Tremendous Wild Card Saturday lived as much as its identify within the metropolis of Houston, with the Texans’ introduction to the postseason making gentle work of the Cleveland Browns, 45-14. For those who thought Houston’s 10 wins in head coach DeMeco Ryans’ first year with a rookie quarterback was a fluke, go forward and smack your self proper now. That goes double for anybody choosing the Browns (like me) to waltz again into H-City and repeat what occurred on Christmas Eve.
These groups performed lower than a month in the past and the Browns had their approach in Houston, 36-22. The distinction at the moment was the Texans took the sector with out C.J. Stroud. This time round Stroud was the difference, passing for 274 yards and three touchdowns whereas finishing simply 16 passes. A rookie QB in his first playoff sport has the ball hit the bottom solely 5 instances and completes 76 p.c of his passes. The phrase “efficient” by no means sounded so candy.
Houston is for actual and will have the Coach of the Yr and Rookie of the Yr on the identical staff. Speak about a change of fortune and epic turnaround from one yr in the past. This time final yr, Houston was coming off a three-win marketing campaign with the longer term unsure. A brand new head coach (and employees), a couple of draft picks, and a QB later, and the Texans are AFC South Division Champions and on their approach to the divisional spherical of the postseason.
The Texans had an outstanding season, however Saturday was their popping out occasion to the world. After the Browns scored a landing early within the second quarter to go up, 14-10, that was the top of their scoring output for the day. Thirty-five unanswered factors later, Houston was on their approach to the following spherical.
In fact, there have been large expectations for Ryans being a head coach for the primary time, however no person anticipated him to pay dividends on Houston’s funding this quick. Profitable eight video games and barely lacking the playoffs in yr one would’ve been acceptable as it could have proven enchancment underneath the brand new regime. However Ryans and his boys went for the gusto as a substitute. They overtook the division from Jacksonville, gained double-digit video games, and a playoff victory. They usually might not be performed successful simply but.
It’s fairly potential we may see the Texans within the AFC title sport in a few weeks. This staff is that good. Even touring on the street subsequent week, you possibly can’t rely this younger staff out as a result of they defied the chances all yr. Now Houston’s enjoying with home cash as a result of all it is a bonus. Nobody anticipated this a lot success this quick underneath Ryans’ administration in Houston. Not to mention from two newcomers main the best way as a coach/QB combo.
