2022 Houston Texans season
21st season in franchise history
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The 2022 season was the Houston Texans' 21st in the National Football League (NFL) and their only season under Lovie Smith, following the firing of David Culley at the end of the 2021 season.[1]
OwnerJanice and D. Cal McNair
Home stadiumNRG Stadium
| 2022 Houston Texans season | |
|---|---|
| Owner | Janice and D. Cal McNair |
| General manager | Nick Caserio |
| Head coach | Lovie Smith |
| Home stadium | NRG Stadium |
| Results | |
| Record | 3–13–1 |
| Division place | 4th AFC South |
| Playoffs | Did not qualify |
| Pro Bowlers | OT Laremy Tunsil |
| Uniform | |
| |
This was their first season since 2016 without quarterback Deshaun Watson on the roster, as he was traded to the Cleveland Browns on March 18.[2]
The Texans recorded their first tie in franchise history against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 1.[3] However, the Texans struggled as they had their worst start since 2005. Houston was the first team to be eliminated from playoff contention for the second consecutive season in Week 13, becoming the first NFL team to do this in back-to-back seasons since the Cleveland Browns accomplished this feat in 2016 and 2017.[4] The Texans failed to improve upon their 4–13 record from the previous year, and posted a 9-game losing streak from Week 7 to Week 15, their worst losing streak since 2013. They failed to win a home game in 2022, going 0–7–1 at NRG Stadium.[5] Hours after their season-ending win against the Colts, the Texans parted ways with head coach Lovie Smith after only one season with the organization, marking the third consecutive year that the team fired its head coach.[6] As of 2025, this is the most recent season the Texans missed the playoffs, finished with a losing record, and finished in last place in the AFC South.
Draft
Draft trades
- The Texans traded a first-round selection (13th overall) to the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for a first-, a fourth- and two fifth-round selections (15th, 124th, 162nd and 166th overall).[7]
- The Texans traded QB Deshaun Watson and a 2024 sixth-round selection to the Cleveland Browns in exchange for first- and fourth-round selections (13th and 107th overall), as well as 2023 and 2024 first-round selections, a 2023 third-round selection, and a 2024 fourth-round selection.[8]
- The Texans traded a third- and two fourth-round selections (68th, 108th and 124th overall) to the Cleveland Browns in exchange for a second-round selection (44th overall).[9]
- The Texans traded third- and fifth-round selections (80th and 162nd overall) to the Denver Broncos in exchange for a third-round selection (75th overall).[10]
- The Texans traded CB Bradley Roby to the New Orleans Saints in exchange for a third-round selection (80th overall).[11]
- The Texans traded a fourth-round selection (137th overall), as well as 2021 fourth- and fifth-round selections to the Carolina Panthers in exchange for a 2021 third-round selection.
- The Texans traded a 2020 second-round selection to the Los Angeles Rams in exchange for WR Brandin Cooks and a fourth-round selection (137th overall).[12]
- The Texans traded a fifth-round selection (148th overall) to the Chicago Bears in exchange for WR Anthony Miller and a seventh-round selection (228th overall).[13]
- The Texans traded fifth- and sixth-round selections (166th and 207th overall) to the Chicago Bears in exchange for a fifth-round selection (150th overall).
