Super 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. If you thought Houston’s 10 wins in head coach DeMeco Ryans’ first yr with a rookie quarterback was a fluke, go forward and smack your self proper now. That goes double for anybody selecting the Browns (like me) to waltz again into H-Town and repeat what occurred on Christmas Eve.
These groups performed lower than a month in the past and the Browns had their manner 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 distinction, 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 % of his passes. The phrase “efficient” by no means sounded so candy.
Houston is for actual and might have the Coach of the Year and Rookie of the Year on the identical crew. Talk a few 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 workers), just a few draft picks, and a QB later, and the Texans are AFC South Division Champions and on their technique to the divisional spherical of the postseason.
The Texans had an excellent season, however Saturday was their popping out celebration to the world. After the Browns scored a landing early within the second quarter to go up, 14-10, that was the tip of their scoring output for the day. Thirty-five unanswered factors later, Houston was on their technique to the subsequent spherical.
Of course, there have been massive 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. Winning eight video games and barely lacking the playoffs in yr one would’ve been acceptable as it will have proven enchancment beneath the brand new regime. But Ryans and his boys went for the gusto as an alternative. They overtook the division from Jacksonville, received double-digit video games, and a playoff victory. And they is probably not executed profitable simply but.
It’s fairly attainable we might see the Texans within the AFC title sport in a few weeks. This crew is that good. Even touring on the street subsequent week, you’ll be able to’t depend this younger crew out as a result of they defied the percentages all yr. Now Houston’s enjoying with home cash as a result of all it is a bonus. No one anticipated this a lot success this quick beneath Ryans’ administration in Houston. Let alone from two newcomers main the best way as a coach/QB combo.
