<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3yFDTf_0vyWnHms00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3yFDTf_0vyWnHms00" width="1600" height="1207" ><figcaption>It hasn’t always been pretty for C.J. Stroud and the Texans but they are 4-1 and looking like one of the better teams in the AFC this season. Credit: Defender photographer Jimmie Aggison</figcaption></figure>It’s hard to imagine the Houston Texans are 4-1 and are among the elite teams in the AFC.That’s because it hasn’t felt that way. We have yet to witness the Texans, a team that some think could be a Super Bowl contender, really dominate an opponent.The Texans always seem just good enough to squeeze out the win. That’s what we saw in the season opener against the Colts, the Bears, the Jaguars and this past weekend at home against the Bills when the Texans needed a 59-yard time-expiring field goal for the win.Get ready because will probably be the same Sunday at New England.<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=38MEUy_0vyWnHms00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=38MEUy_0vyWnHms00" width="1024" height="830" ></figure>But these narrow wins where the margin for error is the slimmest is exactly what a young team that is still learning how to win needs. It will pay off down the road when the late-season games get harder and the implications are enormous.“These are the type of games you find out who you are as a team,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said. “Buffalo is an outstanding team. They’re a well-coached team.“All their players, the way they play, nothing but respect for them. Tough opponent. To beat a team like this, at the end of the day you want to score more points than the other team.”<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=0Bl9lf_0vyWnHms00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0Bl9lf_0vyWnHms00" width="780" height="580" ><figcaption>The Texans have had much to celebrate so far this season and hope to keep the celebration going. Credit: Defender photographer Jimmie Aggison</figcaption></figure>Speaking of more points, just to show you fine the line has been between winning and losing, the Texans have won their four games by a total of 15 points. Their only decisive game this season was the 34-7 loss at Minnesota.These close wins will pay off later in the season when the Texans have to match up against the Cowboys, Dolphins, Chiefs and Ravens when playoff seedings and home field advantage are at stake.“Some things are more abrupt, more noticeable than others, but I felt like when you can find a way to find a win, man, that shows you how much of a resilient team you are,” quarterback C.J. Stroud said to the Defender. “You learn with a W, and that’s the best thing you can do.“I’m super just proud of my guys to keep fighting and just keep working, keep grinding, keep chopping wood, keep carrying water because it’s not easy to play great four quarters of football, but the more we can do that, I think everybody can tell, we’re going to be a force to reckoned with.”That’s what most believe, too. It’s just not going to always look picture-perfect.We saw that Sunday when the Texans let a 20-3 third-quarter lead unfold into a 20-20 tie late in the fourth quarter after allowing the Bills offense to come alive to score 17 unanswered points.That’s not what good teams should do. But when you are good, talented and still learning each other, it can happen.“I’m proud of our guys for gutting it out,” Ryans said in the wake of Sunday’s 23-20 win to avoid overtime. “Again, it wasn’t all pretty. That’s how games go. It’s about how you finish at the end, and I’m proud of the way our guys finished.”<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3rk9dw_0vyWnHms00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3rk9dw_0vyWnHms00" width="780" height="588" ><figcaption>C.J. Stroud had an uncharacteric two turnovers and then a drive-stalling intentional grounding penalty but still managed to put it together in order to set up the 59-yard game-winning field goal against the Bills. Credit: Defender photographer Jimmie Aggison</figcaption></figure>What might have been most alarming about Sunday was the uncharacteristic mistakes Stroud made last in the game. In three series just prior to the game-winning field goal, Stroud threw an interception, fumbled the ball away and had a costly, if not questionable, intentional grounding penalty that stalled a drive and took the Texans out of field goal range.Stroud, of course, redeemed himself by completing the 5-yard pass to running back Dare Ogunbowale that set up K’imi Fairbairn’s game-winning walk-off field goal.I was curious what Ryans said to his young star quarterback after three key drives ended in mistakes we are just not used to seeing Stroud make. Ryans’ response wasn’t surprising at all.“What I’ll say to C.J. is I’m proud of you. I’m so proud of him because it’s easy to see the negative plays. It’s easy to see the turnovers,” Ryans said. “Everybody knows, nobody hurts more when that ball is turned over than C.J. He feels really bad about it.“But you keep punting, keep battling, that’s why I’m so proud of him. In those moments, a lot of guys can tuck their head and feel sorry. When we needed to play at the end to get a few more yards, C.J. stepped up. Our play wasn’t there so he improvised and found Dare to get a few more yards so ‘Imi’ could kick the field goal. I’m so proud of C.J. and his growth throughout this entire year.”</div></body>

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Terrance’s Take: Narrow Texans wins will pay off later

It’s hard to imagine the Houston Texans are 4-1 and are among the elite teams in the AFC. That’s because it hasn’t felt that way. We have yet to witness the Texans, a team that some think could be a Super Bowl contender, really dominate an opponent.

Terrance’s Take: Narrow Texans wins will pay off later

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