- The Texans traded WR Randall Cobb to the Green Bay Packers in exchange for a sixth-round selection (205th overall).[15]
- The Texans traded LB Shaq Lawson to the New York Jets in exchange for a sixth-round selection (207th overall).[16]
- The Texans traded a seventh-round selection (228th overall) to the Green Bay Packers in exchange for CB Ka'dar Hollman.[18]
- The Texans traded DT Eli Ankou to the Dallas Cowboys in exchange for a seventh-round selection (245th overall).[19]
| Name | Position | College | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Myron Cunningham | OT | Arkansas | [20] |
| Damion Daniels | DT | Nebraska | |
| Drew Estrada | WR | Baylor | |
| Jacobi Francis | DB | Memphis | |
| Seth Green | TE | Minnesota | |
| Jake Hansen | LB | Illinois | |
| Kolby Harvell-Peel | DB | Oklahoma State | |
| Kurt Hinish | DL | Notre Dame | |
| Johnny Johnson III | WR | Oregon | |
| Tristin McCollum | DB | Sam Houston State | |
Staff
Offseason changes
Head coach
The Houston Texans fired first-year head coach David Culley on January 13, 2022, who most notably led the Texans to a win at AFC No. 1 seed Tennessee Titans.[21]
Final staff
|
Front office
Head coaches
Offensive coaches
|
Defensive coaches
Special teams coaches
Strength and conditioning
|
Final roster
Preseason
| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Recap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | August 13 | New Orleans Saints | W 17–13 | 1–0 | NRG Stadium | Recap |
| 2 | August 19 | at Los Angeles Rams | W 24–20 | 2–0 | SoFi Stadium | Recap |
| 3 | August 25 | San Francisco 49ers | W 17–0 | 3–0 | NRG Stadium | Recap |
Regular season
Schedule
| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Recap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | September 11 | Indianapolis Colts | T 20–20 (OT) | 0–0–1 | NRG Stadium | Recap |
| 2 | September 18 | at Denver Broncos | L 9–16 | 0–1–1 | Empower Field at Mile High | Recap |
| 3 | September 25 | at Chicago Bears | L 20–23 | 0–2–1 | Soldier Field | Recap |
| 4 | October 2 | Los Angeles Chargers | L 24–34 | 0–3–1 | NRG Stadium | Recap |
| 5 | October 9 | at Jacksonville Jaguars | W 13–6 | 1–3–1 | TIAA Bank Field | Recap |
| 6 | Bye | |||||
| 7 | October 23 | at Las Vegas Raiders | L 20–38 | 1–4–1 | Allegiant Stadium | Recap |
| 8 | October 30 | Tennessee Titans | L 10–17 | 1–5–1 | NRG Stadium | Recap |
| 9 | November 3 | Philadelphia Eagles | L 17–29 | 1–6–1 | NRG Stadium | Recap |
| 10 | November 13 | at New York Giants | L 16–24 | 1–7–1 | MetLife Stadium | Recap |
| 11 | November 20 | Washington Commanders | L 10–23 | 1–8–1 | NRG Stadium | Recap |
| 12 | November 27 | at Miami Dolphins | L 15–30 | 1–9–1 | Hard Rock Stadium | Recap |
| 13 | December 4 | Cleveland Browns | L 14–27 | 1–10–1 | NRG Stadium | Recap |
| 14 | December 11 | at Dallas Cowboys | L 23–27 | 1–11–1 | AT&T Stadium | Recap |
| 15 | December 18 | Kansas City Chiefs | L 24–30 (OT) | 1–12–1 | NRG Stadium | Recap |
| 16 | December 24 | at Tennessee Titans | W 19–14 | 2–12–1 | Nissan Stadium | Recap |
| 17 | January 1 | Jacksonville Jaguars | L 3–31 | 2–13–1 | NRG Stadium | Recap |
| 18 | January 8 | at Indianapolis Colts | W 32–31 | 3–13–1 | Lucas Oil Stadium | Recap |
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Game summaries
Week 1: vs. Indianapolis Colts
Week 1: Indianapolis Colts at Houston Texans – Game summary
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colts | 3 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 0 | 20 |
| Texans | 0 | 10 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 20 |
at NRG Stadium, Houston, Texas
- Date: September 11
- Game time: 12:00 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: None (retractable roof closed)
- Game attendance: 69,415
- Referee: Land Clark
- TV announcers (CBS): Tom McCarthy and Tiki Barber
- Recap, Game Book
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
This was the first tie in franchise history.[3]
Week 2: at Denver Broncos
Week 2: Houston Texans at Denver Broncos – Game summary
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texans | 3 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 9 |
| Broncos | 3 | 3 | 0 | 10 | 16 |
at Empower Field at Mile High, Denver, Colorado
- Date: September 18
