The Super Bowl hopefuls making major changes only a month into the season

Meanwhile, in Houston, the Texans are even more desperate after an 0-4 start. Only one team in NFL history has made the playoffs after having dropped its first four games. Houston has been close to this position before, having reached the postseason after an 0-3 start last year.

The issue for the Texans has been their defense, as head coach DeMeco Ryans will take the reins from defensive coordinator Matt Burke when it comes to calling plays.

“It’s a tough decision to make,” Ryans told reporters Wednesday. “It’s also, as a head coach, I have a lot of tough decisions I have to make, and it’s always my decisions, and sometimes they’re not always a popular opinion. I’m not in this role to please a lot of people’s opinions. I have to do what’s best for this team and make sure I’m leading in that way.”

Said defensive end Will Anderson: “I think what DeMeco brings [is] that style of coaching where he’s going to call you out. He’s going to make sure that you know exactly what you’re going to do, what you need to do and what you didn’t do.”

Houston’s defensive drop has been shocking, as the team was expected to have one of the best units in the league.

Last season, the Texans ranked no lower than sixth in points, total yards and pass yards allowed per game. This year, Houston enters Week 5 at 26th in points allowed, 20th in total yards allowed and 28th in pass yards allowed.

After quarterback C.J. Stroud struggled in last winter’s playoff run, there was a belief the Texans could be dominant if Stroud merely had an average season. Instead, he has been solid, and it hasn’t mattered.

Houston is 15th in EPA per dropback so far this season, as Stroud has thrown for five touchdowns and no interceptions. In three of the team’s first four games, he led go-ahead drives in the fourth quarter.

But the defense has given up game-winning drives in each of those games. Entering Week 4, the Texans are 26th in EPA per play on defense.

If there were ever an ideal time for Payton and Ryans to take back control of play calling, it’s before Week 5 in particular. Both the Broncos and the Texans will be playing winless teams Sunday, as Denver plays the 0-4 Los Angeles Chargers, while Houston draws the 0-4 Tennessee Titans.

If neither the Broncos nor the Texans can bounce back against two of the worst teams in the league, then whoever is calling the plays could end up being the least of their problems.

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