Texans Fall Short Again - and Now Even the Mascot’s Trying to Undo the Damage
The Houston Texans’ 2025 campaign came to a crashing halt last Sunday, and not in the kind of way that inspires offseason optimism. After a promising season that included a Wild Card win, Houston was sent packing in the Divisional round by the New England Patriots - and the loss wasn’t just disappointing, it was downright ugly.
The defense did its job. For most of the game, they held their ground and gave the Texans a chance.
But the offense? That’s where things unraveled - again.
It’s been a recurring theme this season: when the Texans needed points, the offense couldn’t deliver. And while playoff wins in back-to-back years show progress, falling short of the AFC Championship for the third straight season stings.
Naturally, the finger-pointing has begun. Quarterback C.J.
Stroud is catching heat for his performance, but in a strange twist, he’s not the only one. Toro - yes, the Texans' mascot - is also under fire.
Why? Because after Houston’s Wild Card win over the Steelers, Toro tore a Terrible Towel in half.
And if you know your NFL lore, you know that’s flirting with danger.
The Curse of the Terrible Towel: More Than Just Superstition
To the uninitiated, the Terrible Towel might just look like a rally towel. But in Pittsburgh, it’s sacred. And across the league, there’s a growing list of teams that have disrespected it - only to see their seasons fall apart shortly after.
Take the 2023 Jacksonville Jaguars. They beat the Steelers in Pittsburgh to move to 6-2, and safety Andrew Wingard grabbed a Terrible Towel from a fan and mocked it.
The Jags went 3-6 the rest of the way, finishing 9-8 and missing the playoffs. Who took their spot?
The Steelers.
Or rewind to 2008. The Tennessee Titans beat the Steelers late in the regular season to lock up the AFC’s top seed.
After the win, Titans players stomped on a Terrible Towel - on camera. They lost their final regular-season game, then were upset at home in the Divisional round by the Ravens.
The Steelers? They went on to win the Super Bowl.
Coincidence? Maybe. But the pattern’s hard to ignore.
Toro Tries to Make It Right
After the Texans' season ended in frustration, Toro made a public attempt to reverse the curse. On Friday, he posted a video showing himself trying to mend the Terrible Towel he ripped apart just two weeks earlier. It was a lighthearted moment, sure, but also a nod to the idea that maybe - just maybe - the football gods were watching.
Whether or not you believe in curses, the Texans’ late-season collapse fits the mold. After the high of a playoff win, they came out flat against New England and paid the price. Now, the focus shifts to 2026 - and Houston’s hoping that whatever bad mojo followed them into Foxborough doesn’t linger into next fall.
Because if the Texans want to take the next step - to finally break through the Divisional round ceiling - they’ll need more than a strong defense and a promising young quarterback. They’ll need focus, execution, and maybe even a little bit of good karma.
And if that means Toro has to keep patching up that towel, so be it.