Hall of Fame head coach Bill Parcells had a saying back during his coaching days — you are what your record says you are. In other words, we can parse out nuance with each of the games. Perhaps you lost some games you should have won, and vice versa, but at the end of the day, it doesn’t matter. If you’re 6-5, you probably deserve to be 6-5.
The Houston Texans are 6-5, and I think Parcells’ saying applies here. Sure, they’ve won six of their last eight games to arrive here after an 0-3 start, but given the inconsistency of their offense, some of their gaffes on special teams, all added to an elite defense, 6-5 feels about right.
Coming off the heart-pounding 23-19 win over the Bills on Thursday night, though, the Texans accomplished more than just getting back above .500. They exorcised (for now, at least) their biggest boogeyman —- they actually had a stellar performance in prime time, “big stage” game.
Prior to Thursday night, in their last seven games in which they and their opponent had the television stage to themselves, here is how things went for the Texans:
* 2024, Week 9 – LOSS – Jets 21, Texans 13
* 2024, Week 10 – LOSS – Lions 26, Texans 23
* 2024, Week 11 – WIN – Texans 34, Cowboys 10
* 2024, Week 16 – LOSS – Chiefs 27, Texans 19
* 2024, Week 17 – LOSS – Ravens 31, Texans 2
* 2025, Week 2 – LOSS – Buccaneers 20, Texans 19
* 2025, Week 7 – LOSS – Seahawks 27, Texans 19
Ironically, the win over the Bills might have been the one game among all of these where a win was least expected. The Texans were a six point underdog at home, and playing with their backup quarterback, Davis Mills. However, the Texans’ defense is so good, they can put the entire team on their back. Just ask Josh Allen.
So now, if the Texans have truly shaken off their big game jitters, the renewed confidence could not be coming at a better time, as the Texans play their two biggest games of the season in the next two weeks — at Indianapolis next Sunday, and then on Sunday Night Football in Kansas City.
Add in the return of C.J. Stroud under center, and it seems like football business in the city of Houston is about to pick up, just in time for the holiday season!
This article appears in [Jan 1 – Dec 31, 2025](https://www.houstonpress.com/?post_type=newspack_collection&p=390334).