We're thankful. Thankful to God for this opportunity. Thankful for being able to weather through the storm and get a win. Any win in this league is a big win. Really proud of our guys and the way they showed up and prepared throughout the week. Felt it throughout the week. Preparation was right. Attention to detail was right. Guys showed up and played well today. All three phases, we played complementary football. Huge credit to the defense today. Having a shut out, it's hard to do. Extremely hard to do in this league. So, I'm very happy for those guys and the way they played. To get a shut out, which doesn't happen much, hasn't happened much here, very proud of those guys for the effort they showed today. Offensively, we did a really nice job. I think when you see [RB] Woody [Marks], a young player, rookie, steps in and ran the ball really well for us, caught it well, made plays and was productive. [He] Got in the end zone a couple times. So, really proud of the way that he played as well. Overall, collectively, did a really great job, coaches and players.
On this being the first shutout by the Texans since 2010
"I'm feeling outstanding for the guys. Again, we work hard as a team to be on the details, be where we're supposed to be. For a defense to go out and play just a clean game, it's not always pretty. [You're] Going to have issues here and there. But, for the most part, it was a very clean game. [DE] Danielle [Hunter] had an outstanding game, pressured the quarterback, got 2.0 sacks. [CB Derek] Stingley [Jr.] comes back. He was battling all week just to be able to be out there and he toughed through it. He was able to be out there and not just be there but be productive. He was able to intercept the football for us to change the game. Really proud of all of them."
On the offense finding a spark
"I think one of the biggest plays for me, offensively, was… We started going backwards. We had penalties and started moving backwards, a lot. I forget but it was 1st-and-30 or something, some spots we been in. But, I was proud of the offense, the way we overcame that. [QB] C.J. [Stroud] was able to hit [WR] Nico [Collins] down the sideline on a go-route. To be able to see us go backwards and understand that that's not the end, you can overcome it with playmakers being able to make plays. Nico showed up really well today making plays for us."
On a sense of relief after tallying first win of the season
"It's not about getting a sense of relief. It's about when we go out and execute and play the right way, that's what it can look like. So, we've been there. We just haven't played clean football. Offense did a really nice job protecting the ball today, we didn't turn the ball over. We took it away. [P] Tommy [Townsend] punted the ball outstanding, gave us backed up opportunities. [K]
''Imi' [Ka'imi Fairbairn] did a great job of kicking it off. Our kickoff team covered really well versus a good returner. It's just about us playing complementary football and playing clean football. We did that today and that's the result. That's what we expect when we do things the right way."
On what allowed the offense to succeed in the second half
"I thought our offense just stayed with it. We ran the ball well. That allowed us to continue to sustain drives. We haven't sustained drives in our previous games. We were able to win the time of possession battle and that starts with the running game. When you're able to be productive in the run game, [running] backs making some nice plays, [RB Nick] Chubb and [RB] Woody [Marks], both guys had really nice runs. The offensive line did a really nice job. But, when you're able to stay on track in the run game, [QB] C.J. [Stroud] made some great decisions with the football as well that allowed us to stay on the field and stay after it. It's the most plays we've ran in had a game offensively this year. That just shows if we stay on track, stay on schedule, we can be a productive offense."
On WR Jayden Higgins first career touchdown
"It was really an outstanding play by [QB] C.J. [Stroud], making a check and getting to that play. Outstanding throw by him, and [WR] 'Higgs' [Jayden Higgins] finishing in the end zone with the catch. Main thing about our offense, all the guys, I wanted to see them play with some excitement and enthusiasm and that's what I saw today. Guys enjoy playing football and that only happens when you're making plays. When you execute and make plays you can have that enthusiasm. So, that's what I liked. Congrats to 'Higgs' for getting his first touchdown as well."
On the impact RB Woody Marks and WR Jayden Higgins made
"Both our rookies stepped up and made plays to help us win the game. That's what you expect when you're drafting rookies. I always tell rookies, 'Let's not wait for you to wait and grow and develop. We want you to be playmakers right now.' We have a lot of young guys. [T] 'Tae' [Aireontae Ersery] is stepping in at left tackle, doing a good job. [WR Jaylin] Noel has become our returner, he's doing a really nice job. [He had a] Nice punt return today. [RB] Woody [Marks], [WR] 'Higgs' [Jayden Higgins], all these guys stepping up and making plays. Proud of the rookie class for them sticking with it, growing, developing while also making plays."
On what allowed for success running the ball today and QB C.J. Stroud taking hits early
"I think we say committed to the run. We called it. We stay committed. [Offensive Coordinator Nick] Caley did a good job calling it and staying with it. When you stay with it, our guys, [RB] Woody [Marks] and [RB Nick] Chubb, made guys miss on the second level. We were able to get some positive runs over five yards, which allowed us to be in second and short. Third and short we were able to still run the ball. Some fourth downs we were able to convert there. So, when you stay with it and you're not having a ton of negative plays like we had in our first three games, it just shows you can stay with the run. It allows you to have some positive plays in the run and you call more runs when you see the production that shows up. [QB] C.J. [Stroud], he took couple hits there in the pocket. He toughed it out, got up and kept battling. That's what we expect from him. We want to protect him better. But sometimes quarterbacks may get hit. It's about being tough, showing the resolve to continue to fight and battle for your team. He did that today."
On where QB C.J. Stroud is mentally
"[QB] C.J. [Stroud] is in a really good spot. We'll go back and watch the film. But, to me, I felt like he made really great decisions with the football today. Probably his best game of the year so far to date. We just want to continue to build off where we are now, the outing that he had today. We just got to keep building, stacking off that one. I was impressed with what he did today."
On this game proving what this defense is capable of
"That's what I been trying to tell them. No, it's just guys being in the right spot. No grenades. I call it, 'No grenades going off.' Nobody is running free. Everybody was disciplined, where they were supposed to be. They're going to make some plays. They're a good team. [QB] Cam [Ward], he got out and threw the ball back across the field like we knew he could do. He made a nice play but the guys stayed with it. We kept pressing. Our defensive line did a great job. We did a really good job in the run game. Then our defensive line caused havoc in the passing game. The guys covered really well today."
On this offensive performance changing the narrative
"For me, it's not about a narrative. It's about speaking what's really happening to our guys. We always look at the film and we can see what's really going on. When you play clean… That's what we talk about, got to play clean and get out of our own way so we can see what type of offense we really have. First three games we didn't know who we are because we continued to hurt ourselves so much. So, we'll see. This is a start. We'll see how we can continue to build off that. Each week presents its set of challenges. I think it's really important for guys just to go out, win a football game, have a good game, offense, defense, special teams, just to really continue to build that confidence. You got your first one. You can get it done. You have to get it done to have that belief. So, our guys do believe in themselves, believe in each other and we just have to keep working, keep getting better. This doesn't mean anything. We're onto the next one. We got to keep getting better throughout this week."
On what the message is to the team about playing complementary football
"First off, it's not that we are close as a team. When I said that I'm talking about our games were close. We were right there in the game. We just didn't finish the game. When it comes to [Offensive Coordinator Nick] Caley and with [QB] C.J. [Stroud] and those personal things, they'll stay personal. We're good. Those guys did a good job today and we'll stay after it. We'll get after it again next week. Get after the game plan and put our head down and go back to work."