- Game time: 3:25 p.m. CDT/2:25 p.m. MDT
- Game weather: Sunny, 77 °F (25 °C)
- Game attendance: 76,191
- Referee: Carl Cheffers
- TV announcers (CBS): Andrew Catalon, James Lofton and Michael Grady
- Recap, Game Book
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Week 3: at Chicago Bears
Week 3: Houston Texans at Chicago Bears – Game summary
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texans | 7 | 7 | 6 | 0 | 20 |
| Bears | 10 | 3 | 7 | 3 | 23 |
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Week 4: vs. Los Angeles Chargers
Week 4: Los Angeles Chargers at Houston Texans – Game summary
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chargers | 7 | 20 | 0 | 7 | 34 |
| Texans | 0 | 7 | 7 | 10 | 24 |
at NRG Stadium, Houston, Texas
- Date: October 2
- Game time: 12:00 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: None (retractable roof closed)
- Game attendance: 69,071
- Referee: Alex Kemp
- TV announcers (CBS): Beth Mowins, James Lofton and Amanda Renner
- Recap, Game Book
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Week 5: at Jacksonville Jaguars
Week 5: Houston Texans at Jacksonville Jaguars – Game summary
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texans | 0 | 6 | 0 | 7 | 13 |
| Jaguars | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
at TIAA Bank Field, Jacksonville, Florida
- Date: October 9
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. EDT/12:00 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: Partly cloudy and sunny, 80 °F (27 °C)
- Game attendance: 60,018
- Referee: Ronald Torbert
- TV announcers (CBS): Spero Dedes, Jay Feely and Aditi Kinkhabwala
- Recap, Game Book
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Week 7: at Las Vegas Raiders
Week 7: Houston Texans at Las Vegas Raiders – Game summary
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texans | 0 | 10 | 10 | 0 | 20 |
| Raiders | 3 | 7 | 7 | 21 | 38 |
at Allegiant Stadium, Paradise, Nevada
- Date: October 23
- Game time: 3:05 p.m. CDT/1:05 p.m. PDT
- Game weather: None (indoor stadium)
- Game attendance: 61,228
- Referee: John Hussey
- TV announcers (CBS): Greg Gumbel, Adam Archuleta and AJ Ross
- Recap, Game Book
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Week 8: vs. Tennessee Titans
Week 8: Tennessee Titans at Houston Texans – Game summary
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Titans | 0 | 7 | 7 | 3 | 17 |
| Texans | 0 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 10 |
at NRG Stadium, Houston, Texas
- Date: October 30
- Game time: 3:05 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: None (retractable roof closed)
- Game attendance: 65,515
- Referee: Clay Martin
- TV announcers (CBS): Greg Gumbel, Adam Archuleta and AJ Ross
- Recap, Game Book
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Week 9: vs. Philadelphia Eagles
Week 9: Philadelphia Eagles at Houston Texans – Game summary
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eagles | 7 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 29 |
| Texans | 7 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 17 |
at NRG Stadium, Houston, Texas
- Date: November 3
- Game time: 7:15 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: None (retractable roof closed)
- Game attendance: 68,831
- Referee: Craig Wrolstad
- TV announcers (KTXH/Prime Video): Al Michaels, Kirk Herbstreit and Kaylee Hartung
- Recap, Game Book
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
This was played the same day as Game 5 of the 2022 World Series between the Houston Astros and the Philadelphia Phillies, moved back by one day due to rain in Philadelphia earlier in the week. Estimates from Nielsen Media Research show the baseball game drew an average of five million more viewers, with a share of at least 50 in both Philadelphia and Houston. Meanwhile, the football game, originally scheduled to air on the Fox affiliates in both markets per NFL rules, moved to the MyNetworkTV affiliates in both markets.[22][23]
Week 10: at New York Giants
Week 10: Houston Texans at New York Giants – Game summary
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texans | 0 | 3 | 7 | 6 | 16 |
| Giants | 7 | 0 | 14 | 3 | 24 |
at MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey
- Date: November 13
