Texans on penultimate win of 2023: 'Ringing in the New Year and Victory Monday'

Approximately a year ago, the Houston Texans were gearing up for their regular season finale against the Indianapolis Colts. The stakes were high for Houston, as they had the opportunity to select quarterback Bryce Young from the University of Alabama with the number one overall pick in the 2023 National Football League (NFL) Draft. However, a loss would have guaranteed this selection. Unfortunately for their fans, the Texans defeated the Colts and missed out on Young. They eventually secured the second overall selection, choosing signal-caller C.J. Stroud from Ohio State University. Now, they are just an hour away from their first playoff berth since before the COVID-19 pandemic began.

An unknown source at Houston Texans celebrated this achievement saying, "Ringing in the New Year and Victory Monday."

The Texans and Colts are set to meet again for the regular season finale on January 6th for a second consecutive year. This time around, however, victory in this game would secure a playoff spot for either team as both enter into the final week of the 2023 NFL season with a 9-7 record. According to a report from Houston ABC station KTRK News, this highly anticipated game will be nationally televised on ESPN and ABC as part of an evening doubleheader with kickoff scheduled for 7:15 p.m. Currently, Indianapolis holds a 1-0 season edge over Houston after winning their Week 2 matchup in Bayou City.

As reported by a New Year’s Eve article in Houston Daily, Houston's chances of making it to postseason were boosted by sweeping their American Football Conference (AFC) South rivals, Tennessee Titans with an impressive 26-3 victory at NRG Stadium. The win over Tennessee also marked Stroud’s successful return from concussion protocol while emergency quarterback Case Keenum stepped in during Texas' disruption of "Oilers Day" in Nashville two weeks prior.

Sports Illustrated noted that although Titans no longer have any tangible stakes left this season, they would take pleasure in ending the year by defeating the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Regardless of how the Texans fare against the Colts, it is certain that DeMeco Ryans’ first year as a coach for the Texans won't end like his predecessors' tenures: languishing below the .500 mark. Houston Daily reported that since the NFL moved to a 17-game season three years ago, no team has managed to finish with an equal number of wins and losses. With their recent victory, Houston has surpassed its average win tally from the past three seasons and is on track to finish 2023 as a 10-win team.