AFC South Showdown Looms as Texans Keep Approach the Same

Happy Thanksgiving!

The Houston Texans will be in first place in the AFC South on Sunday if they defeat the Jacksonville Jaguars. These two teams never meet with impressive records this late in the season.

It’s a big one.

Don’t tell DeMeco Ryans that though. He’s insistent this is merely a big game because it is simply the next game.

“For me, I never thought about this point in the season because I think if you just take care of it one day at a time, then everything else will take care of itself,” Ryans said. “That’s always been my approach, so to think that – I don’t know what week we’re in – 10? Week 10, Week 11 – I wasn’t thinking about this during training camp or during the start of the season. I was thinking about our focus for that particular week, that particular day – how can our team get better? How can we continue to grow?”

This particular week’s opponent is a team the Texans beat for their first win of the season. Houston certainly felt like a team that was underestimated by the Jacksonville Jaguars earlier this year.

That won’t be the case this week. Jaguars wideout Calvin Ridley said “payback” was the mentality this week.

The “vision” is winning the day. Winning the week for the Texans. Ryans said as much as he de-emphasized the magnitude of Sunday.

The opportunity, and what the team has accomplished to this point, isn't lost on the head coach.

“It means our guys have done a really good job and they’ve put the work in. They’ve put the work in to earn the right to be in this position. I’m proud of our guys for putting themselves in this position and now just have to go out and play clean football. Play our style of football on Sunday and be the best team within those three and a half hours.”

Do you know what would make all of Houston proud on Sunday? Being in first place in the division.

What I’m Thankful for This Year

I wanted to take a moment to list some things I am thankful for this year. First, and foremost, I am thankful for my family and friends and getting to spend another year with them or talking to them. I attempt to create memories as often as possible with them and this is a great time of year to look back at what we have created and plan for the next ones.

I am thankful for your support here at Houston Football. Thank you. It means the world to me that you trust me with your time. I know there are many options for Texans coverage and it is an honor that you choose me. I want to express my deepest gratitude to everyone who is a paid subscriber. I want to make your money worth it each month and I hope I am achieving that each time I hit your inbox or you click on a post. Thank you again. I am the happiest I have been in my career and your support is one of the reasons.

It would be a great omission to not say I am thankful for a watchable brand of football in Houston. This team was a tough watch with a limited long-term interest in previous years. I get the sense the level of intrigue is just getting started for the Texans and there are so many fun times ahead.

Fun fact: 1678 is the time in history when the word “thankful” was most used according to Google.

One Shaq, Two Shaq, Three Shaq?

Should the Texans pursue Shaq Leonard? I took a look on YouTube at the conversation surrounding the linebacker who is now a free agent after clearing waivers.

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