The Houston Texans were last in virtually every power rankings. Their hiring of a 65-year-old rookie coach, who had never even been so much as a coordinator, was puzzling. The Deshaun Watson drama clouded the entire team’s future, especially when they couldn’t even trade the three-time Pro Bowler.
There was a lot of noise surrounding the Texans. However, Culley says it didn’t matter.
“Well, first of all, let me tell you this about the noise,” Culley said after Houston’s 37-21 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars Sunday at NRG Stadium. “The only noise that matters to this franchise and this team is the noise inside this building and in this room, and that’s the only noise that’s mattered to us.”
The results were evident as former Pro Bowl quarterback Tyrod Taylor completed 21 passes on 33 attempts for 291 yards and two touchdowns while also rushing four times for 40 yards. The Houston defense generated three interceptions of rookie quarterback Trevor Lawrence and held the Jaguars to 76 yards rushing — not bad for a unit that a season ago was the worst in the NFL in yards per game and yards per carry.
“That’s the reason, as I said before, when we went out and played this game today, and if we did things the right way, we’d have a chance to win the game,” said Culley. “And we did that today, and we won.”
Although Culley and the Texans picked up their first win, one that many prognosticators wouldn’t come until ater in the season, they will enjoy the satisfaction of victory for just one Earth revolution around its axis before moving on to the Cleveland Browns in Week 2, the Texans’ first road game of the season.
“I’m going to enjoy this for 24 hours, and after those 24 hours, we’re going to get on to Cleveland,” Culley said.
