Battle Red Blog
Let the game begin!
Every week NFL Communications sends out a handful of emails around the coming weekends games. And, for the most part, every week, they ignore the Houston Texans. They celebrate the “stars” like Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen, spotlight the same sad old franchises like the Dallas Cowboys and give lip service to the trendy names.
Meanwhile, the Texans are the hottest team in the NFL, riding on an opponent-pulverizing 10-game win streak. This week, there are only 8 teams still standing, yet somehow the NFL managed to ignore C.J. Stroud, Will Anderson Jr., Danielle Hunter, Sheldon Rankins, Christian Kirk, Derek Stingley and all the rest of the Texans stars.
As if this team is just another forgettable attempt at making a mediocre football team.
Even the preview snapshot of the actual Texans vs New England Patriots game only mentions the Patriots.
It’s sad, really. Sad that people who make their living hyping the NFL and promoting the excitement of the game can’t take the time to get familiar with the story, before “reporting” on it.
Thankfully, none of that matters when the game starts. What will count takes place on the gridiron. While the NFL Communications team can’t be bothered to spotlight the Texans, the team itself will do all the talking once the game begins.
Maybe it’s due to people leaning too hard on history.
The Texans have never made it to the AFC Championship game.
But, if “never” dictated the future, then Sheldon Rankins wouldn’t have score a touchdown and a sack in an NFL Playoff game last weekend. Because no player ever did it before.
If “never” dictated the future, the Texans defense wouldn’t be the only team in the Super Bowl era to score multiple defensive touchdowns and allow zero touchdowns against in a playoff game.
If “never” dictated the future, the Texans defense wouldn’t be the only team in NFL playoff history to score on a fumble recovery and an interception in the same quarter.
If “never” dictated the future, the Texans wouldn’t be the first team in the history of ever to allow 175 yards or fewer and score 2 defensive touchdowns in the same playoff game.
If “never” dictated the future, Mike Tomlin’s Pittsburgh Steelers wouldn’t have lost on Monday Night Football in the playoffs for the first time this week.
And this is just stuff from the last 7 days. The number of firsts, records broken, etc. generated by the 2025 Houston Texans this season is impressive, if not staggering.
So, don’t hang your hat on history. The past isn’t going to stop the Texans any more than the Pats will.
