Houston Texans

Bill O'Brien: Houston's running game must improve

Published Oct. 6, 2015 1:42 p.m. ET

foxsports

Coming off a blowout loss to the Atlanta Falcons in which the running game managed just 54 yards on the ground, Houston Texans head coach Bill O'Brien said Monday his team must do better.

"We really need to work on the running game," O'Brien said, per the team's official website. "We’ve got to be able to run the football."

In Sunday's 48-21 loss to the Atlanta, Chris Polk led the Texans with 27 yards rushing on three carries. Arian Foster, in his season debut, ran eight times for 10 yards, but did catch three passes for 25 yards.

O'Brien acknowledged some of the team's difficulties running stemmed from a lack of opportunities. The Falcons jumped out to an early lead, forcing Houston to play catch-up. It's a trend the Texans have seen in their three losses this season.

"What’s happened is, especially (Sunday), we fell behind," O'Brien said. "It became more of a two-minute type of game early in the game. We were in more of a no huddle mode and trying to get back in the game, which obviously we really didn’t do."

O'Brien also said the team expects Foster to be available for Thursday night's game against the Indianapolis Colts despite the short turnaround. The running back missed the team's first three games after undergoing groin surgery in early August.