Sad News: Just Now” Houston Texans vs Baltimore Ravens Divisional Round Playoff Preview Has Be Suspend Till…

Not sure if Houston Texans fans are venturing through the insane, or the interval of insanity right now. Either way, it feels surreal to see the team 2 games into the NFL playoffs in just the first year of rookie head coach Demeco Ryans tenure.

It’s like we almost got so used to losing that winning feels foreign.

Almost.

Thankfully, the team has nothing to lose this weekend. If they come out of MT Bank Stadium with a win over the #1 AFC Seed Baltimore Ravens, then the fantastical season continues on.

If they fall to Baltimore, the season is still a success based on the expectations of the fanbase just 6 or 7 months ago.

At this juncture, Coach Ryans can really do no wrong.

Hopefully, that feeling insulates the players and staff from the sorts of pressures that crush other teams in “make or break” seasons.

No one expected this team to make the playoffs. Well, other than Debbie the Texan that is.

If Houston had ended the season with 6 wins, it would have been a success.

To capture the AFC South Division Championship, then defeat the Cleveland Browns convincingly in the Wildcard Round is more than we legitimately could have hoped for when Ryan’s tenure began.

All that to say, win or lose on Saturday, this season is still a win for H-Town and sign of things to come.

Reading in between the lines of all that, this game is no gimme by any stretch. The Ravens are a loaded team, with great players, solid coaching, proven schemes and a winning track record.

Can the Houston D slow down Lamar Jackson and Zay Flowers?

Will C.J. Stroud, Nico Collins and Devin Singletary continue to gobble up yards and score points like they did in Cleveland?

Will this game see touchdown fireworks or turn into a low-scoring grinder?

We’ll find out on Saturday afternoon.

Houston’s surging offense is averaging 22.2 points per game, while Baltimore’s is delivering 28.4. The H-Town defense is giving up 20.8 points per game, while the Raven’s D is only allowing 16.5.

Where does Houston have the major edge? #InDemecoWeTrus

TEXANS won 1st division title since 2019. Became 1st team in SB era to win division with rookie HC & rookie QB. Can advance to 1st AFC Champ. Game in franchise history.

DEMECO RYANS can become 1st rookie HC to advance to Conf. Champ. Game since Matt LaFleur in 2019 with GB.

QB C.J. STROUD completed 16 of 21 atts. (76.2 pct.) for 274 yards & 3 TDs vs. 0 INTs with 157.2 rating in AFC-WC, highest rating by rookie ever in a playoff game & is 1 of 4 rookie QBs ever with 3+ TD passes in playoff game. Can become 6th rookie QB ever to start & win Div. Round playoff game. Needs 281 pass yards to surpass Andrew Luck (4,663 in 2012) for most pass yards ever by rookie, incl. playoffs. Has 0 INTs in 6 of 7 road starts this season. Passed for 242 yards in Week 1 meeting.

RB DEVIN SINGLETARY rushed for 66 yards & TD in AFC-WC, 6th-straight game overall with 60+ scrimmage yards. Has rush TD in 3 of his past 4 on road.

WR NICO COLLINS led team with 6 catches for 96 yards & TD in AFC- WC, 9th game this season & 3rd in a row with 80+ rec. yards. Has TD catch in 3 of past 4. Had 6 catches for 80 yards in Week 1 meeting.

WR JOHN METCHIE had career-high 44 rec. yards in AFC-WC.

WR ROBERT WOODS has 55+ rec. yards in 3 of 4 career games vs. Bal.

TE DALTON SCHULTZ had TD catch in AFC-WC, 3rd-straight playoff game with TD catch. Can become 3rd TE ever with rec. TD in 4 straight playoff games (Rob Gronkowski & Travis Kelce).

TE BREVIN JORDAN had career-long 76-yard TD catch in AFC-WC, 2nd-longest rec. TD ever by TE in a playoff game.

DE JONATHAN GREENARD led team with career-high 12.5 sacks in 2023. Had 2 TFL & sack in Week 1 meeting.

DE WILL ANDERSON (rookie) had sack in AFC-WC & has sack in 2 of past 3 overall. Had sack in Week 1 meeting.

LB BLAKE CASHMAN led team with career-high 104 tackles this season & had career-best 9 TFL. Had 10 tackles last week.

LB CHRISTIAN HARRIS had 8 tackles, sack & 36-yard INT-TD in AFC-WC, 1st-career TD. Had sack in Week 1 meeting.

CB STEVEN NELSON had 3 PD & 82-yard INT-TD last week. Had INT in Week 1 meeting. Harris & Nelson are 1st pair of teammates each with INT-TD in playoff game since 2007.