PHOTO COLLECTION: AP Top Photos of the Day, Monday, September 23, 2024

This is a collection of photos chosen by AP photo editors.

Mexican National Guardsmen cover a body found lying on the side of a road in Culiacan, Sinaloa state, Mexico, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)

Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump is reflected in the sunglasses of Lara Trump at a campaign rally at Wilmington International Airport, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, in Wilmington, N.C. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Bavarian musicians prepare in the Augustiner marquee for the start of the 189th 'Oktoberfest' beer festival in Munich, Germany, Saturday morning, Sept. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Arizona Diamondbacks' Corbin Carroll, right, and Milwaukee Brewers' Eric Haase, middle, look up at a foul ball during the second inning of a baseball game, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Aaron Gash)

A Guarani Indigenous leader performs a religious ritual during a climate protest in Sao Paulo, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott walks off the field past fans after the team's NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens in Arlington, Texas, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Jeffrey McWhorter)

North Korean players celebrate with the trophy after winning the U-20 Women's World Cup final soccer match against Japan at El Campin stadium in Bogota, Colombia, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024.(AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)

A Palestinian child wounded in the Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip is treated in a hospital in Deir al-Balah, Monday, Sept. 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)

Actor Samuel L. Jackson speaks during an Atlanta Falcons Ring of Honor induction ceremony for Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank at halftime of an NFL football game between the Atlanta Falcons and the Kansas City Chiefs, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

Emergency workers use excavators to clear the rubble at the site of Friday's Israeli strike in Beirut's southern suburbs, Lebanon, Monday, Sept. 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)

Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt is introduced before an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Chargers, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Matt Freed)

American singer Ne-Yo performs at the Rock in Rio music festival in Rio de Janeiro, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Bruna Prado)

Israeli Iron Dome air defense system fires to intercept rockets that were launched from Lebanon, as seen from Haifa, northern Israel, Monday, Sept. 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Baz Ratner)

Supporters of Marxist lawmaker Anura Kumara Dissanayake cheer outside the president's office as he arrives to be sworn in as Sri Lanka’s tenth president in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Monday, Sept. 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Jasper Schoofs of Belgium rides to take the silver medal during the Junior Men individual time trial over 24.9 kilometres (15.5 miles) at the Cycling World Championships in Zurich, Switzerland, Monday, Sept. 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)

HOUSTON (AP) — Trailing 14-0 in the second quarter of Sunday’s rout by the Minnesota Vikings, the Houston Texans were trying desperately to put points on the board before halftime to get back into the game.

The drive was going well, starting with a 19-yard reception by Stefon Diggs and later a 13-yard catch-and-run by Dare Ogunbowale for another first down.

Then facing a manageable third-and-4, the Texans were flagged for a false start. And then another one. And then a third. Finally, a fourth straight penalty — this one for an illegal formation — was declined by the Vikings to force one of three consecutive punts.

Sure, Minnesota played well, but as coach DeMeco Ryans said, “the Texans helped the Vikings a lot” in the 34-7 win.

The Texans had 11 penalties Sunday after committing 12 in Week 2.

“We didn’t do anything to help ourselves,” Ryans said. “Way too many penalties, again. That starts with me. That’s too many penalties. Back-to-back games over 10 penalties is unacceptable. You can’t win that way. When we have something positive going, we negate (it) by the penalties. That just zaps the energy out of everyone.”

Left tackle Laremy Tunsil, a four-time Pro Bowl selection, was the worst offender Sunday, committing a whopping six penalties, including five in the first half. He was called for three false starts and three illegal formation penalties. The nine-year veteran has nine penalties in three games.

“The pre-snap penalties, it’s all self-inflicted, so we have to take ownership of it,” Ryans said. “We all have to man up and be man enough to just do what we’re supposed to do and be where we’re supposed to be and play smart, clean football."

Andre Ware, the 1989 Heisman Trophy winner and longtime Texans’ radio color commentator, was outraged after one of Tunsil’s penalties.

“It’s every week, though!” he yelled on the broadcast. “You’re a Pro Bowl player! There’s no excuse for that! None.”

The penalties weren’t Houston’s only problem. C.J. Stroud threw two interceptions after playing turnover-free football in the team’s first two wins.

“We weren’t executing, weren’t playing hard enough,” Stroud said. “It starts with me. Just got to be better. It’s something that I felt like can be fixed, so it’s nothing to hang our heads down about. But definitely can and will be better.”

Houston’s pass rush continues to be a strength. The Texans had five sacks Sunday after tying for the second-most sacks in franchise history with seven against the Bears.

There’s a lot to choose from after a game like Sunday’s, but the most pressing issue must be eliminating pre-snap penalties.

Stroud said he doesn’t know why they’re struggling so much in that area but vowed to fix the problem.

“There has to be conversation away from the game and just meetings and just seeing what we can do to be better when it’s loud and how intentional we have to be in practice and things like that, just to get those things fixed,” he said. “We’re moving the ball, it’s just you’re kicking yourself out of the red zone and kicking opportunities, and it’s hard to live on third-and-plus-10.”

Defensive tackle Tim Settle had a career-high two sacks Sunday after the seven-year veteran had just nine career sacks entering the game.

As noted, Tunsil’s penalties were part of a series of miscues that doomed Houston’s offense. Long lauded for his pass protection skills, Tunsil often has struggled with pre-snap penalties, though never to this extent.

RB Joe Mixon missed the game with an ankle injury. … RB Dameon Pierce was out for a second straight game against Minnesota with a hamstring injury. … WR Tank Dell looked to have injured his hand or wrist late in the game, but Ryans said he is expected to be fine.

266 – Stroud had thrown 266 passes without an interception before he was picked off on the team’s first drive on Sunday. It was a streak that dated back to Nov. 19, 2023, a span of nine games, including two in the postseason.

The Texans will work to clean up their play and try to get the offense back on track when they return to division play with a visit from the Jaguars on Sunday.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

Minnesota Vikings linebacker Jonathan Greenard (58) celebrates after sacking Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud (7) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud (7) is sacked by Minnesota Vikings linebacker Jonathan Greenard (58) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud talks with a coach on the sideline during the second half of an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud speaks during a news conference after an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, in Minneapolis. The Vikings won 34-7. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn)

Houston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans watches from the sideline during the first half of an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)