The 2013 season was the Houston Texans' 12th in the National Football League (NFL). They failed to improve upon their 12âÂÂ4 record from 2012, suffering through a season-ending 14-game losing streak following a 2âÂÂ0 start and missing the playoffs for the first time since 2010. Head coach Gary Kubiak was fired after eight seasons following their eleventh loss (Week 14 vs. the Jacksonville Jaguars). Defensive coordinator Wade Phillips was named the interim head coach for the final three games of the season. Out of the 14 games lost by the Texans this year, nine of them were by one score, marking a record amount of one-score losses for the franchise. Their 14-game losing streak is the worst in team history and their 2âÂÂ14 record matched their 2005 losses for the most losses in franchise history. Coming off a franchise-best 12âÂÂ4 record just the year before, the Texans tie a league record with Houston's previous team, the Oilers (who, coincidentally, also went 12âÂÂ4 in 1993 and 2âÂÂ14 in 1994) for the biggest season-to-season decline in win total. On January 3, 2014, claiming, "I'm ready to kick 2013 the hell out the door", Texans owner Bob McNair announced that former Penn State head coach Bill O'Brien would be the Texans' third head coach.
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Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
The Texans won their fourth straight regular season opener and picked up their first franchise victory against the San Diego Chargers, improving to 1âÂÂ4 against them on the late game of ESPN's Week 1 Monday Night Football doubleheader. San Diego scored 4 times compared to Houston's 1 to take a 28âÂÂ7 3rd quarter lead before Houston scored 24 straight points to win 31âÂÂ28.
With the overtime win, the Texans improved to 2âÂÂ0 for the 4th straight year. In a hard-fought defensive battle, Tennessee built up a lead as big as 24âÂÂ16 before Houston sent it to overtime behind Arian Foster's touchdown run and 2-point conversion with 1:53 to go in regulation. DeAndre Hopkins caught his first career touchdown, which was the game-winning touchdown to give the Texans the 30âÂÂ24 win. If not for this overtime victory, the 2013 Texans would have become the first team since the 2001 Carolina Panthers to win their opener and lose the remainder of their games.
The Texans' 14-game losing streak started in Baltimore, where the Ravens pummeled Houston, 30âÂÂ9. The Texans fell to 2âÂÂ1. After Houston grabbed a 6âÂÂ3 lead, the Ravens got a pick-six and a punt return for a touchdown to make it 17âÂÂ6. Baltimore blanked Houston in the second half 13âÂÂ0 en route to a 30âÂÂ9 win.
After falling behind 3âÂÂ0 at the end of the first quarter, the Texans scored 20 unanswered to build up a 20âÂÂ3 halftime lead. But with a 20âÂÂ6 fourth quarter lead, Houston gave up two touchdowns, including a pick-six by Richard Sherman to tie the game at 20. The Seahawks won in overtime 23âÂÂ20 on Steven Hauschka's 45-yard field goal with 3:23 to go in overtime. With the surprising loss, the Texans fell to 2âÂÂ2.
Matt Schaub threw another pick-six in a blowout loss to the 49ers. The final was 34âÂÂ3 and the Texans fell to 2âÂÂ3.
St. Louis had 2 straight defensive touchdowns and they dominated Houston 38âÂÂ13. Houston dropped to 2âÂÂ4.
Case Keenum got the start in a game that ended with Houston losing 17âÂÂ16 to Kansas City. They would drop to 2âÂÂ5.
Houston got off to a 21âÂÂ3 lead, but Indianapolis outscored them 24âÂÂ3 to win 27âÂÂ24. Houston dropped to 2âÂÂ6. At halftime, head coach Gary Kubiak collapsed on the field on his way to the locker room with a transient ischemic attack. Defensive coordinator Wade Phillips took over head coaching duties for the remainder of the game.
Arizona dominated the second half in a 27âÂÂ24 win. Houston dropped to 2âÂÂ7
The Texans had a lead as much as 17âÂÂ7 at the half, but fell 34âÂÂ31 to the Patriots to match their combined number of losses from the previous two seasons (10).
With the Texans dropping to 2âÂÂ11, Houston was swept by the Jaguars for the first time since 2009.
With the loss, the Texans were swept by the Colts for the first time since 2009.
With the loss to Tennessee, Houston lost 14 straight games to close out a disappointing season.
The Texans 14 game losing streak has matched the 1980 Saints and the 1976 Buccaneers.
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