The Houston Texans season is over.
After a storybook run over former player and rookie head coach DeMeco Ryans, including likely Offensive and Defensive Rookie of the Year performances from first round picks C.J. Stroud and Will Anderson, their momentum came to a screeching halt on Saturday night in a 34-10 loss to the Baltimore Ravens.
The Texans not only looked schematically outclassed but the talent differential between their own roster and the top of the AFC had never been more apparent all season. The few bright spots that Houston had ridden to 10-7 and an AFC South victory were totally focused on and exploited by John Harbaugh and the Ravens veteran staff.
Houston now transitions to a pivotal offseason. They’ll be considered legitimate Super Bowl contenders in 2024 and general manager Nick Caserio will be tasked with surrounding Stroud with talent that can compete with teams like Baltimore and Kansas City.
Before transitioning to the offseason, there are four upper-level takeaways from the AFC divisional round that the Texans should remember: