They have just six days to prepare for the 10-0 Indianapolis Colts and need a win to hold on to their playoff hopes.
Coach Gary Kubiak said he's glad his team has a quick turnaround so the Texans (5-5) can put this defeat behind them.
"You can't feel sorry for yourself in this league," he said. "It's a tough league and it's very, very disappointing and it's a rough day for everybody. But we get a chance to go back. We're going to have to be very, very good to win this week. We've got to get over it real quick."
Rookie linebacker Brian Cushing, who leads the Texans and all rookies with 88 tackles, believes the Texans will stay positive because they know what is on the line.
"We know what kind of capabilities we have, and this is a very young, good football team," Cushing said. "It's just been so disappointing with the way we've lost games, but it happens. We are not going to sulk."
Kubiak also expressed confidence in kicker Kris Brown a day after he missed a field goal that would have sent the game to overtime in a 20-17 loss to Tennessee. He'd already missed one earlier in the game.
He also missed a field goal that would have forced overtime against the Colts in Houston's last game before the bye.
"Kris is our kicker," Kubiak said. "We've got confidence in him we've just got to do everything we can to get it corrected because I expect him to make those, but more importantly, he expects to make them. We've just got to make sure we get that done."
The Texans prefer to focus on the Colts, rather than speculate on their playoff chances. But they know they'll probably have to win the majority of their last six games to secure their first postseason berth.
"We just need to win," receiver Andre Johnson said. "That's all that matters. If we win the rest of our games, we get in. If we don't we will be packing our bags at the end of the season again. I don't really think about (playoffs), we just have to win."
Kubiak is looking for ways to get his offense back on track after the Texans scored just 17 points in each of their last two games. It's the fewest points the Texans have scored since their horrible 24-7 season-opening loss to the Jets.
"When your defense is holding people to 20 in this league, you ought to have good chances to win, you ought to be winning some games," Kubiak said. "We've got to find a way to find a few more points."
He was disappointed by a drive in the third quarter where a long reception by Johnson got the Texans to the 8-yard line but they had to settle for a short field goal after the offense stalled.
The Texans will be facing the Colts without safety Eugene Wilson after he injured two toes on one of his feet against the Titans. Kubiak said he'd know more about how long he would be out later in the week. Linebacker DeMeco Ryans (ankle) and tight end Joel Dreessen (shoulder) both have minor injuries and will be listed as day-to-day this week, but Kubiak expects them to play Sunday.
Jacoby Jones should return this week after missing Monday's game with a calf injury.
