Quarterback Matt Ryan credited part of Atlanta's success to converting eight of 12 third-down chances in the first three quarters. The Falcons began the game ranked No. 2 in third-down efficiency.
Houston's strategy backfired.
"It starts with me," O'Brien said. "To go out there and perform like that — that's on the head coach, so I'm going to try and do a better job."
NOT NEARLY ENOUGH: Devonta Freeman and Leonard Hankerson made them pay with a combined 11 catches for 184 yards receiving, but Texans at least did what neither Philadelphia, Dallas or the New York Giants could.
A 48-21 blowout victory gave the Falcons four straight wins, and they'll try to improve to 5-0 when they host Washington next week.
"It was a total team effort out there today," Pro Bowl receiver Julio Jones said. "Each guy was doing for another guy. What's great is we can only get better."
"They were trying to bracket me early on and they were leaving gaping holes up front," Jones said. "The offensive line did a great job today. Hats off to those guys. J.J. Watt's over there, Jadeveon Clowney, Vince Wilfork — they've got a great (defensive) line."
The Texans must move their focus quickly with Indianapolis visiting in four days. At 1-3, O'Brien has a lot of mistakes to correct.
GOING WRONG WAY: Houston's previous worst deficit in a single game was 35 points,Cheap NFL Football Jerseys, against Cincinnati in 2002 and Indianapolis in 2004.
TURNOVER SAVVY: Atlanta safety William Moore said there was no luck involved with the defense forcing three turnovers,Cheap NFL Jerseys, including fumble recoveries that cornerback Desmond Trufant and linebacker Nate Stupar returned for touchdowns.
"That's the coach's job to make that decision just like he did last time," Hoyer said. "We will be ready to go either way."
RED ZONE READY: After scoring touchdowns on all four possessions inside Houston's 20, the Falcons have converted 12 of 15 red zone chances this season. Freeman ran for two scores, Terron Ward ran for one and Hankerson caught a 3-yard pass.
Moore added to the Texans' misery, knocking the ball away from tight end C.J. Fiedorowicz in the second quarter. Trufant recovered that one, too, but the Falcons went three-and-out.
FAMILIAR CAROUSEL: After the game,NFL Jerseys China Online, O'Brien wasn't ready to say whether Ryan Mallett or Brian Hoyer will start against Indianapolis.
With over 8,000 yards from scrimmage and 65 combined touchdowns rushing in his career, Foster wasn't in a chatty mood after gaining just 10 yards on eight carries and having teammate Derek Newton jar the ball loose from him on Trufant's TD return.
They held Jones, who began the day leading the NFL with 440 yards from scrimmage,Wholesale Authentic Jerseys, to 38 yards on four catches.
Arian Foster, returning from a groin injury that had sidelined him since early in training camp,Jerseys Cheap Wholesale, didn't want to talk about anything historically bad.
"That was the key to our success," Ryan said after passing for 256 yards and one TD. "We were able to keep those drives going and then when we got the red zone we capitalized with touchdowns "
A 42-0 deficit in the third quarter marked the biggest deficit in the team's 14-year history.
For the Houston Texans, second-year coach Bill O'Brien was accepting all the blame.
Hoyer wouldn't say who he thinks will start against the Colts.
"We utilize our vision in this defense,Cheap Jerseys, go off the quarterback and his intentions," Moore said. "We've got a bunch of guys that can fly around in this zone defense and at the same time we can match anybody man to man."
"Life goes on, and we still have games to play," Foster said. "You have to get it out of your mind and go forward."
He called his performance and the team's "terrible."
Some things to know from the Falcons' dominant win:
Hoyer, who began the season as the starter but lost the job after Week 1, came in and led three meaningless touchdown drives in the fourth quarter.
ATLANTA (AP) — Everyone in the Atlanta Falcons' locker room seemed eager to praise a teammate.
Mallett was benched after completing just 12 of 27 passes for 150 yards and an opening-possession interception that led to Atlanta's first touchdown.
