California Crunch 

For a while it looked like it could happen - that the Texans could generate just enough on offense while the defense was putting the brakes on the top scoring team in the NFL. 

But the third quarter hit and the Rams erupted with three touchdowns to put the game out of reach.

The day began badly. Or did it? An Aaron Donald strip sack got L.A. field position at the Houston 12. But the defense didn't budge and the Rams had to settle for a field goal. They would get another before the Texans put together a nice 75 yard drive, capped with a Tom Savage to Bruce Ellington TD pass that gave Houston a one point lead. 

Late in the first half special teams tackle leader Kurtis Drummond snuffed out a fake punt and the Texans had the ball in Rams territory with a chance to do some serious damage. 

But they came away empty after the first of two Savage picks. The Rams drove for a field goal and took the lead, 9-7 at the break. A win was still in sight.

Then the third quarter hit hard. The defense came up with another stop. The offense moved the ball enough for Shane Lechler to flip the field and pin the Rams at their four yard line. A play later, Robert Woods was running into the end zone with a 94 yard TD catch. The Texans were never the same after that.

Despite the big play and Jared Goff throwing three touchdown passes, don't pin this one on the defense. A nice punt return and an interception gave L.A. short fields for the next two touchdowns as the Rams defense and special teams seemed to heat up with their offense. 

For a while it looked like Savage and the offense were going to have a much better day than they did against the Colts. But the scoreboard reads seven points scored and Bill O'Brien will be the first to tell you that it's nowhere near enough to put up just 14 points on that side of the ball in two weeks of play.

The hole is deeper now at 3-6. Jacksonville and Tennessee are starting to disappear on the horizon. The Texans need to find a way to just win next week and take it from there. 

The Cardinals are next and are hurting. But that's hardly a recipe for success for the Texans who have an IR list that has some world beating talent on it. The road is long and rocky to get back in the race. And the division is the toughest it's been in the O'Brien era. California Crunch 

For a while it looked like it could happen - that the Texans could generate just enough on offense while the defense was putting the brakes on the top scoring team in the NFL. 

But the third quarter hit and the Rams erupted with three touchdowns to put the game out of reach.

The day began badly. Or did it? An Aaron Donald strip sack got L.A. field position at the Houston 12. But the defense didn't budge and the Rams had to settle for a field goal. They would get another before the Texans put together a nice 75 yard drive, capped with a Tom Savage to Bruce Ellington TD pass that gave Houston a one point lead. 

Late in the first half special teams tackle leader Kurtis Drummond snuffed out a fake punt and the Texans had the ball in Rams territory with a chance to do some serious damage. 

But they came away empty after the first of two Savage picks. The Rams drove for a field goal and took the lead, 9-7 at the break. A win was still in sight.

Then the third quarter hit hard. The defense came up with another stop. The offense moved the ball enough for Shane Lechler to flip the field and pin the Rams at their four yard line. A play later, Robert Woods was running into the end zone with a 94 yard TD catch. The Texans were never the same after that.

Despite the big play and Jared Goff throwing three touchdown passes, don't pin this one on the defense. A nice punt return and an interception gave L.A. short fields for the next two touchdowns as the Rams defense and special teams seemed to heat up with their offense. 

For a while it looked like Savage and the offense were going to have a much better day than they did against the Colts. But the scoreboard reads seven points scored and Bill O'Brien will be the first to tell you that it's nowhere near enough to put up just 14 points on that side of the ball in two weeks of play.

The hole is deeper now at 3-6. Jacksonville and Tennessee are starting to disappear on the horizon. The Texans need to find a way to just win next week and take it from there. 

The Cardinals are next and are hurting. But that's hardly a recipe for success for the Texans who have an IR list that has some world beating talent on it. The road is long and rocky to get back in the race. And the division is the toughest it's been in the O'Brien era. 

For a while it looked like it could happen - that the Texans could generate just enough on offense while the defense was putting the brakes on the top scoring team in the NFL.

But the third quarter hit and the Rams erupted with three touchdowns to put the game out of reach.

The day began badly. Or did it? An Aaron Donald strip sack got L.A. field position at the Houston 12. The defense didn't budge and the Rams had to settle for a field goal. They would get another before the Texans put together a nice 75 yard drive, capped with a Tom Savage to Bruce Ellington TD pass that gave Houston a one point lead.

Late in the first half, special teams tackle leader Kurtis Drummond snuffed out a fake punt and the Texans had the ball in Rams territory with a chance to do some serious damage.

Yet, they came away empty after the first of two Savage picks. The Rams drove for a field goal and took the lead, 9-7 at the break. A win was still in sight.

The third quarter hit hard. The defense came up with another stop. The offense moved the ball enough for Shane Lechler to flip the field and pin the Rams at their four yard line. A play later, Robert Woods was running into the end zone with a 94 yard TD catch. The Texans were never the same after that.

Despite the big play and Jared Goff throwing three touchdown passes, don't pin this one on the defense. A nice punt return and an interception gave L.A. short fields for the next two touchdowns as the Rams defense and special teams seemed to heat up with their offense.

For a while, it looked like Savage and the offense were going to have a much better day than they did against the Colts - but the scoreboard reads seven points scored, and Bill O'Brien will be the first to tell you that it's nowhere near enough to put up just 14 points on that side of the ball in two weeks of play.

The hole is deeper now at 3-6. Jacksonville and Tennessee are starting to disappear on the horizon. The Texans need to find a way to just win next week and take it from there.

The Cardinals are next and are hurting, but that's hardly a recipe for success for the Texans who have an IR list that has some world-beating talent on it. The road is long and rocky to get back in the race, and the division is the toughest it's been in the O'Brien era.