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Photo: Brett Coomer / Houston Chronicle Image 1 of / 13 Caption Close Image 2 of 13 Quarterbacks: D-plus Ryan Fitzpatrick was terrible in the first half, going 6-of-13 for 36 yards and a 21.0 rating. He was much better in the second half. less Quarterbacks: D-plus Ryan Fitzpatrick was terrible in the first half, going 6-of-13 for 36 yards and a 21.0 rating. He was much better in the second ... more Photo: Karen Warren / Houston Chronicle Image 3 of 13 <big><center><strong>Running backs: A<h3></h3> Arian Foster had six carries for 34 yards in the first half and 17 for 123 in the second half and overtime. He needed the ball more, <big><center><strong>Running backs: A<h3></h3> Arian Foster had six carries for 34 yards in the first half and 17 for 123 in the second half and overtime. He needed the ball more, Photo: Karen Warren / Houston Chronicle Image 4 of 13 Receivers/Tight ends: C DeAndre Hopkins and Andre Johnson combined for 11 catches, 121 yards and no touchdowns. Tight ends combined for two catches and 11 yards. less Receivers/Tight ends: C DeAndre Hopkins and Andre Johnson combined for 11 catches, 121 yards and no touchdowns. Tight ends combined for two catches and 11 ... more Photo: Brett Coomer / Houston Chronicle Image 5 of 13 Image 6 of 13 Offensive line: B The linemen bounced back from a terrible performance against Buffalo to do a terrific job of run blocking, and Ryan Fitzpatrick wasn’t sacked. less Offensive line: B The linemen bounced back from a terrible performance against Buffalo to do a terrific job of run blocking, and Ryan Fitzpatrick wasn’t ... more Photo: Brett Coomer / Houston Chronicle Image 7 of 13 Defensive line: B They registered no sacks but disrupted Tony Romo’s timing with his receivers. The Cowboys had 25 fewer yards rushing than they averaged. less Defensive line: B They registered no sacks but disrupted Tony Romo’s timing with his receivers. The Cowboys had 25 fewer yards rushing than they ... more Photo: Karen Warren / Houston Chronicle Image 8 of 13 <big><center><strong>Linebackers: B<h3></h3> Brian Cushing got the team’s only sack. The linebackers got after Romo and played the run well enough when it counted the most. <big><center><strong>Linebackers: B<h3></h3> Brian Cushing got the team’s only sack. The linebackers got after Romo and played the run well enough when it counted the most. Photo: Brett Coomer / Houston Chronicle Image 9 of 13 Secondary: B Kendrick Lewis had an interception and forced fumble and allowed a scoring pass. Johnathan Joseph allowed big play by Dez Bryant in overtime. less Secondary: B Kendrick Lewis had an interception and forced fumble and allowed a scoring pass. Johnathan Joseph allowed big play by Dez Bryant in ... more Photo: Brett Coomer / Houston Chronicle Image 10 of 13 Image 11 of 13 <big><center><strong>Special teams: C-plus<h3></h3> The punt coverage team forced a fumble but later allowed a 38-yard punt return by Dwayne Harris. Kickoff coverage was average. <big><center><strong>Special teams: C-plus<h3></h3> The punt coverage team forced a fumble but later allowed a 38-yard punt return by Dwayne Harris. Kickoff coverage was average. Photo: Brett Coomer / Houston Chronicle Image 12 of 13 Coaching: B-minus The coaches should get credit for the Texans rallying to force overtime in hostile territory, but they must share blame for so many mistakes. less Coaching: B-minus The coaches should get credit for the Texans rallying to force overtime in hostile territory, but they must share blame for so many ... more Photo: Brett Coomer / Houston Chronicle Image 13 of 13 Yet to find consistency, Fitzpatrick-led offense hurting Texans more than helping 1 / 13 Back to Gallery

ARLINGTON – Two first-half shutouts in three games, and nearly three consecutive zeroes. A veteran quarterback whose accuracy and efficiency are as unpredictable as the offense he operates. An 11-man unit that was supposed to be highly inventive and brand new but has instead continued to look like a slightly reheated version of 2013, if that.

The Texans’ attack under QB Ryan Fitzpatrick, first-year coach Bill O’Brien and quarterbacks coach George Godsey? It’s mostly not working. And it’s starting to lose winnable games.

The Texans could have dropped early season contests to Washington and Buffalo. They won, but no thanks to their offense, which relied on late turnarounds, defense and special teams to unearth wins. The Texans lost to the New York Giants before falling to the Dallas Cowboys – 20-17 in overtime Sunday at AT&T Stadium – and the system that was intended to inspire was again a culprit in the defeat.

Fitzpatrick was held to 16-of-25 passing for 154 yards, no touchdowns, one interception and a 64.4 rating. Like his three-interception outing during a road loss to the Giants two weeks ago, the 10-year vet directly acknowledged what he’d done on Sunday wasn’t good enough for himself or his team.

“I’m not playing well enough to win,” Fitzpatrick said.

The QB said more than the coach. A visibly frustrated O’Brien was asked postgame what is not working for the offense he devises and orchestrates on a week-by-week, gameplan-by-gameplan basis. No answer was provided.

“I don’t know,” O’Brien said. “I have no idea.”

Statistics provided a clue. The Texans totaled an abysmal 86 yards in the first half and no points. Arian Foster was a lifeline, rushing for 40 yards on seven carries. But wide receivers Andre Johnson and DeAndre Hopkins were barely involved (five combined catches, 28 yards) while Fitzpatrick was off key from the initial drive (6-of-13 for 36 yards, a pick and a 21 rating at the break). The Texans recorded just four first downs while going three of seven on third down.

Like Washington, New York and Buffalo, it took a second-half rally and the threat of defeat to wake up the Texans’ offense. Foster completely carried the unit during the second half. He finished with a game-high 157 yards and two touchdowns on 23 carries, outrunning Dallas star DeMarco Murray. Fitzpatrick showed late life, pouring out 10 points while completing 8-of-9 passes for 93 yards and a 109.7 rating during the final regulation period. But the Texans went almost four quarters scoring seven points. And when they needed a crucial third down-conversion and just two yards at Dallas’ 48 in overtime, the drive ended as so many before: empty and useless.

“We just didn’t do enough,” O’Brien said.

Fitzpatrick went into more detail when the Texans’ game-changing lack of offensive consistency was mentioned.

“We’re always touching on consistency,” Fitzpatrick said. “It’s something that we just have to continue to work at. Because when we get into a flow and put together good drives, I feel like it’s hard to stop us. But sometimes, whether it’s a penalty here or an incompletion or a missed throw, whatever it is, we’re not in those third-and-manageables and not converting on third down. Then we’re off the field and it’s tough to get in a rhythm. We just have to find a way to become more efficient.”

Foster almost propelled the Texans to an Interstate 45 title Sunday. The Texans’ defense collected three takeaways and only gave up 20 points to a high-powered Dallas offense that put up 38 last week against New Orleans. But drive after drive, the Texans’ offense went sideways, backward or nowhere. Rarely forward. Only threatening when the game and another defeat were on the line.

“It’s frustrating. The way we were getting the turnovers, you’ve got to be able to capitalize on those,” Fitzpatrick said. “This game is so much about momentum. Getting those big plays and coming up empty, it’s one thing to start it out three and out. But to have such momentum shift with a turnover and then not do anything with it, that’s a really disappointing part of what we had (Sunday).”

brian.smith@chron.com

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