Houston Texans: All Grown Up
Houston, for once, we don’t have a problem. H-Town is vigorously reveling in the toast of Space City, the Houston Texans.
As much as I love the Astros, Rockets, Dynamo, and even Aeros, the Texans are MY team. I was there when they were first born. In a way, the city is looking in on them like proud fathers seeing their child walk for the first time. And, just like the same fathers who post every little laugh and giggle as a life-changing event on Facebook, Clutch City is doing so at an alarming rate.
The Texans are in unchartered waters. By defeating the Bengals last Saturday in the opening game of the NFL playoffs, many “baby steps” were taken. When J.J. Watt snatched Andy Dalton’s pass at the line clean out of the air for a TD, the city began to believe. When Andre Johnson shook Adam “Pacman” Jones out of his cleats to catch a T.J. Yates TD, the city began to rejoice. And when Arian Foster tiptoed down the line and “moved (Bengals safety Chris Crocker, the MVP of the game for Houston) out of the way” en route to a 42-yard fourth quarter TD, the city began to laugh. And cry. And giggle. The entire crib was rockin’.
It’s amazing how one game can help ease the pain of bad memories. No one in Houston can forget the days of David Carr. Or all of the close losses to the Colts. Or all of the blown leads and failed comebacks. Or the losses on national television on Monday Night Football. Or the Jacksonville Miracle game. But, as any loving and diligent parent would, we forgive.
The first playoff game in Texans history was the franchise’s way of saying, “Forgive us”.
In addition to the 71,700+ record crowd at Reliant Stadium, I can’t help but believe some of the millions of fans watching around the Houston area and around the world were weeping as the game progressed.
And, for once, it was tears of joy. The city’s baby is all grown up.
