There”s history between the Baltimore Ravens and Houston Texans in the playoffs – just one showdown back in 2011, a Divisional Round clash where John Harbaugh”s Ravens bested the Texans led by DeMeco Ryans, who”s now their head coach.

Now, Ravens” Jadeveon Clowney, a former Texan, gears up for his fifth face-off against his old squad, but it”s the first time in the playoff trenches. Revenge isn”t top of mind for the 30-year-old. For him, it”s straight business.“It”s the next game up. I just want to win because it”s the playoffs; it”s bigger than just worrying about the Texans. There”s much more at stake. It”s either win or go home,” Clowney bluntly stated.

The defensive stalwart, now on his fifth NFL team, spent five years in Houston, grabbing three Pro Bowl nods. Since 2018, Clowney”s been on the winning side in all four encounters with the Texans. The most recent bout in Week 1 saw the Ravens breeze past the Texans with a 25-9 victory.

But football”s a game of evolution, and since then, Houston”s rookie quarterback, C.J. Stroud, has matured into a seasoned performer. Clowney acknowledges the transformation, emphasizing Stroud”s poise, decision-making, and ability to protect the ball.“He just doesn”t look like a rookie quarterback out there,” Clowney remarked, acknowledging Stroud”s growth since their first meeting. The defensive force aims to disrupt Stroud”s rhythm this time around.

Back in Week 1, Clowney couldn”t sack Stroud, though he did manage a QB hit. Reflecting on that debut, Clowney quipped, “Yes, I was coming off the couch, too, that time. So, as he got better, I got better.”

Now, entering Year 10, Clowney eyes a postseason breakthrough. He”s 4-0 against the Texans but hasn”t bagged a sack against them. Saturday presents a shot at altering that narrative and advancing beyond the Divisional Round.“I”m in Year 10, and you never know how many more you”ve got left. This is big for me and – in my career – where I”m at. I just hope I can continue to help this team and help us get our long-term goal, [which] is to win a Super Bowl. And like I said, we”ve got to knock the Texans off just to do that,” Clowney explained, laying bare his ambitions in this playoff showdown.