The 2014 season was the Houston Texans' 13th in the National Football League (NFL) and their first under head coach Bill O'Brien. Despite missing the playoffs for the second season in a row, the Texans greatly improved upon their 2–14 record from 2013, finishing 9–7. This represents the greatest single-season turnaround for the Texans, but the 2023 team came the closest to tying it, winning the AFC South and making the playoffs at 10-7, improving on their 3-13-1 record from 2022. However, because the 2014 Texans won 7 more games than the 2013 team, while the 2023 Texans won 6.5 more games than the 2022 team, the 2014 Texans had a greater single-season turnaround than the 2023 team.
Offseason
Draft
Draft trades The Texans traded their original fourth- (No. 101 overall) and fifth- (No. 141 overall) round selections to the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for the Eagles' third-round selection (No. 83 overall). The Texans acquired this sixth-round selection (No. 181 overall) in a trade that sent quarterback Matt Schaub to the Oakland Raiders.
Staff
Final roster
Schedule
Preseason Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 at Arizona Cardinals L 0–32 0–1 University of Phoenix Stadium Recap 2 Atlanta Falcons W 32–7 1–1 NRG Stadium Recap 3 at Denver Broncos W 18–17 2–1 Sports Authority Field at Mile High Recap 4 San Francisco 49ers L 13–40 2–2 NRG Stadium Recap
Regular season Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 September 7 Washington Redskins W 17–6 1–0 NRG Stadium Recap 2 September 14 at Oakland Raiders W 30–14 2–0 O.co Coliseum Recap 3 September 21 at New York Giants L 17–30 2–1 MetLife Stadium Recap 4 September 28 Buffalo Bills W 23–17 3–1 NRG Stadium Recap 5 October 5 at Dallas Cowboys L 17–20 3–2 AT&T Stadium Recap 6 Indianapolis Colts L 28–33 3–3 NRG Stadium Recap 7 at Pittsburgh Steelers L 23–30 3–4 Heinz Field Recap 8 October 26 at Tennessee Titans W 30–16 4–4 LP Field Recap 9 November 2 Philadelphia Eagles L 21–31 4–5 NRG Stadium Recap 10Bye 11 November 16 at Cleveland Browns W 23–7 5–5 FirstEnergy Stadium Recap 12 November 23 Cincinnati Bengals L 13–22 5–6 NRG Stadium Recap 13 November 30 Tennessee Titans W 45–21 6–6 NRG Stadium Recap 14 December 7 at Jacksonville Jaguars W 27–13 7–6 EverBank Field Recap 15 December 14 at Indianapolis Colts L 10–17 7–7 Lucas Oil Stadium Recap 16 December 21 Baltimore Ravens W 25–13 8–7 NRG Stadium Recap 17 December 28 Jacksonville Jaguars W 23–17 9–7 NRG Stadium Recap Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Game summaries
Week 1: vs. Washington Redskins
After going 2–14 in the previous season, the Texans were looking to secure a win against the Redskins. Following a slow 1st quarter, Washington got on the board first with their only scoring play of the game in the 2nd quarter. D. Young rushed for 1 yard for a touchdown, but K. Forbath's extra point was blocked. With the score, Washington led 6–0 with 6:11 left in the 2nd. Houston quickly responded with a Fitzpatrick 76 yard pass to Hopkins; with the extra point from Bullock, the Texans lead 7–6 with 4:28 left in the 2nd. The Texans kicked the ball back to the Redskins and forced a 3 and out. On the ensuing punt, Blue blocked the kicked and recovered the ball to score a touchdown. With Bullock's extra point, Houston lead 14–6 with 2:15 left in the 2nd.
Washington received the ball for the 2nd half, but Griffin fumbled the ball at the Houston 14, with J. J. Watt recovering. Houston failed to capitalize on the turnover and punted the ball back to the Redskins. The Texans received the ball at the end of the 3rd quarter before letting the clock run out. With 13:19 left to play, Foster fumbled the ball at the Washington 8. Washington also couldn't capitalize on their turnover following numerous rushing plays that resulted in 4th and 17. After receiving the ball again, Houston "chewed up" a lot of clock starting at 8:27 left to play. Following the 2 minute warning, Bullock kicked a 42-yard field goal to extend the Texans' lead to 17–6. The Redskins failed to score on their next possession, giving Houston the ball back with 1:14 left.
Game notes With the win, the Texans started their season 1–0 and snapped their franchise-worst 14-game losing streak. This was the first regular season game with Bill O'Brien as the Texans' head coach.
Week 2: at Oakland Raiders
The Texans received the ball first and started at their 20 following a touchback. Fitzpatrick connected to Foster for 41 yards for a touchdown. Following the official review, Foster was ruled out at the Oakland 1. On the following play Fitzpatrick connected with Watt (who was in as a tight end) for a touchdown, with Bullock's extra point good. The Texans scored first and lead the Raiders 7–0 with 9:41 left in the first. After the Raiders received the ball they were forced into a 3 and out, punting the ball back to Houston. The Texans managed to score on their next possession, eating up much of the clock in the process. With 0:05 left in the 1st, Houston lead Oakland 14–0.
The Raiders started the 2nd quarter with the ball following Houston's score late in the 1st. Oakland managed to get down to the Houston 31 before Carr's pass was intercepted by Jackson, who returned it for 65 yards to the Oakland 24. After an offensive holding penalty, the Texans were forced into a 2nd and 19, running for 4 yards for a 3rd and 15, before Fitzpatrick's pass fell short to Foster. On 4th and 15, Bullock kicked a 33-yard field goal to give the Texans a 17–0 lead with 10:34 left in the 2nd. The rest of the half went by quietly, with both teams failing to convert a 1st down. At the half, Houston was up 17–0.
