Everything Texans HC DeMeco Ryans said following Week 1 loss to Bills
· Yahoo Sports
Here's everything Houston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans said following Week 1's 36-31 loss to the Buffalo Bills, including his thoughts on C.J. Stroud, the final drive and the inability to pressure MVP quarterback Josh Allen.
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Question: On the loss Week 1 vs. Buffalo
DeMeco Ryans: "To start off, credit to the Bills. They did a really great job today. They found a way to win the game and we didn't. The issues there for us defensively, we had multiple opportunities to make plays. We had chances to make plays on the football, we didn't make plays. We gave up way too many explosives. When you give up the explosives, you have the opportunity to take the football away, you don't do those things, you're going against a top offense in the NFL, that's what's going to happen. We have to cover better. We have to finish better. We did not do that today. I am really proud of our offense the way they drove the ball down consistently all day. They drove the ball up and down the field. They gave us more than enough points than we needed to go win this football game. This game came down to the football. We didn't take it away. They had zero turnovers and we had two. They were able to get points off of those turnovers. Every time this team has won the turnover battle, they win the football game. They won it today. That was the difference in the game."
Q: On missed turnover opportunities
Ryans: "You have to make plays. It's simple as that. We had opportunities to make plays and we didn't make plays."
Q: On RB David Montgomery
Ryans: "David did an outstanding job today and David doesn't do a great job without talking about the offensive line. I thought those guys controlled the line of scrimmage really well, especially in those short-yardage critical situations. We were able to press forward, gain a yard, keep our offense out on the field. David ran it well. Woody [Marks] also ran it well. I really love where we're head with that one-two punch at the running back position. Those guys did a really great job."
Q: On QB C.J. Stroud
Ryans: "C.J. was very much in control the entire game. He took what the defense gave him. He made great decisions with the football. I'm proud of the way he played today. Thought he showed what he's been showing all camp. He's been showing that confidence. He's been showing that growth and it showed today out there. He was very calm. Great demeanor on the sideline, great demeanor on the field just having the offense under control, putting us in a great position to win the football game. Unfortunately, we lost the football there two times. We don't want those plays at all, but not going to let that overshadow the game that he had. Offense put up way more points than needed for us to win this game. It's not on us. We played together, but we could have definitely played much better defensively."
Q: On looking ahead at Week 2 vs. Cincinnati Bengals and QB Joe Burrow
Ryans: "I'm not worried about Joe Burrow and the Bengals right now. We'll figure that out next week."
Q: On the miscommunication regarding the last play on defense leading to the game-winning touchdown
Ryans: "For us, we're playing man coverage there. We have to find a way to cover our man."
Q: On giving up explosive plays on defense
Ryans: "They throw the ball up and we were in position to make plays. Reed [Blankenship] had one on the sideline, had his hands on it. Kamari had his hands on the ball. Calen had his hands on the ball. We had multiple opportunities. If we come down, we catch those balls, the game looks a ton different than it does right now. Those guys are great players and they made plays. We didn't make plays. You don't win a game if you don't make a play on defense. When you allow that offense, that quarterback, with the style they play, the ball is up in the air, at the end of the day players have to make plays."
Q: On the lack of pressure on the quarterback on defense
Ryans: "For us starting the game, I thought they did a really good job of really neutralizing our defensive line. Second half, I thought the defensive line picked it up really well, really affected the quarterback a lot more in the second half, which is what we were used to doing. We have to be tighter in our coverage. The rush and coverage works together. We have to give the defensive line a little more time. Of course, they had more max protection, shot plays, where they were throwing the ball up. We had opportunities to make those plays and they came down with them."
Q: On LB Henry To'oTo'o
Ryans: "We're evaluating Henry for a shoulder injury. We'll get more over the next couple days."
Q: On Bills QB Josh Allen 21-yard rushing touchdown in the second quarter
Ryans: "For that scramble right there, we all have to be tied together. From the front to the coverage. We are not tied together, we didn't have any eyes on the quarterback. We know he's a running quarterback. Overall, not good enough."
This article originally appeared on Texans Wire: Everything Texans HC DeMeco Ryans said following Week 1 loss to Bills