DeMeco Ryans Reacts to Houston Texans' Big Defensive Stops in Week 6 Win

The Houston Texans got back in the win column with a victory over the New Orleans Saints on Sunday. Head coach DeMeco Ryans has his defense to thank.

Through just about six full weeks of NFL action, there are few coaches more deserving of Coach of the Year consideration than Houston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans. Sure, he may not win it if the Texans don’t represent the AFC South or the Miami Dolphins continue to break more offensive records than the early-dynasty Golden State Warriors, but he’s done an incredible job so far.

Handed a rookie quarterback, an unstable franchise, and a young roster, expectations were low heading into the year. After an 0-2 start and perhaps the league’s worst injury luck, they were even lower.

However, Ryans preached a winning mindset and continued improvement week-over-week, and what many acknowledge as coach speak has turned into more than just a foundational principle—he is preaching the truth to the city of Houston.

Ryans was animated during the Week 6 win against the New Orleans Saints / Maria Lysaker-USA TODAY Sports

Quarterback C.J. Stroud will get a ton of justified attention for his fulfilling of those ideas, but Ryans is a defensive coach, and on Sunday, against a talented New Orleans Saints team, his defense won them a game.

Outgained by 133 yards, the Houston defense stood tall on key downs and in the red zone, leading to a 20-13 win. While protecting a seven-point lead with little time remaining, the Texans were facing a Saints offense with the ball at Houston’s 24-yard line.

Three incompletions and a fourth-down interception later, the game was over.

Veteran corner Steven Nelson intercepted New Orleans quarterback Derek Carr on a jump ball to Michael Thomas. The game-clinching turnover put the Texans back in the win column and at .500 through six weeks—again, far above what most had projected.

Ryans spoke about his defense after the win.

“Proud of the defense and how we stepped up and made a play,” Ryans said. “When the game was on the line, we needed it most, guys stepped up. It’s tough to win in this league, but it was awesome to see how our guys grinded it out.”

This comes in stark contrast to Houston’s Week 5 affair, where the offense won the game -- until it didn’t. The defense allowed a wildly mediocre Atlanta Falcons offense to get into field goal range, and kicker Younghoe Koo walked it off in the game’s final seconds. The Texans would lose, 21-19.

“Couldn’t be more proud of the defense,” Ryans continued. “From the growth from last week to this week. That’s what I continue to see in our team, is just growth. Being resilient, these moments, we were in the same situation last week.”

Ryans has been consistent in his approach to this young roster since his arrival. In that time, the first-year head coach quickly built the foundation for a new culture. It’s one that keeps them competitive week-in and week-out and, at least from afar, seems to promote growth from young players developing into key contributors.

Whether it is the Midas touch or just an effective coaching job is up to you, but Ryans has won Texans players and fans over in a mere matter of weeks. Few teams can share the unbridled optimism that comes with a legitimate franchise quarterback-head coach connection. It certainly looks like Houston has its hands on a good one.

The city might have a defense to be proud of, too.

“To see the growth and to see us finish it out,” Ryans concluded. “It was awesome.”