Texans look for answers after embarrassing 31-2 home loss to the Ravens

HOUSTON (AP) — Quarterback C.J. Stroud summed up Houston’s performance in an embarrassing 31-2 loss to Baltimore on Wednesday.

“Sometimes you go out there and lay an egg,” Stroud said. “It’s not easy to say that, but that’s what happened. Didn’t play well from the first play to the last.”

The AFC South champion Texans (9-7) managed only a safety as they suffered their most lopsided loss of the season in front of a home crowd that booed them often throughout the second half.

“That’s nothing that we represent, nothing that we talked about all year, all season, all week,” receiver Robert Woods said. “And pretty much it’s just an embarrassment to show up like that, and that’s not the Texans’ way and mentality of playing football and showing up in the first place.”

The Texans allowed a season-high 251 yards rushing on a day the Ravens' Derrick Henry ran for 147 yards and quarterback Lamar Jackson added 87 to pass Michael Vick for the NFL career rushing record for quarterbacks.

“This game comes down to guys making plays and they had two exceptional playmakers on their side in Lamar and Derrick Henry,” coach DeMeco Ryans said. “They made plays and that was the game.”

A loss like this is particularly concerning for a team with just one week to prepare before the start of the playoffs. Defensive end Will Anderson Jr. said the problems are not from a lack of effort but rather from an inability to stop making simple mistakes.

“It’s embarrassing,” Anderson said. “That’s not playoff football, and I think everybody in this locker room knows that from the top to the bottom. We have to do a better job and the coaches can do their part, but I feel like as players we have to do our part. The leaders and captains, we have to step up and… we have to hold guys accountable and make sure that everybody’s doing their job.”

Rookie Kamari Lassiter dropped Henry for a 4-yard loss for the safety with about 10 minutes left in the first half to cut the lead to 10-2.

Dameon Pierce then returned the kickoff 45 yards to get the Texans to their 43. But they came away empty when Joe Mixon was stopped on the 1 after grabbing a short pass on fourth-and-3.

Stroud threw for 185 yards, but was sacked five times and threw an interception and Mixon managed just 26 yards rushing as the Texans lost a second straight. They struggled to finish drives in their first game since dynamic receiver Tank Dell sustained a season-ending knee injury in a loss to the Chiefs.

Mixon refused to speak to reporters postgame, but Stroud took the blame for the loss.

“Terrible on my behalf, probably one of my worst games in my whole career,” he said. “Just came out flat, didn’t have any energy. I didn’t lead the offense the way I should have.”

Stroud said he isn’t worried about the team and that wallowing in the loss won’t help anything. So he’s going to do everything he can to help the Texans move on and be better their next time out.

“I’m sure a lot of people in their careers have had this type of game before,” he said. “I’m not going to sit here and act like this is just foreign. But it is necessary to wake you up and that’s what it’s going to do for me and this team.”

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

Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry, right, is tackled by Houston Texans cornerback Kamari Lassiter for a safety during the first half of an NFL football game, Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry (22) is tackled by Houston Texans cornerback Kamari Lassiter, right, for a safety during the first half of an NFL football game, Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)

Houston Texans running back Joe Mixon (28) catches a pass in front of Baltimore Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey (44) during the first half of an NFL football game, Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)

Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud walks off the field after an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens, Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)

Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud sits on the bench during the second half of an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens, Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)

MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Erling Haaland missed a penalty as Manchester City was held 1-1 by Everton in the Premier League on Thursday.

Haaland had the chance to set the four-time defending champion on course for only its second win in 13 games when stepping up for a 53rd minute spot kick at the Etihad Stadium. But he was denied by Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford as City's woeful recent run was extended.

Pep Guardiola's team has lost nine of its last 13 games in all competitions. The draw means City picked up only its fifth point in the league since the end of October.

Bernardo Silva's deflected shot gave City the lead in the 14th, but Iliman Ndiaye leveled the score in the 36th.

The result leaves City sixth in the standings and 11 points behind leader Liverpool, having played two games more.

Haaland missed penalty means the Norway international has only scored one in his last seven games. He headed in from the rebound, but the goal was ruled out for offside.

City's grip on its title was further loosened by more dropped points. Liverpool had the chance to extend its lead over the champion when playing Leicester in the later kick off.

James Robson is at https://twitter.com/jamesalanrobson

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Manchester City's Bernardo Silva, center, is congratulated after scoring his side's opening goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Everton at the Etihad stadium in Manchester, Thursday, Dec. 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Rui Vieira)

Manchester City's head coach Pep Guardiola sits on the bench prior to the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Everton at the Etihad stadium in Manchester, Thursday, Dec. 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Rui Vieira)

Everton's Iliman Ndiaye celebrates scoring his side's first goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Everton at the Etihad stadium in Manchester, Thursday, Dec. 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Rui Vieira)

Everton's goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, center, reacts after saving a penalty kick by Manchester City's Erling Haaland during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Everton at the Etihad stadium in Manchester, Thursday, Dec. 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Rui Vieira)

Manchester City's Erling Haaland fails to score a penalty during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Everton at the Etihad stadium in Manchester, Thursday, Dec. 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Rui Vieira)

Manchester City's Erling Haaland reacts after failing to score a penalty shot during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Everton at the Etihad stadium in Manchester, Thursday, Dec. 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Rui Vieira)