HOUSTON – Texans kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn was as frustrated as coach DeMeco Ryans when his late-game kickoff fell short of the mark Monday night in a loss to the Seattle Seahawks.
The Texans had a legitimate shot to climb back into this ultimate 27-19 defeat at Lumen Field when they scored a touchdown on a C.J. Stroud pass to rookie running back Woody Marks with 2:04 remaining in regulation, just before the two-minute warning with one timeout left.
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The Texans could have got the football back with a three-and-out on defense. Instead of kicking the football out of bounds, though, Fairbairn sent the kickoff short to George Holani one yard into the end zone. That mistake of a short kick prevented the Texans from preserving the two-minute warning timeout with a touchback.
“I was disappointed about how that play ended up,” Fairbairn said. “The game plan was clear to me when I was told it was kick it a touchback or kick it out of bounds. So, we couldn’t give them opportunity to waste time and save that two-minute warning.
“Analyzing the kick, I was a little bit too aggressive in that situation than I should have been. I should have been a lot more conservative and I also just mishit the kick. So, you know I looked at that. I’m not gonna make that mistake again and I’ll get it corrected."
Fairbairn’s kickoff was far from the only issue the Texans had against the Seahawks, including 10 penalties for 105 yards, turnovers, an ineffective overall offense and the defense being dominated by Seahawks star receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba.
Fairbairn has had a strong season overall with 13 of 15 accuracy on field goals and 10 of 10 extra points. He has made 5 of 7 field goals from 50 yards or longer.
“The plan at the end of the game was kicking the ball out of bounds so we could utilize the (two-minute warning), and we did not execute that,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said. “Again, goes to the entire game. You know, frustrating that we’re not executing the things that we’re supposed to do.”
Fairbairn will be reunited Sunday with longtime long snapper Jon Weeks, who now plays for the San Francisco 49ers.
“I’m looking forward to that,” Fairbairn said. “Looking forward to seeing him this week, but the main thing is to get a win, regardless of who we’re facing.”
Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com