Then on Saturday evening, in what felt like a flash, it all came to an end. The Texans’ season was over after a 23-14 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC divisional round of the NFL playoffs at Arrowhead Stadium.

Now, the offseason begins, and Houston has plenty of needs to address after finishing 11-8 for the second consecutive year.

Top of that list has to be guard, receiver, and defensive tackle, which will be addressed in the draft and free agency.

The deficiencies came to the forefront Saturday, when quarterback C.J. Stroud was sacked a season-high eight times, hit 14 times and pressured on 51% of his dropbacks.

“Where we stand right now, we have to be better,” Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans said, echoing comments he made last year. “We were not good enough to beat a really good football team.”

The Texans are expected to have just $6 million in cap space for 2025, according to Over the Cap, though that number will likely change some. Regardless, it isn’t a lot of money to make major moves.

The Texans hold the No. 25 overall pick in the draft.

Here are four questions facing the Texans in the 2025 offseason:

1. How will Texans fix interior offensive line?

The interior of the offense line had been a problem for Houston for most of this season. Kenyon Green, who started the first nine games at left guard, didn’t work out as a starter, and likely never will. He has one more year left on his rookie deal.

The Texans put a band-aid on the problem when they moved Tytus Howard from right tackle to left guard and started rookie Blake Fisher at right tackle.

But it wasn’t a permanent fix. Many of the same issues that plagued the Texans earlier in the year came to the forefront in Saturday’s loss. Howard was solid at left guard, but Fisher allowed two sacks at right tackle in one-on-one battles, which irked Ryans.

“With the sacks, from what I saw, first off you are one-on-one,” he said. “You have to win your one-on-one battles. That is what the game always comes down to.”

Right guard Shaq Mason, who started in his first game since suffering an MCL sprain in the loss to the Ravens, also allowed a sack on a stunt play.

And Juice Scruggs, the 2023 second-round pick who has started at left guard, center and right guard this season, was relegated to the bench as the odd-man out, while Jarrett Patterson started at center.

The Texans have the second-most guaranteed money in the NFL invested in offensive linemen this season. Yet, only two teams allowed more sacks than Houston in 2024.

Ohio State’s Donovan Jackson, who played with Stroud and tight end Cade Stover, and Alabama’s Tyler Booker are first-round options if Houston chooses to go with a guard.

Chiefs’ Trey Smith is a top option in free agency, though it appears likely he could return to Kansas City.

2. Has wide receiver become a top priority?

It wasn’t initially, but it may have to be.

Wide receiver Tank Dell had the first of several surgeries last week on a serious knee injury, and faces what is expected to be a long rehab process. Dell dislocated his knee, tore his ACL, PCL, LCL, MCL and suffered meniscus damage on Dec. 21 at Kansas City.

Stroud expressed optimism that Dell could return next season. But optimism alone won’t get Dell back.

He’ll likely miss at least some of the 2025 season, maybe more. Even then, coming back from an injury of that nature will likely require time and patience to return to form.

In that case, Houston may have to target a wide receiver in the first three rounds of the draft or in free agency.

With Robert Woods and Stefon Diggs entering free agency, the Texans will have only Nico Collins, John Metchie III, and Xavier Hutchinson under contract.

Diggs is a possible option as one of the top receivers on the market. But then again, he’s coming off an ACL injury and will be 32 next season. Bengals receiver Tee Higgins will be the most sought after receiver in free agency but could fall out of Houston’s price range.

Tampa Bay’s Chris Godwin, who missed most of 2024 with a dislocated ankle, is another top option in free agency.

3. What’s the future for Slowik and the offensive staff?

It doesn’t feel like Texans offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik is in jeopardy of losing his job at this point.

The offense, despite the many injuries to its receivers, showed improvement over the final three contests, including the two playoff games. Houston put on its second-best offensive performance of the year against the Chargers in the wild-card round.

Overall, the Texans took a step back from last year. Slowik admitted it took him longer this year to figure out the identity of this team. In 2023, the Texans ranked 12th in total offense and 13th in points per game.

In 2024, the Texans ranked 22nd in total offense and 19th in points per game. Stroud threw seven more interceptions (12) and three less touchdowns (20) in his second season.

But Stroud did take a step over the final stretch of the season, utilizing his legs more in the playoffs to help open things for the offense.

Slowik and Ryans are close. They coached together for several years in San Francisco. When Ryans got the job in Houston, Slowik was his first pick for offensive coordinator.

If Slowik does remain as the offensive coordinator, he’s got to hire some new assistants on his staff. Chris Strausser’s days as the offensive line coach are likely numbered.

Finding a special advisor or another senior offensive assistant to help support Slowik are other moves that could be made.

4. Bring back the D-line

But their two starters at defensive tackle — Foley Fatukasi and Mario Edwards — are scheduled to be free agents. Bringing both of these players back will likely depend on the market.

But both were key players for Houston this season, Fatukasi in the run game and Edwards in getting to the passer.

Edge rushers Denico Autry and Danielle Hunter are both entering the final years of their two-year contracts but will be on the roster.

Ryans values defensive line play. He made it an emphasis last season, and it paid off. Expect him to either bring back Edwards and Fatukasi, or try and find an upgrade at defensive tackle so they can become even deeper.

Defensive line was an issue last season in the playoffs. It wasn’t this season, and Ryans wants to keep it that way.