HOUSTON (AP) — Houston’s offense hit a new low Sunday night when the Texans lost to the Detroit Lions despite holding Jared Goff a franchise-record five times.

The Texans led by 16 points at halftime but gave up 19 unanswered points in the second half to allow the Lions to escape with a 26-23 victory.

C.J. Stroud was intercepted on two of Houston’s first three possessions of the second half, and the Texans made three consecutive field goals after the second pick. They still had a chance to take the lead late, but Ka’imi Fairbairn’s 58-yard field goal attempt sailed wide left.

Jake Bates’ 52-yard field goal as time expired dragged Houston (6-4) to its third defeat in four games after a 5-1 start.

“We didn’t play winning football,” coach DeMeco Ryans said. “We stalled on a lot of drives and couldn’t score points in the second half. To beat such a good football team, we need to have a consistent performance. We need to be able to score points. We were going behind too much.”

Stroud matched his season high with two tackles for which he was not picked in the previous three games. He was disappointed in himself for not being able to perform better in the second half.

“Defense is about getting turnovers as they come, so we have to be able to reward them with points,” he said. “This is something we didn’t do. “I feel like I’m the one to blame in this situation.”

The Texans constantly found themselves in third-and-long positions against the Lions as they struggled to run the ball. Houston rushed for just 56 yards on Sunday, its second-lowest output of the season.

“We have to win first down and second down,” Ryans said. “There are a lot of negative plays on first and second down. We couldn’t manage the ball well. … When you don’t play well on first and second down, you find yourself in third and long, and it’s hard to consistently win third and long.”

What works?

Houston’s five interceptions were the most in the NFL since the Panthers tackled Jameis Winston five times in a win over Tampa Bay on Oct. 14, 2019.

Houston’s rookies continued their lead Sunday with two interceptions from Georgia second-round pick Kamari Lassiter and one interception from Calen Bullock. Bullock, a third-round pick out of Southern California, has four interceptions, tied for most by a rookie this season.

What is the need for help?

The Texans have led at halftime in each of the last four games but have lost just three of them. Houston has scored only 15 points in the second half of the last four games and has not scored after any halftime.

Stroud couldn’t understand why they were having trouble at half-time and said “it looks different every week”. He believes it’s up to him to turn things around.

“It’s my fault,” he said. “I need to be better at those moments.”

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W.R. John Metchie III. The third-year player kicked a career-high 74 yards and scored the first touchdown of his career on a 15-yard grab in the second quarter. Metchie missed his entire rookie season in 2022 due to leukemia.

“I’m so proud of him and I’m so happy he got his opportunities and showed his value,” Stroud said.

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WR Tank Dell had 39 yards receiving a week after scoring a season-high 126. The Texans need him to play more consistently to keep star Stefon Diggs from sitting out the season with a knee injury.

injuries

WR Nico Collins was brought on from injured reserve on Saturday but was inactive against the Lions, extending his absence to five games. … DE Will Anderson Jr. (ankle) did not play. … Lassiter will likely miss the next game after suffering a concussion.

key number

34 – Stroud was sacked four times, bringing his total to 34; That was the second-most in the NFL this season.

Next steps

The Texans will have an extra day to prepare and try to clean up their mistakes ahead of next Monday night’s in-state showdown at the Dallas Cowboys, who have lost four straight.

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