You never know when you're going to come into NRG Stadium and experience a game you'll never forget.
Of course, I remember them all. But Sunday's 36-29 comeback victory over Jacksonville will live in our minds forever as one of the very best.
The thing about big comebacks is the emotional swing. In order to have one, you have to be in a big deficit. And that's painful. Margins of 17-0 and 29-10 were hard to stomach. Twenty-nine points surrendered is a season-high for this squad.
Even though that total will affect the defensive season stat ledger, it was a pick, a kickoff return fumble and punt return for a TD that helped the Jags stake themselves to a three score lead.
The longest Jacksonville drive of the day was 59 yards, and that was a field goal drive.
Meanwhile the Houston offense showed some grit in the second quarter, scoring on a Woody Marks one yard run. After that, times got tougher.
The Jaguars started to eat clock in the third frame, putting up a field goal and a touchdown. Before you knew it, there was a 19-point deficit with a minute and a half left in the third quarter.
That's when Davis Mills and the entire team put their capes on.
A 13-play, 65-yard drive capped with a Jayden Higgins TD ignited the crowd. Nico Collins made a sweet grab on a Mills throw for the two-point conversion to make it an 11-point game.
The ensuing Jaguar possession saw Danielle Hunter do his best work, with a second down TFL on the dangerous Travis Etienne. Then on third down, he sacked Trevor Lawrence to force a punt. With J.J. Watt watching from the TV booth, it was a clutch moment reminiscent of number 99.
Moments later, Mills would hit Dalton Schultz for his second touchdown pass. The 'two' failed but the Texans were banging on the door, ready to take the game over.
After another three-and-out by the explosive Texans D, the offense got the ball back at the seven, with a long way to go to grab the lead.
What followed was one of the greatest drives in franchise history. Mills converted two key third downs on a march that took the Texans to the Jacksonville seven-yard line. After getting backed up to the 14, Mills ran it to the left pylon to take the lead for good.
It's notable that in Mills' last start, the 2022 finale, he helped the team go 14 plays for the game winning TD. He did the same thing in his latest start with a 14-play drive.
We won't know how it really fits into history until the season is over, But for now, it's clear we witnessed an unforgettable comeback that could propel this squad into being what they envisioned when they began the campaign.
The Titans are up next, in Nashville. This is an opportunity to get to .500 with seven games to go, including four at home. The biggest games have yet to be played. Get ready.