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST/12:00 p.m. CST
- Game weather: Partly sunny, 50 °F (10 °C)
- Game attendance: 71,615
- Referee: Bill Vinovich
- TV announcers (CBS): Ian Eagle, Charles Davis and Evan Washburn
- Recap, Game Book
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Week 11: vs. Washington Commanders
Week 11: Washington Commanders at Houston Texans – Game summary
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Commanders | 7 | 13 | 0 | 3 | 23 |
| Texans | 0 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 10 |
at NRG Stadium, Houston, Texas
- Date: November 20
- Game time: 12:00 p.m. CST
- Game weather: None (retractable roof closed)
- Game attendance: 65,865
- Referee: Scott Novak
- TV announcers (Fox): Chris Myers, Robert Smith and Jen Hale
- Recap, Game Book
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Week 12: at Miami Dolphins
Week 12: Houston Texans at Miami Dolphins – Game summary
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texans | 0 | 0 | 6 | 9 | 15 |
| Dolphins | 10 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 30 |
at Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida
- Date: November 27
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST/12:00 p.m. CST
- Game weather: Partly cloudy, 87 °F (31 °C)
- Game attendance: 66,205
- Referee: Jerome Boger
- TV announcers (CBS): Spero Dedes, Jay Feely and Aditi Kinkhabwala
- Recap, Game Book
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Week 13: vs. Cleveland Browns
Week 13: Cleveland Browns at Houston Texans – Game summary
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Browns | 0 | 7 | 7 | 13 | 27 |
| Texans | 3 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 14 |
at NRG Stadium, Houston, Texas
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Cleveland quarterback Deshaun Watson made his first start since January 3, 2021 when he still played for Houston. Both offenses struggled throughout the game, with the game's only offensive touchdown coming with 1:57 left on a 6-yard Kyle Allen pass to wide receiver Nico Collins. However, Cleveland would score two defensive touchdowns and a special teams touchdown. With the loss, the Texans dropped to 1–10–1 and were mathematically eliminated from playoff contention for the second season in a row.
Week 14: at Dallas Cowboys
Week 14: Houston Texans at Dallas Cowboys – Game summary
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texans | 10 | 10 | 3 | 0 | 23 |
| Cowboys | 7 | 10 | 0 | 10 | 27 |
at AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas
- Date: December 11
- Game time: 12:00 p.m. CST
- Game weather: None (retractable roof closed)
- Game attendance: 93,843
- Referee: John Hussey
- TV announcers (Fox): Kevin Kugler, Mark Sanchez and Laura Okmin
- Recap, Game Book
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
The Texans held a 23–17 lead entering the fourth quarter but fell apart in the final minutes of the game. Cornerback Tremon Smith intercepted a Dak Prescott pass and returned it 7 yards to the Dallas 4-yard line; however, the offense failed to score a touchdown and turned the ball over on downs. Starting at their own 2-yard line, the Cowboys marched 98 yards down field with Ezekiel Elliott getting the go-ahead score on a 2-yard run with 0:41 left. Houston attempted to respond, making it as far as the Dallas 44-yard line, but two false start penalties on Laremy Tunsil pushed the Texans back to their own 46-yard line and a Davis Mills Hail Mary pass was intercepted in the end zone by Israel Mukuamu, sealing the victory for Dallas.
Week 15: vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Week 15: Kansas City Chiefs at Houston Texans – Game summary
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chiefs | 0 | 13 | 3 | 8 | 6 | 30 |
| Texans | 7 | 7 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 24 |
at NRG Stadium, Houston, Texas
- Date: December 18
- Game time: 12:00 p.m. CST
- Game weather: None (retractable roof closed)
- Game attendance: 70,541
- Referee: Carl Cheffers
- TV announcers (CBS): Kevin Harlan, Trent Green and Melanie Collins
- Recap, Game Book
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
A fumble lost by David Mills in overtime led to the game winning touchdown by the Chiefs.
