Associated Press

Coach Gary Kubiak pointed to Maurice Jones-Drew's 61-yard touchdown run as a glaring example of what's wrong. The Jaguars ran the exact play on their first series and the Texans stopped Jones-Drew after a 4-yard gain.

When they ran it again, Kubiak said the defensive scheme was the same but the players "decided to do something different." Jones-Drew ran virtually untouched for the score. It was the sixth score of at least 30 yards the Texans have allowed this season.

"We're searching for the reasons why we would choose to do something like that," Kubiak said. "It's something we're stumped with right now as coaches but it's our job to figure that out. They're our guys. We got to have them in position to make those plays and have them doing the same thing consistently. Obviously we did not do that."

That lack of consistency is also appearing for the Texans on third down. They'll hold teams on first and second down only to give up a big play on third down.

Houston allowed plays of 17, 10, 16 and 28 yards on third downs against the Jaguars a week after two of Chris Johnson's touchdowns for the Titans came on third and long.

"When it's third and long, we've got to get off the football field," cornerback Dunta Robinson said. "Third week in a row, we're singing the same song. The players have to get it fixed. (Defensive coordinator) Frank Bush is putting us in great situations. We're not going out there and taking care of our business."

The Texans (1-2) are allowing the second-most yards in the NFL, the most rushing yards and are 29th in scoring defense, allowing 28.7 points a game.

The Texans hoped the addition of Antonio Smith, who played for the Cardinals last season, would beef up a pass rush that features 2006 top overall pick Mario Williams. So far, it hasn't helped: Houston is tied for 30th in the league with two sacks.

Houston got close to taking David Garrard down several times Sunday but never got there.

Smith isn't sure what the problem is.

"I'm trying to figure that out myself," he said. "We're getting pressure sometimes but it's just not happening. The sacks are just not there and I have no excuse for you. But the job needs to get done regardless."

In this tough time, he's taking a cue from the way the Cardinals' team he was part of bounced back from its rough patches on the way to the Super Bowl last season.

"It's like a reality check," he said. "What are you going to do to make your team better? What are you going to sacrifice as an individual player to make your team better? I think that that has to happen in every defense that relies on a team effort."

Kubiak also said linebacker Chaun Thompson has a knee injury and Kubiak said they'll know how serious it is later in the week with Oakland coming to town on Sunday.