Yes, next week is do or die when it comes to #Texans playoff chances. But while we wait for that, let's appreciate how far these Houston Texans have come to wrap up 2023. Plus, C.J. Stroud is back! How did he fare? And why is Houston's defense SO GOOD against Tennessee, but so inconsistent against everyone else? That, [plus your thoughts!] on Houston's 26 - 3 blowout of the Titans...

It seems like Seahawks fans are about to have another great debate on their hands after Monday's W over Philly: Drew Lock or Geno Smith? I try to explain what needs to happen for the Texans to make the playoffs. And, the Boston Tea Party has been...cancelled?!?

After opening up the the show PUMPED about the Patriots (0:54) 21 - 18 W over the Steelers (New England's lil 'B), I ranted about people who root for their teams to lose so they'll have better draft picks (4:15).

Next, I explained why for the first time all year, I'm 100% confident guaranteeing that the Texans will win a game. With how messy the New York Jets are right now, who could possibly disagree? (11:18)

And to wrap things up, I talked about the latest example of Seahawks safety Jamal Adams being overly sensitive. (26:54)

A clip from Sunday's episode about C.J. Stroud already being better than Trevor Lawrence triggered LOTS of Jaguars fans. So I doubled down, with the added question: is Jacksonville any better than last year's team? Their aspirations don't seem bigger given their pride in "running" the AFC South. Plus, Houston...we have a problem. We're too obsessed with the idea of referees being out to get our sports teams. You think the NFL would rig a game for the Jacksonville Jaguars of all team? And to wrap things up, I lamented the decline of journalism.

Don't get me wrong. The referees weren't good today. But Texans' DBs were CONSTANTLY chasing Jaguars wide receivers, while their defense was unable to generate pressure on Trevor Lawrence. Add in a backup kicker...and fine, spotty officiating...and the Texans now find themselves firmly out of the running for an AFC South crown.

C.J. Stroud out-performed one of the best QBs in the game, the Texans beat a bonafide Super Bowl contender, and Houston would be in the playoffs if the season ended today. What a Sunday in Cincy!

It's not just that the #Texans actually won a game in the final minute, something they've almost always been on the wrong side of in their brief history. It's also that C.J. Stroud threw for a rookie record 470 yards and 5 TDs less than a week after calling for Houston's offense to be explosive. How can you NOT be optimistic about his future here? Plus, other thoughts on the game...

I led off the show talking about an all time excuse from a truly awful person in Houston. After that, I got into the latest Dusty Baker comments about the criticism he faced [online] this past season. We discussed an accidental game of telephone in the Texans locker room between players and coordinators. ANDDD...Sam Bankman-Friend is donezo, but somehow this guy isn't...

The cease and desist letter that the Titans sent to the University of Houston for wearing their H-Town pride uniforms on September 3rd was indeed legal. But it's also the reflection of an NFL product that has little value...outside of the intellectual property that they abandoned two years after leaving Houston. An actual poverty move by a franchise that's been trading away its best players for scraps lately while begging for taxpayers to build a new stadium. Those unis though, amirite? Plus, I think Texans fans need to relax about offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik. The range of takes on his performance this season is WAYYY too wide.

I'm not mad. I'm just disappointed. And I'm certainly not surprised that the Texans lost to a winless team with a rookie QB [who until today was struggling]. This team IS different than in years past. But based on history, you expect this kind of thing from ANY player wearing THESE jerseys.