Week 16: at Tennessee Titans
Week 16: Houston Texans at Tennessee Titans – Game summary
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texans | 7 | 3 | 0 | 9 | 19 |
| Titans | 7 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 14 |
at Nissan Stadium, Nashville, Tennessee
- Date: December 24
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. CST
- Game weather: Clear, 20 °F (−7 °C)
- Game attendance: 66,634
- Referee: Shawn Smith
- TV announcers (CBS): Andrew Catalon, James Lofton and Amanda Renner
- Recap, Game Book
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Kickoff was originally scheduled for 12:00 p.m. CST, but was delayed an hour due to rolling blackouts in the Nashville area.[24]
Week 17: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
Week 17: Jacksonville Jaguars at Houston Texans – Game summary
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jaguars | 7 | 14 | 7 | 3 | 31 |
| Texans | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
at NRG Stadium, Houston, Texas
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Week 18: at Indianapolis Colts
Week 18: Houston Texans at Indianapolis Colts – Game summary
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texans | 10 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 32 |
| Colts | 7 | 0 | 14 | 10 | 31 |
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
With the win, combined with a loss from the Chicago Bears, the Texans lost their first overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft.[25]
Standings
Division
| AFC South | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W | L | T | PCT | DIV | CONF | PF | PA | STK | |
| (4) Jacksonville Jaguars | 9 | 8 | 0 | .529 | 4–2 | 8–4 | 404 | 350 | W5 |
| Tennessee Titans | 7 | 10 | 0 | .412 | 3–3 | 5–7 | 298 | 359 | L7 |
| Indianapolis Colts | 4 | 12 | 1 | .265 | 1–4–1 | 4–7–1 | 289 | 427 | L7 |
| Houston Texans | 3 | 13 | 1 | .206 | 3–2–1 | 3–8–1 | 289 | 420 | W1 |
Conference
| # | Team | Division | W | L | T | PCT | DIV | CONF | SOS | SOV | STK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division leaders | |||||||||||
| 1 | Kansas City Chiefs | West | 14 | 3 | 0 | .824 | 6–0 | 9–3 | .453 | .422 | W5 |
| 2 | Buffalo Bills | East | 13 | 3 | 0 | .813 | 4–2 | 9–2 | .489 | .471 | W7 |
| 3 | Cincinnati Bengals | North | 12 | 4 | 0 | .750 | 3–3 | 8–3 | .507 | .490 | W8 |
| 4 | Jacksonville Jaguars | South | 9 | 8 | 0 | .529 | 4–2 | 8–4 | .467 | .438 | W5 |
| Wild cards | |||||||||||
| 5[a] | Los Angeles Chargers | West | 10 | 7 | 0 | .588 | 2–4 | 7–5 | .443 | .341 | L1 |
| 6[a] | Baltimore Ravens | North | 10 | 7 | 0 | .588 | 3–3 | 6–6 | .509 | .456 | L2 |
| 7[b] | Miami Dolphins | East | 9 | 8 | 0 | .529 | 3–3 | 7–5 | .537 | .457 | W1 |
| Did not qualify for the postseason | |||||||||||
| 8[b] | Pittsburgh Steelers | North | 9 | 8 | 0 | .529 | 3–3 | 5–7 | .519 | .451 | W4 |
| 9 | New England Patriots | East | 8 | 9 | 0 | .471 | 3–3 | 6–6 | .502 | .415 | L1 |
| 10[c][d] | New York Jets | East | 7 | 10 | 0 | .412 | 2–4 | 5–7 | .538 | .458 | L6 |
| 11[c][d] | Tennessee Titans | South | 7 | 10 | 0 | .412 | 3–3 | 5–7 | .509 | .336 | L7 |
| 12[c] | Cleveland Browns | North | 7 | 10 | 0 | .412 | 3–3 | 4–8 | .524 | .492 | L1 |
| 13 | Las Vegas Raiders | West | 6 | 11 | 0 | .353 | 3–3 | 5–7 | .474 | .397 | L3 |
| 14 | Denver Broncos | West | 5 | 12 | 0 | .294 | 1–5 | 3–9 | .481 | .465 | W1 |
| 15 | Indianapolis Colts | South | 4 | 12 | 1 | .265 | 1–4–1 | 4–7–1 | .512 | .500 | L7 |
| 16 | Houston Texans | South | 3 | 13 | 1 | .206 | 3–2–1 | 3–8–1 | .481 | .402 | W1 |
| Tiebreakers[e] | |||||||||||
| |||||||||||
Statistics
Team
Individual
| Category | Player | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Offense | |||
| Passing yards | Davis Mills | 3,118 | |
| Passing touchdowns | Davis Mills | 17 | |
| Rushing yards | Dameon Pierce | 939 | |
| Rushing touchdowns | Dameon Pierce | 4 | |
| Receiving yards | Brandin Cooks | 699 | |
| Receiving touchdowns | Jordan Akins | 5 | |
| Defense | |||
| Tackles (Solo) | Jalen Pitre | 99 | |
| Sacks | Jerry Hughes | 9 | |
| Interceptions | Jalen Pitre | 5 | |
Source:[28]