BEVERLY HILLS, CA – JULY 26: Former NFL coach & ESPN analyst Rex Ryan of ‘ESPN’s Sunday’s NFL Countdown’ speaks onstage during the ESPN portion of the 2017 Summer Television Critics Association Press Tour at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on July 26, 2017 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)
Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images
ESPN analyst and 2022 Amazing Race participant Rex Ryan is not long on the Houston Texans‘ 2024 postseason chances.
The former NFL head coach and devoted amateur podiatrist appeared on Monday’s “Get Up” with ESPN’s Mike Greenberg to opine on a number of football-related topics, including the Texans’ upcoming AFC wild card matchup with the Los Angeles Chargers. Stuffed in the musty crawl space that is the 3:30 p.m. CT Saturday time slot, Houston is currently 5.5- to 6.5-point underdogs against L.A. despite hosting the wild card tilt at NRG Stadium.
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This contest, Ryan predicted, amounts to a freebie for QB Justin Herbert and the Chargers’ stingy defense. “Chargers, basically I never realized they get a bye [on Saturday],” Ryan said. “Oh wait, they gotta play [the Texans]. What’s the difference?”
Ryan continued twisting the knife: “The Texans’ offense is struggling so bad. They can’t protect the quarterback, The Chargers’ No. 1 scoring defense in the NFL going up against that offense? Wooh! Get ready for the next round.”
First off, how dare he? Secondly, Rex isn’t wrong. Has the Texans offense become stale and excruciating over the second half of the season? Yes. Did Houston once go two entire pay cycles without scoring a single second-half offensive touchdown? Perhaps. Could you replace their offensive coordinator with an auction paddle whose sides read “early down run” and “eight-yard sack”? Of course.
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI – DECEMBER 21: Joshua Williams #2 of the Kansas City Chiefs sacks C.J. Stroud #7 of the Houston Texans in the fourth quarter of a game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on December 21, 2024 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jason Hanna/Getty Images)
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Ryan is right about the Texans’ shambolic second half. Mounting injuries, poorly timed penalties and shoddy playcalls have reversed all the positive inertia the team built early in the season, and Houston’s offensive output can feel like a scratch-off lottery ticket on a week-to-week basis. Still, the Chargers aren’t exactly a shining beacon on the hill (their signature win of the season is against…the Broncos?) and Texans fans certainly shouldn’t take any sideways guff from Rex Ryan, author of a .480 record over eight seasons as head coach of the New York Jets and Buffalo Bills, respectively.
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As for Ryan, he’s reportedly joined Texans OC Bobby Slowik in the running for his former post leading the Jets—a turn of events that would be objectively funnier than any playoff loss the Texans could sustain at the hands of Justin Herbert.
Jan 6, 2025
