HOUSTON — The Houston Texans are 4-4 at the halfway point of the season. They are an average team with an average record.

They beat the teams they should beat: Washington, Oakland, Buffalo and Tennessee.

They lost to teams that should lose to: New York Giants, Dallas, Indianapolis and Pittsburgh.

The only game they were not in was the 30-17 road loss against the Giants when running back Arian Foster sat out because of a hamstring injury.

They lost by three to Dallas, by five to Indianapolis and by seven to Pittsburgh.

“I wish we were better, but we are what our record says we are,” first-year coach Bill O’Brien said.

If the Texans can upset Philadelphia at NRG Stadium, they would start to get some respect. If they lose to another team favored to beat them, they’ll be just another of the NFL’s losing teams.

“Give credit to the teams that beat us,” O’Brien said. “The close games were ones we felt that if we hadn’t turned the ball over as much, done a little better on third down or made plays in critical situations maybe we’d have won those games.

“But we didn’t.”

The Texans won’t be special until they get a difference-maker at quarterback. Ryan Fitzpatrick is playing as well as can be expected, but he’s not going to win games or be good enough to overcome his teammates’ mistakes.

Still, Fitzpatrick is on a pace for 3,514 passing yards, a 63.4 completion percentage, 18 touchdown passes, 14 interceptions, an 87.6 rating and 32 sacks.

If the Texans have a losing record, they will waste the outstanding performances of two of the league’s best players — Foster and defensive end J.J. Watt.

Foster has 766 yards and an average of 5.2 yards a carry. He’s scored nine touchdowns, including seven rushing. He missed the loss to the Giants and ran for 6 yards on eight carries in the victory over Buffalo. He averages 109.4 yards rushing. Take out the Bills game, and he averages 126.6. He’s also an effective receiver.

Watt is on a pace for 14 sacks and to lead the league in quarterback hits for a third consecutive season.

O’Brien knows what he needs to see over the second half from his team.

“We have to have a better understanding of who we are,” he said. “I think we have a better understanding of who we are than we did eight weeks ago.

“I like this team; I really do. I’m very proud to be the head coach of this team. We never quit.”

Offensively, O’Brien likes the way the Texans run the ball. He wants them to improve on consistency in the passing game, third down and, most important, blitz pickup.

“It’s really not about whose fault it is,” O’Brien said. “It’s about getting it right and making sure everyone sees the blitz through the same eyes.”

Defensively, O’Brien praised the way the team has played the run in the last two games, allowing 76 yards to Pittsburgh and 36 to Tennessee. He praised the third-down defense. The Texans are allowing opponents to convert only 35.2 percent of the time on third down. O’Brien also said he wants the defense to tackle better.

Note: Running back Arian Foster has gained at least 100 yards in four consecutive games for the first time in his career. . . . Wide receiver Andre Johnson is on a pace for 92 catches and 1,102 yards, but has only two touchdowns.

REPORT CARD VS. TITANS:

–PASSING OFFENSE: C — Quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick was sacked five times while managing to complete 19 of 35 passes with one touchdown and no interceptions. Wide receiver Andre Johnson caught seven passes for only 55 yards and no touchdowns.

–RUSHING OFFENSE: A – Arian Foster had another exceptional performance with 20 carries for 151 yards, 7.6 average per carry. He had runs of 34 and 43 yards. He scored three touchdowns, including two rushing. The Texans ran for 212 yards on 40 carries, including 42 by rookie Alfred Blue. The offensive line did a terrific job of run blocking.

–PASS DEFENSE: B-minus – Playing against rookie quarterback Zach Mettenberger making his first start, the coverage was excellent in the first half and didn’t suffer until they led 27-3 and played it safe. Mettenberger rallied in the second half and finished with 299 yards and two touchdowns. J.J. Watt recorded the only two sacks. Safety D.J. Swearinger had an interception. The Texans covered well and knocked down a lot of passes but allowed completions of 48 and 43 yards.

–RUSH DEFENSE: A – With starting inside linebacker Brian Cushing and top reserve Jeff Tarpinian out on the inside, the Texans started Akeem Dent for the first time, and the veteran responded well. They stuffed the run, limiting the Titans to 36 yards on only 13 carries. The linemen and linebackers did an exceptional job of filling the lanes, gang tackling and not allowing the backs to escape. Nose tackle Ryan Pickett had another good game tying up two blockers.

–SPECIAL TEAMS: C-minus – Randy Bullock kicked three field goals. Shane Lechler had a 34.8-yard average net because they allowed a 48-yard punt return to set up a field goal. The Titans also had a 39-yard kickoff return. They were unable to return a kickoff, and punt returns averaged 9 yards. The return teams continue to be a problem.

–COACHING: B – Bill O’Brien called a good game except for two instances, but neither backfired when he ran when he should have passed and passed when he should have run. He had the team prepared to play, and they won decisively. Defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel made calls to shut down the run and confuse rookie quarterback Zach Mettenberger.