HOUSTON -- They were a dejected and embarrassed bunch in that locker room in Miami after a blowout in late October. They couldn't explain it and they couldn't believe it either.

The Texans defense had been humiliated -- losing 44-26 to the Dolphins after trailing 41-0 at halftime -- and maybe they needed that. Because what has happened in the weeks since might define their season. It might turn this team into a playoff contender once more.

"We just kind of came together and decided enough was enough," inside linebacker Brian Cushing said after Sunday's 24-6 win over the Saints. "To lose like that is obviously extremely embarrassing and something that we wanted no part of. We just decided right there, that was it."

Since that day more than one month ago, they've given up two touchdowns total. They're allowing an average of 8.75 points per game. They're purely dominant on third downs. They broke a 155-game streak by the Saints of consecutive games with a touchdown scored.

According to ESPN Stats and Info, since Week 8, the Texans defense rank first in the league in points allowed per game, sack percentage (9.4), yards per dropback (4.3), third down percentage (21.2), total QBR (23.3) and estimated points added pergame (+12.2).

The Texans' J.J. Watt (99) and Jadeveon Clowney helped hold Drew Brees and the Saints without a touchdown on Sunday. AP Photo/George Bridges

That defense that trailed 42-0 to the Atlanta Falcons and 41-0 to the Dolphins is gone. Out of the wreckage rose this defense -- the one they were supposed to be from the beginning. Now the Texans find themselves in a battle to win the division, with a realistic shot to knock the Indianapolis Colts from the top of the AFC South.

"We’re on the rise, but at the same time we have to take care of business week by week," Cushing said. "That’s just the NFL. Gotta keep winning. We all know the other team in the [division] is winning too."

The Texans' defense features eight former first-round picks, including all three of their top corners -- Johnathan Joseph, Kareem Jackson and Kevin Johnson, Cushing, defensive end J.J. Watt, outside linebackers Jadeveon Clowney and Whitney Mercilus and nose tackle Vince Wilfork.

They had a respite after playing Miami when they got to face a Tennessee Titans offense without starting quarterback Marcus Mariota. Holding that team without a touchdown didn't seem such an impressive feat. What they did in their next game was.

On Monday Night Football, coming off their bye week, the Texans forced Andy Dalton and his high-powered offense to wither at home, beating the Cincinnati Bengals 10-6. That has been the only time all season the Bengals didn't have at least two touchdowns. The New York Jets were the next victim, although they did better than most, scoring 17 points.

Then came the Saints, a team with a struggling defense but whose offense was run by respected quarterback Drew Brees.

"When you go against these great quarterbacks, the only chance you have is to mix it up," Texans coach Bill O'Brien said. "If you stay in the same coverage down after down, you're going to get burned. I don't care how good your secondary is. I think the credit goes to the players to be able to understand that. ... We probably used about seven to eight different coverages in the game."

The coverage was aided by a Watt-led pass rush that made Brees uncomfortable. Watt sacked Brees twice and caused an intentional grounding on another play, beating a different Saints player each time. Then Texans' defensive backs did their part, especially late in the game.

Brees threw deep to the end zone for receiver Brandin Cooks in the fourth quarter, but Jackson was there instead. Jackson dove for the interception and fell to the ground. He realized he hadn't been touched by an opponent only when safety Andre Hal began hitting him and telling him to get up and go. Jackson returned the ball 50 yards, and had visions of getting a 100-yard pick-six.

"Kind of going through my head when I made the first couple guys miss," Jackson said. "Kind of got in the open field and then kind of ran into Clowney."

Brees tried again on a fourth-and-2 on the next drive. There again, two Texans defensive backs knocked away the pass intended for receiver Brandon Coleman.

Week after week they've been there to make the plays their team needed. Last week they caught back-to-back interceptions to thwart the Jets. Two weeks ago a forced fumble and recovery did it. That's how opportunistic the Texans' defense has become.

It started at a low point back in October. Things had to change and they did.

"I think it was pretty clear we sucked at that point, so something had to happen," Watt said. "We had to play better. So far we have been doing that."