With the Houston Texans' playoff lives hanging by a thread late in the fourth quarter, head coach DeMeco Ryans made a questionable decision that effectively cut the cord.
Facing a 4th-and-18 from the Texans' 21-yard line with just 4:17 remaining and trailing by 12, Ryans chose to punt the ball away.
While the Texans still had one timeout and needed two scores, the conservative move was widely viewed as a "surrender punt." Ryans later explained that he was backing his defense to get a quick stop — a unit that had already forced four fumbles out of Drake Maye.
But the decision backfired as the Patriots' offense, led by a clutch third-down conversion from Maye to Stefon Diggs, bled nearly three minutes off the clock. By the time Houston got the ball back, they were pinned deep with under two minutes to play, turning a potential comeback into a snowy 28-16 funeral for their season.
Here's more on the questionable choice that essentially iced the Texans' season.
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Why did Texans punt late in fourth quarter?
Houston’s offensive struggles were the definitive story of their 28-16 divisional loss in Foxborough. The Texans managed just a single touchdown— a 10-yard strike to Christian Kirk—as the unit repeatedly stalled in the New England snow.
At the center of the meltdown was C.J. Stroud, who endured a historic nightmare by throwing four interceptions in the first half alone. The Texans finished with five total turnovers, including a devastating red-zone fumble by Woody Marks in the third quarter that erased a chance to tie the game.
DeMeco Ryans just punted on the game. Apparently he's seen enough of his offense.
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) January 18, 2026
DeMeco Ryans just punted on the game. Apparently, he'd seen enough of his offense.
Houston gained 241 yards on the day, but their efficiency was nonexistent. Stroud finished with a dismal 20-for-47 (42.5%) completion rate and a 28.0 passer rating, while the run game provided zero relief, managing only 48 yards on the ground.
Ryans ultimately chose to punt, banking on his top-ranked defense one last time rather than trusting his reeling quarterback to convert the impossible.
MORE PATRIOTS-TEXANS NEWS:
- Where C.J. Stroud's disastrous day ranks among most turnovers in a playoff game
- DeMeco Ryans explains why Texans didn't bench C.J. Stroud
- Slick weather in Foxboro leads to ugly turnover-filled day
DeMeco Ryans criticized for late Texans punt
Ryans' decision was not looked upon favorably after the Texans' loss.
Demeco Ryans punting down 12 with 4 minutes to play: pic.twitter.com/SnN1ZPAIlF
— SportsLine (@SportsLine) January 18, 2026
Even if the chances were slight, the majority think that Ryans threw in the towel.
A first ballot HOF surrender punt from DeMeco Ryans here
— Nick Kostos (@TheKostos) January 18, 2026
Though there were a few on social media that stood by Ryans, including NFL Network's Mike Garafolo.
Honestly, that’s been one of their better offensive plays. I don’t hate it. I don’t love it. But I don’t hate it either. Zero chance they were converting fourth-and-18.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) January 18, 2026
MORE: Why the Texans didn't bench C.J. Stroud in loss