ESPN's Stephen A. Smith calls out Texans, DeMeco Ryans for horrendous start to 2026 season
Sitting at 2-5, the Houston Texans have gone from the national media's favorite dark horse talking point for the NFL's most underwhelming team in 2026.
ESPN host Stephen A. Smith criticized the Houston Texans and their coach, DeMeco Ryans, for a disappointing start to the 2026 NFL season. The Texans, currently sitting at 2-5, had lost four straight games heading into a Monday morning appearance on ESPN's "First Take." Despite quarterback C.J. Stroud's promising performance, the Texans' defense continued to struggle, allowing opponents to score easily. In a recent loss to the New York Giants, the Texans' defense couldn't get a stop, resulting in a 27-21 defeat.
Smith questioned the team's preparations, asking why Houston's players were not ready to play football in September. He expressed doubts about the Texans' relevance entering November, suggesting that they needed to turn their season around by winning four to five more games to reach .500. The Texans would face the Los Angeles Chargers at SoFi Stadium in their next matchup.
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