It was a topsy-turvy 2015 for Brian Hoyer.
But now he's set for his first-ever playoff start, and he's remaining even-keeled despite all that's happened.
"You go in and prepare the same way," Hoyer said. "The only thing that's different is now there is one less day to prepare."
Hoyer and the Texans capped off the regular season on Sunday at NRG Stadium with a win over the Jaguars. He completed 25-of-40 passes for 249 yards, with a touchdown and an interception. It came after he missed two starts because of a concussion he suffered in the second half of the loss to New England. Getting back on the field and helping guide the Texans to a win was crucial before the start of
the postseason.
"I don't think I wanted to come back off three weeks rest to play in the playoffs," Hoyer said. "That would be really tough. There's nothing that compares to playing in a game. So to get back out there, be with my teammates and play in an NFL game, I think it was huge to be able to get that under my belt."
Hoyer started nine games in 2015, and came off the bench in two others. He wound up completing 60.7 percent of his passes for 2,606 yards. He threw 19 touchdowns to seven interceptions and according to head coach Bill O'Brien, looked crisp on Wednesday.
"He's had a very solid year for us," O'Brien said. "He had a good practice today, so he's looking forward to the game."
Offensive coordinator George Godsey reeled off a list of things of things he'd like to see from Hoyer on Saturday when the Texans host the Chiefs, with 'efficiency' at the top of the list.
"We've got to be 100 percent ball security," Godsey said. "Any time you turn the ball over, whether you give them a short field or it's even just another opportunity for them to score. So protect the football, move the offense. Little bit better execution as far as the general offense and the false starts, everybody's a part of it, but I'd like to put it in the quarterback's hands."
Hoyer and the Texans kick off against Kansas City at 3:35 p.m. CT inside NRG Stadium this Saturday.
The Houston Texans roster in photos.
TE, Jordan Akins, #88
WR, Danny Amendola, #89
TE, Antony Auclair, #83
DL, Ross Blacklock, #90
TE, Pharaoh Brown, #85
RB, Rex Burkhead, #28
OL, Geron Christian Sr., #72
DL, Maliek Collins, #97
WR, Nico Collins, #12
WR, Chris Conley, #18
WR, Brandin Cooks, #13
LB, Zach Cunningham, #41
WR, Davion Davis, #81
QB, Jeff Driskel, #6
K, Ka'imi Fairbairn, #7
RB, Royce Freeman
DL, Jonathan Greenard, #52
LB, Kamu Grugier-Hill, #51
OL, Charlie Heck, #67
LB, Neville Hewitt, #43
OL, Tytus Howard, #71
DL, Jordan Jenkins, #50
RB, David Johnson, #31
DL, Jaleel Johnson, #93
DB, Lonnie Johnson Jr., #1
P, Cameron Johnston, #11
TE, Brevin Jordan, #9
DB, Desmond King II, #25
DB, Cre'von LeBlanc, #21
DL, Roy Lopez, #91
DL, Jacob Martin, #54
OL, Justin McCray, #64
QB, Davis Mills, #10
DB, Terrance Mitchell, #39
WR, Chris Moore, #15
DB, A.J. Moore Jr., #33
DB, Jimmy Moreland, #22
OL, Jimmy Morrissey, #79
DB, Eric Murray, #23
LB, Kevin Pierre-Louis, #57
DB, Justin Reid, #20
DL, Derek Rivers, #95
OL, Max Scharping, #74
DB, Tremon Smith, #24
QB Tyrod Taylor, #5
OL, Cole Toner, #66
DB, Tavierre Thomas, #37
DL, DeMarcus Walker, #55
LB, Garret Wallow, #32
QB, Deshaun Watson, #4
LS, Jon Weeks #46
LB, Eric Wilson, #59
