HOUSTON – Inside the Texans’ proud locker room, outside commentary and perceptions, legitimate or otherwise, don’t carry a lot of weight with the AFC South division champions.
Although the Texans cooled off considerably after an offseason where they emerged as a trendy Super Bowl contender and a hot start as they won five of their first six games, they nonetheless repeated as division champs for the second time under the leadership of coach DeMeco Ryans and the quarterbacking of C.J. Stroud.
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They have an identical 10-7 regular-season record from last season when Ryans was the runner-up for NFL Coach of the Year and Stroud was honored as NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. They went undefeated on the road in the AFC South division this season.
On a more discouraging note, they also had a 5-6 record after their 5-1 start. And they had a 1-5 record against teams with winning records, including a signature victory over the second-seeded Buffalo Bills.
Because of rampant pass protection issues that held the offense back all season, season-ending knee injuries suffered by wide receivers Stefon Diggs and Tank Dell and embarrassing meltdowns against the Baltimore Ravens and Minnesota Vikings, that’s why there’s a lot of doubt about the Texans outside of the organization.
They’re a 2 1/2 point underdog heading into an AFC wild-card round playoff game against the Los Angeles Chargers on Saturday at NRG Stadium.
And former New York Jets and Bills coach Rex Ryan has already counted out the Texans.
“I never realized the Chargers got a bye, that they qualified for a bye,” Ryan said on ESPN this week. “But they did because they’re playing Houston.”
Ouch. It’s not as if the Texans should apologize for qualifying for the playoffs. Now that they’re in this position, the fourth-seeded Texans have an opportunity to advance to the AFC divisional round again, as they did last season before losing to the Ravens.
“I’m just here to let my helmets and shoulder pads do the talking,” Pro Bowl running back Joe Mixon said when asked about Ryan’s bombastic commentary. “I’m not going to comment on that.”
#Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud said team doesn't listen to 'noise' said 'I like being the underdog' and embraces being overlooked @KPRC2 pic.twitter.com/DM6xo4OXz7
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) January 7, 2025
For the eighth time in franchise history, the Texans are in the Saturday afternoon 3:30 p.m. kickoff slot. It’s become a tradition for the Texans as the league obviously doesn’t deem them as worthy of primetime billing.
A year ago, the Texans were taken lightly and few predicted they would advance past a first-round game against the Cleveland Browns. They wound up blowing out Cleveland, 45-14, at NRG Stadium.
“Noise is always going to be there,” Stroud said. “It’s part of sports, always evident in this sport. And they said the same thing about us last year, so playing the Browns. I’m not saying it’s last year, but we went out there did what we had to do to win. And that’s ultimately what the playoffs come down to is like it’s 14 teams now and the microscope is on you.
“Everybody has their own opinions, which they’re entitled to have those things. So, I really don’t mind. It’s part of it. Guys are smart they probably can see film and can see that whatever they want to see. We know we have faith in what we can do and you know that we’re motivated to play. I kind of like being the underdog. I’ve been the underdog a lot of my life in my career.”
#Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said he spends zero time on what's said about team when asked about Rex Ryan saying Chargers have equivalent of first round bye in playoff game @KPRC2 pic.twitter.com/olWx8ew12k
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) January 7, 2025
The Texans are the lone team in the AFC South division that have never advanced to the AFC championship game.
This offseason, general manager Nick Caserio traded for Diggs, acquired Pro Bowl defensive end Danielle Hunter on a two-year, $51 million free agency deal, signed linebacker and team captain Azeez Al-Shaair to a three-year, $34 million deal and drafted starting cornerback Kamari Lassiter and safety Calen Bullock, two of the top defensive rookies in the NFL.
Despite the improved roster and the NFL’s sixth-ranked defense, the Texans are definitely taken lightly.
Although it would be easy to highlight the negativity and use it as motivational fuel, that isn’t Ryans’ plan.
“For us, it doesn’t matter if anybody give us a shot, “Ryans said. “It doesn’t matter to me. At the end of the day, when the ball is kicked off it is about who is the best football team out on Saturday. That is where our focus is on playing really good football. Everybody has an opinion about us one way or another but outside opinion doesn’t really drive what we do here internally. Our guys put the work in, they know what we are about. We know what we are about, so it really doesn’t matter to me on all the outside noise.
“For me, it is like what does that do? Does it make you play harder because somebody said that? We play hard anyways. We are going to bring our style of football, our brand of football on Saturday regardless of what talking heads or opinion is about us. It doesn’t really drive or change our approach one bit.”
“For me with something like that, what does it do?” Ryans said. “Does it make you play harder because somebody said that? Does it change anything? We play hard anyway. We’re going to bring our style of football, our brand of football on Saturday regardless of what any one of those talking heads’ opinion is about us. It really doesn’t drive or change our approach.”
Acquired in an offseason trade from the Cincinnati Bengals and signed to a three-year, $27 million contract extension, Mixon has been to a Super Bowl. He has played in two AFC championship games. Now, he’s determined to carry his teammates to a long playoff run.
Whether anyone expects them to do so or not, the Texans are determined to use that perfect opportunity to get a win. Not just one, according to running back Joe Mixon who’s been to two AFC championship games and a Super Bowl with the Cincinnati Bengals. Mixon said the goal is one step at a time.
“The time is now to strike,” Mixon said. “I just keep trying to have my guys’ eyes on the prize. You’ve got to put everything into perspective. I just keep telling them you win this game, the next game, that’s AFC championship. I’ve been there before. I know what it takes. We’re going to be very successful, so I’m looking forward to it. Exciting times. It’s do or die. I went to the Super Bowl. To be back here in this position, I will do whatever it takes. So, I’m looking forward to it, man. Put your best s--- on tape.”
And the Texans, as Bill Parcells used to say frequently, are in the tournament. They have a legitimate shot and a prime opportunity to dispel the doubts surrounding their team. What they do with this chance is up to them.
“The playoffs is like a new wind,” Stroud said. “It feels like a new season. It feels like everything in the past is over. It’s a new year. So, there’s a bunch of things that I can sit here and ramble down. It’s just you’re more excited just because you’ve got the really the hard part of the season done. Now, it’s go play your best ball, go show your best stuff.
“And that’s fun, that’s the fun part of ball and, of course, it is that in the regular season, but it’s also some things where it’s more, I would say, thoughtful. You’re not playing against some of the guys you’re used to playing against. So, yeah, I would say those are some of the reasons why this season, the postseason feels like it’s a fresh start.”
'This is the time to strike. Time is now. Put your best s-- on tape. I'm going to do whatever it takes. Do or die' #Texans Pro Bowl running back Joe Mixon @Joe_MainMixon @KPRC2 pic.twitter.com/Q8ozxhhFXJ
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) January 7, 2025
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Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com.
