Texans Headed to the Playoffs: Fans Share Excitement

The Texans are headed to the playoffs! Time to get out your Deep Steel Blue and Battle Red clothes and accessories to represent our hometown American Football Conference (AFC) South Champions!

Just last year, the team’s record was 3-13-1 (3 wins, 13 losses, 1 tie), putting them in 31st place out of the 32 NFL teams. Since 2019, the team failed to have more than four wins each season, making this year’s winning performance one of the biggest surprises in the NFL. With ten wins and seven losses, the team heads into the playoffs as the number four seed in the AFC. As winners of their division, the Texans have the advantage of playing at home. They will face the number five-seeded Cleveland Browns on Saturday, Jan. 13, with a 3:30 p.m. kickoff time. The game will air on NBC and stream on Peacock and NFL+.

Much of the team’s success is credited to the leadership of first-year head coach DeMeco Ryans, who returned to the Texans after playing defensive linebacker from 2006-2011. 

Standout stars have included rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud, who was the second pick in the 2023 draft, and defensive end Will Anderson Jr., who was the third pick.

And of course, there is always the support of the fans who keep the team rolling. Especially those that have kept the hope and positive energy up even during the trying years. Some Buzz-area Texans superfans share their excitement with us. 

Hedley Karpas, Leslie Karpas, Alyssa Karpas, and John Isaac having a great time cheering on their Houston Texans.  

Leslie Karpas bought their season tickets in the very beginning back in 2002. “I was hoping and dreaming of a family love for football. The only one who shared my passion was my daughter, Alyssa. We started going to games when she was 5. The rule was I could cuss as much as I wanted, and she could eat all the junk food wanted. Worked well! Fast forward past lots of fun and several torturous seasons, the Texans went all in getting DeMeco! We have an outstanding group of young players, and I cannot wait to see how far they will go now and in the future.”

Nellie Gonzales loves saying, "Go Texans!" during the morning announcements at Kolter Elementary and is thankful that the school principal, Julie Dickinson, is also a Texans fan. 

Nellie Gonzales is super excited about the Texans being in the playoffs. As magnet clerk at Kolter Elementary, one of her duties is giving the morning announcements. “Every day this week, we have been ending our announcements with a super loud ‘GO TEXANS!’ Julie Dickinson is our principal and we are encouraging all our students and staff to wear their Texans gear on Friday to send good vibes to our amazing team! I have my Texans outfit ready to represent including my Red Cowgirl boots!” Nellie looks forward to going to the game and enjoying some good beef and chicken fajitas, rice, beans, and guacamole at their tailgate. “Let’s Go Texans! Beat The Browns!” 

Tiffiny and Ross Boulet will always be thankful that their love of BBQ and Texans football games brought them together.

Tiffiny and Ross Boulet are a true Texas love story thanks to football and BBQ. Tiffiny shared, “Ross and I were both on the Bulls and Babes tailgate team (that received the award of 2005 Tailgaters of the Year). After I was widowed, Ross and I started dating and have been married for almost 10 years. So, if it were not for the Texans, I would not be married to the love of my life!

“Houston football deserves to get recognition and respect. It's about time! Now that if we have a good coach and a good QB we can do anything! It's better when we win!”

If the Texans win Saturday's game against the Cleveland Browns, Michael and Melinda Wilhelm plan to travel to the next weekend's playoff game against the Baltimore Ravens. 

Melinda Wilhelm was so excited watching the Texans beat the Indianapolis Colts at NRG stadium on Dec. 31 that she hardly sat down the whole game. The Texans needed to win that game to make it to the playoffs. “The last few years have been sad, to say the least. We never leave a game until the final second ticks, and in some of the games, the stadium was practically empty. Going from last place last year to winning the AFC South Division this year is so exciting. This team's energy is so infectious! It will be a shame if DeMeco does not get Coach of the Year or if CJ does not get Rookie of the Year.

We are so excited and can't wait for Saturday’s game against the Cleveland Browns. I have a deal with my husband, Michael, that we go to all the playoff games. I'm hoping to be booking airline tickets this weekend after the game!”

Tiffiny Boulet shows off her snazzy Texans tennis shoes.

It is an exciting time to be a Houston Texans fan. They only have to win the next three games to head to the Super Bowl for the first time in franchise history. You never know! Go Texans!