'One Week at a Time!' Coach DeMeco Ryans Delivers Message For Texans Playoff Run
The Houston Texans are flying high after a 45-14 Wild Card win over the Cleveland Browns, but you can't rest on your laurels very long. Not in the NFL.
The Texans know that they will be playing next week at 3:30 p.m. CT on Saturday, but they won't know their opponent until after the Buffalo Bills and Pittsburgh Steelers square off on Monday. Even so, it may not matter, especially if head coach DeMeco Ryans' approach pays off.
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Following his team's win over the Browns, Ryans wasn't too caught up in "momentum" or a deep playoff run. Instead, he wants to take this process step-by-step.
“One week at a time," Ryans said. "Our team was confident. We were confident coming in. You have to be confident in these moments. We're not shying away from that. We're a confident team.
"We believe in each other. We know we have a special group of men in this locker room, and that's what it's all about. It's one game at a time. Continue to go out, don't make the moment bigger than what it is. Go out and execute, play relentless football, and we'll be exactly where we want to be.”
That's a pretty remarkable statement from a first-year head coach in the NFL. This season has not proven to be too big for him or his rookie quarterback in C.J. Stroud thus far, and that is a big reason why they are advancing to the next round of the playoffs.
If the Bills win on Monday, Houston will travel to face the top-seeded Baltimore Ravens on Saturday. With a Steelers win, however, it would travel to face the Kansas City Chiefs in the Divisional Round.
Kickoff on Monday between Pittsburgh and Buffalo is set for 3:30 p.m. CT on CBS.
