The Texans travel to Kansas City for the fourth Divisional Round playoff game in the history of the franchise. Here are some nuggets to digest prior to Sunday's 2:05 p.m. kickoff.
In each of the three previous Divisional Round games, the Texans played each of those opponents earlier in the year as well. In 2011, they lost to Baltimore both times, same in 2012 against New England and in 2016 with the Patriots as well. So, the result of the playoff game was the same as the regular season game. If that's the case... well, you know what happened in Week 6.
Also, interestingly enough, all seven of those games (2011, 2012, 2016 and 2019) took place on the road and the eighth will be Sunday at Kansas City.
After his sack last Saturday, outside linebacker Whitney Mercilus has more sacks in playoff contests than anyone else in the NFL since 2015. He has 7.0 sacks, which leads guys like Von Miller (Broncos) and Trey Flowers (mostly with the Patriots, now with the Lions).
Although he only played in eight games this season, J.J. Watt had 21 quarterback hits which ranked 20th in the NFL. 20th... and he missed half a season. He added two more hits to that total after returning to the field against the Bills. His game-turning sack in the third quarter was his sixth in postseason history and his first since the Divisional Round matchup with New England in 2012.
DeAndre Hopkins had nine catches in Week 6 the last time that the Texans met the Chiefs. It started a run for him in which he had 37 catches over four weeks, culminating in his eight-catch performance in London. He hasn't had fewer than five catches in a game since Week 14 last year against Indianapolis, yet it looked like it might happen against Buffalo. But, mainly against Tre'Davious White, Hopkins took over in the second half, hauling in six passes for 90 yards.
In games against Kansas City in his career, Hopkins has been outstanding. Earlier this season, he had those nine catches, including eight of them for first downs. In 2017, Hopkins had four catches on Sunday night football and three of them went for touchdowns. In 2016, he had seven for 113 yards and a touchdown. In the 2015 opener, he had nine for 98 and two touchdowns. In 2013, as a rookie, he had just three catches, but one went for a touchdown. In every game minus two against the Chiefs, Hopkins has scored a touchdown and he would've had another one in the Week 6 matchup. Unfortunately, he couldn't hang on to one that he normally catches in his sleep.
The Texans scored two two-point conversions on Saturday against the Buffalo Bills. How rare was that? It was just the sixth time it's happened in a playoff contest in postseason history. Of those six, two of them happened right here at NRG Stadium - Saturday's game, of course, and the famous Super Bowl LI comeback for Tom Brady and the New England Patriots.
Taiwan Jones' memorable overtime catch was his second pass reception in as many weeks for the Texans. However, it was the first time he'd caught a pass from Deshaun Watson all season. What a perfect time for the first time!
That'll do it for today as it's hard to stay focused with this game coming up on Sunday. See ya then, everyone!
