ORCHARD PARK, NY – As coach David Culley spoke loudly to his team following a 40-0 loss to the Buffalo Bills, the usually easy-going Houston Texans coach could be heard across the hall in the interview room.

His message to his team, he said shortly after, was that he did not have them “ready to play”. And it was the fact that the game wasn’t even competitive, several players said, that made it such a terrible loss.

“We weren’t here to play,” said linebacker Christian Kirksey. “Buffalo, they had our card. It is actually embarrassing to lose like we have lost.

The loss was the largest in franchise history for the Texans in terms of point differential, eclipsing their 38-point loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2017. Houston has fallen to 1-3 this season, although the team is only one game away from first place in the AFC South.

“It was one of the most embarrassing losses I have ever suffered for sure,” said linebacker Kamu Grugier-Hill. “It’s not going to break us. We’re going to learn from it, we’re going to improve and move on. It’s still very early in the season. Everything will be fine.”

The offense struggled on Sunday, being shut out for the third time in the regular season in franchise history. Rookie quarterback Davis Mills, making his second career start in place of injured Tyrod Taylor, completed 11 of 21 passes for 87 yards with four interceptions. He had a passer rating of 23.4.

“Our whole offense didn’t play well today,” Culley said. “Obviously the quarterback manages the ball every time. He made a few throws that I wish he had found. But I thought he did exactly what he was really asked to do, other than take care of the ball.

“It wasn’t on him. You put anybody there today. You could put Joe Montana in there today, and the way we played, you’re not going to be successful on offense.

The Texans had under 23 clear passing yards in the first half, the least by a first-half team since the Eagles on Nov. 21, 1999. According to ESPN Stats & Information, that was the least in one. or the other half of franchise history. .

Mills completed just one pass in the first half, a 3-yard goal to receiver Brandin Cooks. The Texans are the second team in the past four seasons to make one or fewer passes in the first half of a game, according to ESPN Stats & Info. The Denver Broncos were the other team, without finishing the first half against the New Orleans Saints in Week 12 last season when all of their quarterbacks were absent due to COVID-19 protocols.

It wasn’t much better for the Texans in defense on Sunday, although the unit kept them close in the first half despite difficult situations. In the second quarter, three of the Bills’ four possessions started at the 50-yard line or in Houston territory. The Texans’ defense held them to three field goals and forced a turnover down on the other possession.

One rainy day at Orchard Park, the Bills crushed a Texans defense that had already allowed six rushing touchdowns entering the game. On Sunday, 106 of the Bills’ 199 rushing yards came after contact, their most after contact yards in a game since Week 14 in 2017, according to ESPN Stats & Info research.

Houston finished the game with 109 net yards, a total almost overshadowed by his 100 penalty yards.

“It’s an unruly football team, and it starts with me,” Culley said. “… It puts us in bad situations. And we’re not going to be able to overcome these things. And we weren’t today.

As the Texans focus on their Week 5 game against the New England Patriots – again without Taylor, as he must miss at least three games while in the injured reserve – one has asked. to Mills where the team was going after this resounding loss.

“I guess it’s only from here,” Mills said. “We will take this as a plus.”