on how to finish tight games. Outside of a 42-yard field goal that put the Texans ahead 12-7, the five-point advantage Houston held marked the largest lead of the game.

"I think this game will teach us that we can’t shoot ourselves in the foot and expect to win close games," Stroud said. "We had plenty of times to score points and it’s on me to execute our offense at a higher level. So, we’ve got to get back to the drawing board, but I definitely think we can learn from this."

The Texans' defense gave up 56 yards in 10 plays during their final defensive series. The outcome led to the Falcons' game-winning field goal with one second left.

As disheartening as the defense played, Ryans doesn't believe lessons were only learned during the final 1:49. For Ryans, the most prominent teachings will come during the first three quarters, which showcased how the Texans got into an unfavorable situation in Atlanta.

"All the games are going to be tight — it’s going to come down to one possession," Ryans said. "We’re going to be in games, but what does it take to win games and not lose games? To me, every play is the play of the game, and if you don’t look at it that way, it’s a mistake."