Welcome To The Playoffs

Via @ConnorBarwin98

The Houston Texans have finally done it. Today they clinched their first ever playoff birth by completing a miraculous comeback win over the Cincinnati Bengals, and having the Titans fall short of their own miraculous comeback against the New Orleans Saints. The Houston Texans are the AFC South division champions for the first time ever. If you didn't already know, I am a die-hard Texans fan and have been since their inaugural season in 2002, and there were times during our previous nine seasons that I thought I might never be able to call my team AFC South division champions.



Before I can go any further I have to eat some serious crow. I have been vocally against Gary Kubiak for the past couple of seasons, and was furious when the team decided to keep him for this season. I always thought he was a terrific offensive minded coach, and a great offensive coordinator, but I didn't think he had the cajones to be a head coach at the NFL level. Kubiak could not have proved me more wrong this season.

Also I absolutely HATED the TJ Yates picks, that Rick Smith, Texans GM, and Gary Kubiak made in the fifth round of this years draft. I wanted Greg McElroy out of Alabama, and instead I thought we took a mediocre college quarterback. While I am not saying TJ Yates is the answer for all the Texans problems, he has shown that he can play in the NFL, and has the guts and poise to lead a fourth quarter comeback, like he did against the Bengals. So I apologize to Bob McNair (Texans owner), Gary Kubiak, Rick Smith and TJ Yates. Oh yeah I also hated the JJ Watt pick. I am an idiot.

It took ten seasons, and many, many, many brutal and heartbreaking loses, but the Texans finally did it, they will finally be playing more than 16 games in a season.

There has not been a better story in the NFL this season than the Texans, well maybe Tebow, but the Texans luck this season has not been favorable to say the least, yet the team has continued to grind and work even after they lost their defensive star, Mario Williams, their quarterback, Matt Schaub and their offensive playmaker, Andre Johnson (who has missed the majority of the season). This team could have easily fallen apart without three of their best players, and more importantly three of their biggest leaders, but when one man went down another immediately stepped in and stepped up.

While every single player and coach diverses an immense amount of credit on this team, I can't help but wonder where this team would be without new defensive coordinator, Wade Phillips. Wade Phillips has turned the 29th ranked defense (in points per game) into the 3rd ranked defense. The turnaround is simply remarkable. Phillips successfully turned a pathetic 4-3 defense into an outstanding 3-4 defense. Before Mario Williams' season ending injury in week 5 he was on pace to have a terrific year in his first ever season as on outside linebacker. Guys like Connor Barwin and rookie 2nd round pick, Brooks Reed (Clay Matthews jr.) have stepped up and have wreaked havoc in the backfield every week. In addition to Barwin and Reed who have excelled in Phillips' system, rookie 1st round pick, JJ Watt, and 3rd year player, Brian Cushing, have been absolutely fantastic. Cushing, who had a terrible sophomore campaign has bounced back to be one of the best inside linebackers in the league.

The more I think about it though, the tougher it is to single out one person or group. The Houston Texans are an epitome of a team. They have picked one another up when they are down and have graciously accepted whatever role is needed (a la Arian Foster and Ben Tate).

While there is still work to be done for this team, reaching the playoffs and winning the AFC South is an incredible accomplishment, and they should celebrate it as such.

In the end though Gary Kubiak said it best when talking to his team after the game, "Y'all got Andre Johnson in the f****** playoffs!"

I couldn't be happier. Bulls on Parade.


You can follow Love Boat Sports on Twitter @LoveBoatSports and you can follow Matt at @matthouston91.