The Sports Xchange

Houston Texans starting quarterback Brian Hoyer, who was by replaced backup Ryan Mallett late in the fourth quarter Sunday, said he feels like he “let this whole entire organization down” after the 27-20 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.

Coach Bill O’Brien went with Mallett after Hoyer turned the ball over twice inside Houston’s 15-yard line and finished 18-of-34 passing for 236 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Hoyer also lost a fumble and was sacked four times.

O’Brien was non-committal after the game about the Week 2 starter against the Carolina Panthers.

“That’s coach’s decision, and I can see why he did that,” Hoyer said. “It couldn’t have gone any worse, you know what I mean. Obviously, I feel terrible. I feel like I let this whole entire organization down. It just went from bad to worse. I really just couldn’t fight back. That’s coach O’Brien’s decision. I respect the hell out of him and whatever he feels is best for the team I think that’s what he will do and we’ll just see where it goes.”

Hoyer heard boos throughout the afternoon, and the home crowd began chanting “Mallett! Mallett!” after the starter was called for intentional grounding in the fourth quarter.

“It just started bad,” Hoyer said. “Poor execution, lack of communication and you never want to come out and start the game that way. I think that was bad. There were some good drives. There were times where we were able to put the foot on the pedal and get things going. The other times, they just sputtered out and you can’t have that.”

Mallett came in and completed 8 of 13 for 98 yards and a touchdown and two-point conversion pass.

“I’m going to prepare every week like the starter, whether that’s the case or not,” Mallett said when asked whether he thought he would start against the Panthers. “That’s the only thing I can do to help this football team win games. That’s why I’m here. That’s all I care about.”

O’Brien was asked after the game if starting running back Arian Foster would be able to play in Week 2.

“No,” O’Brien said.

Foster suffered a torn groin on Aug. 3 and underwent surgery four days later, missing all four preseason games.