When the Texans brought in hard-hitting former Pro Bowl player DeMeco Ryans as head coach, they had a vision and hope that he would lift a depressed franchise to new heights.
However, no one thought it would happen so quickly. The Texans defeated the Colts 23-19 on Saturday. The Texans, led by Ryans and the outstanding play of rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud, one of the top candidates for NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, are headed to the playoffs of the NFL.
The Texans clinched at least one AFC Wild Card berth Saturday night by defeating the Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Houston Exceeds Expectations
This marks the Texans' first playoff appearance since the 2019 season. It is also the biggest improvement in wins since going from four wins in 2017, Deshaun Watson's rookie season, to finishing with 11 wins in 2018.
C.J. Stroud completed 20 of 26 passes for 264 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions. He completed nine of his throws for 195 yards and a touchdown, a 75-yard pass to Nico Collins on nine attempts.
The Texans won despite Colts running back Jonathan Taylor rushing for 188 yards on 30 carries, including a 49-yard rushing touchdown.
After a 3-13-1 season under former coach Lovie Smith and a combined 11-38-1 record over the previous three seasons, the resurgent Texans finished the regular season with a 10-7 overall record.
The Jacksonville Jaguars lost to the Tennessee Titans on Sunday, with a final score of 28-20. Thanks to this result, the Texans won the AFC South division title and are now the fourth seed in the playoff pecking order. This means they will now host the Cleveland Browns.
Had the Jaguars beaten the Titans and the Miami Dolphins defeated the Buffalo Bills, the Texans would have been the sixth seed and would have had to travel to face the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs as the third seed.
Most predictions indicated that the Texans would win no more than six or seven games, with many projecting three or four wins.
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We're the first team in NFL history to win our division with a first-year HC and QB 🤯 pic.twitter.com/DYtE0aq6Vv
- Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) January 8, 2024
Texans Continue to Improve Exponentially
Those predictions underestimated the Texans. In a league of continuous improvement, the Texans continued to improve. Their growth is evident.
The turnaround was built behind an improved aerial game, which continued to thrive even after the fractured fibula of star receiver and former University of Houston player Tank Dell.
The ground game got off to a slow start with Pro Bowl backup running back Dameon Pierce, but improved once Devin 'Motor' Singletary became the lead running back.
Stroud was outstanding all season long. His return from a concussion suffered against the New York Jets was crucial to the Texans' prospects.
With Ryans, a two-time Pro Bowl linebacker and former architect of the San Francisco 49ers' top-ranked defense as NFL Assistant Coach of the Year before being hired by the Texans, the organization has renewed hope and envisions a brighter future.
For Stroud, it was all about instilling a winning mentality. A two-time Heisman Trophy finalist at Ohio State, Stroud is used to winning a lot of soccer games.
Selected second overall by the Texans, he had no intention of being part of a losing situation.
