After being viewed as a dumpster fire organization for four years we are witnessing the Houston Texans’ extraordinary turnaround.
For the first time since 2012, the Texans are heading to the playoffs with a first-year head coach, first-year play-caller, and a rookie quarterback. The difference is though, Houston can legitimately get to the AFC Championship and be the first in NFL history to do so.
Inside The Turnaround
In the offseason, the Texans were in the process of rebuilding and starting from scratch. They hired former player Demeco Ryans as their head coach. Ryans has changed the entire Texans’ defense by going from 31 in total defense in 2022, now ending the 2023 regular season as 14 in total defense. In addition, to finishing sixth in takeaways after being ranked No. 19 a season ago.
With the second pick of the NFL draft, the Texans drafted C.J. Stroud. Shortly after they traded for the third pick and drafted Will Anderson Jr. However, the future turned out to be now instead. Rookie quarterback Stroud has been nothing short of amazing, he should join the conversation as an MVP candidate as well as Offensive Rookie Of Year. Along with Will Anderson having 7 sacks in his first year.
Stroud has now joined elite company as the fifth player ever to throw for 4,000 yards in his rookie season. Stroud joins guys like Jameis Winston (2015), Cam Newton (2011), Justin Herbert (2020), and Andrew Luck (2012). Stroud also passed Matt Schaub for fifth on all-time single-season passing yards in Texans history.
In a year where the MVP is a very close race, Stroud deserves to be a part of it because the Texans would not be where they are without him.
Division Champions and AFC Contenders
With the Jaguar’s loss, the Texans’ extraordinary turnaround gets even more surreal by adding to their season by winning the AFC South. It could be easy to overlook the Texans due to their inexperience, but as we’ve seen it’s about getting hot at the right moment.
The Texans’ offense can match up with the best in the league thanks to their talented players such as Nico Collins, Brevin Jordan, John Metchie, and Dalton Schultz. They very well could be a dark horse playoff team. Since Houston is now the fourth seed in the AFC, they will be facing the Cleveland Browns at home. Don’t look now but the Texans are 6-3 at home, so the home-field advantage may be real.
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