Quick Hits: Houston Texans vs Baltimore Ravens Divisional Round Playoff Preview

Two young stars enter, one leaves…

Edgar Allen Poe

I became insane, with long intervals of horrible sanity.

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? #InDemecoWeTrust

HOUSTON TEXANS DIVISIONAL ROUND STATS

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.

BALTIMORE RAVENS DIVISIONAL ROUND STATS

RAVENS clinched AFC North division title for 1st time since 2019 & AFC’s No. 1 overall seed for 2nd time in franchise history (2019). Can advance to 5th AFC Champ. Game & 1st since 2012. Led NFL in rushing offense in 2023 (156.5 yards per game).

JOHN HARBAUGH led Baltimore to SB XLVII title in 2012.

QB LAMAR JACKSON had career-high 3,678 pass yards in 2023 & led QBs with 821 rush yards, becoming 2nd player ever with 3,500+ pass yards & 800+ rush yards in a season, joining Kyler Murray (2020). Finished season with 250+ pass yards, 2+ TD passes & 90+ rating in each of final 3 home games. Has 367 rush yards (91.8 per game) in 4 career playoff games. Is 3-0 with 5 TDs vs. INT & 117.3 rating in 3 career starts vs. Hou.

RB GUS EDWARDS set career highs in rush yards (810) & rush TDs (13) in 2023, 2nd-most rush TDs in a season in franchise history. Has 7 rush TDs in his past 7 at home.

RB JUSTICE HILL had career-high 2 rush TDs in Week 1 meeting.

TE MARK ANDREWS can make 1st appearance since Week 11. Had 6 rec. TDs in 2023 & is 1 of 2 TEs (Travis Kelce) with 5+ rec. TDs in each of past 5 seasons.

TE ISAIAH LIKELY finished season with TD catch in 4 of final 5 games overall & in each of his final 3 home games.

WR ZAY FLOWERS ranked 4th among rookies with 77 catches & 5th with 858 rec. yards, both most-ever by Ravens rookie. Finished season with rec. TD in 4 of his final 5 games.

WR ODELL BECKHAM JR. has 95+ rec. yards in 2 of his past 3 at home. Aims for his 5th playoff game in row with 50+ rec. yards.

DT JUSTIN MADUBUIKE was selected to 1st-career Pro Bowl after leading team with 13 sacks in 2023, most by Bal. player since 2014. Has sack in 6 of is past 7 at home. Had sack in Week 1 meeting.

LB ROQUAN SMITH ranked 6th in NFL with 158 tackles in 2023, 3rd- straight season with 150+ tackles. Has 7+ tackles in each of 2 career playoff games. Has 2 TFL in each of 3 career games vs. Hou., with sack in 2 of 3.

LB PATRICK QUEEN totaled career-best 133 tackles this season.

LB JADEVEON CLOWNEY tied career high with 9.5 sacks in 2023. Was selected No. 1 overall by Hou. in 2014 NFL Draft.

S GENO STONE ranked 2nd in NFL with 7 INTs in 2023, most by Bal. player since 2010.

Get ready Baltimore, Demeco Ryans is coming, and the Texans are coming with him.