The David Culley era of Houston Texans football began on Sunday at NRG Stadium against divisional foe Jacksonville Jaguars. The tenured NFL positions coach who was given an opportunity to become a head coach by the Houston Texans after the team fired Bill O’ Brien, won his first game with a 37-21 victory over the Jags.

“This football team expected to win,” said coach Culley after the game. “We expected to win. We're not surprised, simply because we played good football today.”

Houston put up 27 first half points led by former Pro Bowl quarterback Tyrod Taylor’s 229 yards passing and two touchdowns. Although Taylor made plays through the air, it was his ability to move and get out of the pocket that gave the Jacksonville defense headaches all game.

“I just talked to our defensive coordinator and three times we had him in our grasp, at least three, and he extended the play,” Jacksonville Jaguars first-year head coach Urban Meyer said. “I've always thought he was a heck of a player, but he had a good day. And then his legs, he had a 38-yard run. When a quarterback can hurt you that way -- which he did a good job.”

Taylor wasn’t the only one who used his legs to hurt the Jags defense. Running back Mark Ingram, who was signed in the offseason from the Baltimore Ravens, made his impact felt as he scored his first touchdown as a Houston Texans capping off an 84-yard drive with a powerful one-yard run to put the Texans on the board first.

“Whenever my number is called, whatever my role is on the team, I try to execute it to the best of my ability, to be the best I can be,” Ingram told the media in his postgame press conference.

Texans head coach David Culley and Jaguars head coach Urban Meyer were not the only ones making their debuts on Sunday. No. 1 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft Trevor Lawrence played in his first regular season NFL game and was welcomed by the Texans defense led by defensive coordinator Lovie Smith who devised a perfect scheme to keep the star quarterback out of Clemson guessing all day.

Houston forced three interceptions while applying pressure on Lawrence as he seemed to be uncomfortable in the pocket until the game was out of reach. Outside of the interceptions, He finished the game with 332 yards passing and three touchdowns on 51 attempts, but it was not the way he wanted to start his NFL career.

“Losing is always hard, especially when you feel like you are prepared and had a great week,” said Lawrence who took the full responsibility for the loss. “I Really think we were ready and obviously didn’t play well. It starts with me. I didn’t play well for sure. I played really bad tonight. Disappointing for sure. I still believe in this team. I still know what we are capable off.”