Oakland received the ball to start the 2nd half, managing to get down to the Houston 38. Swearinger fumbled the ball (twice) before it was picked up by Joseph and returned for 49 yards to the Oakland 21. The Texans again capitalized on the turnover, this time getting a touchdown following a Fitzpatrick pass to Hopkins. Houston lead 24–0 with 8:34 left in the 3rd. After Oakland received the ball back they were hit with a 10-yard penalty, forcing a 2nd and 20. Oakland failed to get over the penalty, punting the ball on 4th and 14. Houston scored on yet another possession, with a 39-yard Bullock field goal, giving the Texans a 27–0 lead. After the Raiders got the ball back, the marched down the field to the Houston 39, before the end of the 3rd. With Oakland still yet to score, Houston lead 27–0.
Oakland's drive stayed alive after they converted on a 4th and 1. Another "saving grace" came after a defensive holding penalty for 10 yards gave the Raiders a 1st down. McFadden's 1 yard run finally put Oakland on the board, trailing 7–27 with 14:07 left to play. The Raiders kicked the ball back to the Texans, who ate up as much clock as possible with numerous running plays. Houston ended their drive with a 46-yard field goal from Bullock, giving them a 30–7 lead. On Oakland's next possession, Carr's pass was intercepted by Reed at the Oakland 15 and ran it to the 11. Going into a 4th and 8, Bullock attempted a 27-yard field goal, but it was blocked. Following the blocked kick, the Raiders started at their 17 before getting another touchdown to trail 14–30 with 0:14 left. Oakland attempted an onside kick, but went out of bounds, but two offsetting penalties gave the Raiders another chance. On the second attempt, the Texans recovered the ball to win the game 30–14.
Game notes With the win, the Texans started a season 2–0 for the fifth year in a row and matched their win total from the 2013 season. This was the only game of the 2014 season where the Texans scored in the 1st quarter until week 7 against the Steelers.
Week 3: at New York Giants
In what would become typical for the Texans' 2014 season, the offense was relatively quiet, not scoring at all in the first half. The Giants would lead 14–0 at the end of the half. The offensive problems for Houston would continue into the 2nd half, with a couple of turnovers that occurred. Unable to comeback, the Texans fell 17–30 to the Giants.
Game notes Not only was the first game of the season Houston lost (2-1), but it was also the first game the New York Giants won (1-2).
Week 4: vs. Buffalo Bills
After the Bills took a lead of 10–0 in the 2nd quarter, the Texans scored 20 unanswered points to put them ahead 20–10. The Bills scored a touchdown to trail 17–20 in the 4th quarter, but Houston responded with a field goal from Bullock in the 4th to put it away, winning the game 23–17.
Game notes This was the first time Texans quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick faced his former team since being cut in 2013. With the win, the Texans went 3-1 and surpassed their win total from the previous season.
Week 5: at Dallas Cowboys
Looking to keep up their win streak, the Texans traveled to Dallas for the battle for the Governor's Cup against the Dallas Cowboys. The only score of the first half came from a 33-yard Dan Bailey field goal with 0:16 left in the 2nd quarter. Houston scored with 8:56 left in the 3rd on an Arian Foster 15 yard run, leading 7–3. Dallas answered back with a 43-yard pass from Romo to Williams for a touchdown. After both teams forced a 3 and out, Dallas scored again to lead 17–7 with 9:50 left in the 4th. Houston answered back with a 29-yard field goal from Bullock with 2:31 left to trail 10–17. Dallas was penalized for a delay of game following a Houston timeout which lead to 4th down and 16. Following the penalty, the Texans got the ball back before tying the game with 0:41 left in regulation. Following a timeout called by both teams, Bailey's 53 yard field goal was no good, sending the game into overtime.
Houston received the ball first, but was forced to punt the ball back from the Dallas 48. Dallas won the game following a Dan Bailey 49 yard field goal.
Game notes In a historic game between the two Texas teams, both the Texans and Cowboys boasted a winning record (3-1) for the first time while meeting. With the win, Dallas leads the regular season series 3–1. The only time the Texans beat the Cowboys during the regular season was during the 2002 season, which was also the franchise's first win.
Week 6: vs. Indianapolis Colts
Following a tough loss in overtime in Dallas, the Texans went home for a Thursday night divisional duel with the Indianapolis Colts. Houston received the ball first, but punted the ball on 4th and 5 from their 25. After receiving the ball, the Colts ended their drive with a 27-yard field goal to lead 3–0 with 11:17 left in the 1st. In a surprise move, the Colts did an onside kick and recovered the ball on their 46. Luck threw a 54-yard pass for a touchdown, but the call was reversed as the runner was down. Luck threw another pass, this time for 49 yards, to get up to the Houston 5. Richardson rushed for a touchdown to give the Colts a 10–0 lead over the Texans. On their next 2 possessions, Houston was forced into a 3 and out, with Indianapolis scoring on their next possessions. Following a difficult 1st quarter, the Texans trailed 0-24.
The 2nd quarter seemed to hold more good fortunes for the Texans, as they got a 1st down following a penalty against the Colts on what would have been a field goal attempt. Houston finally scored with a touchdown to trail 7–24 with 9:48 left in the 2nd. Momentum for the Texans continued as Luck's pass was intercepted by Tuggle at the Indianapolis 34, taking it to the 26. Houston wasted no time before capitalizing on the turnover to score a touchdown with 8:28 left to trail 14–24. The Colts ate up the clock on their next possession, before kick a 34-yard field goal with 1:09 left to lead 27–14. Things seemed to turn against Houston again on their next possession as Fitzpatrick was sacked and they failed to complete 1st down conversion on 4th and 9 with 0:03 left in the 2nd. At halftime, the Texans were trailing 14–27.