Woody Marks Delivers in the Clutch as Texans Grind Out Fourth Straight Win
With the clock winding down and the game - maybe even the season - hanging in the balance, the Houston Texans had a decision to make. Up 20-16 on the road in Indianapolis, facing second-and-nine with just 1:40 left and the Colts clinging to two timeouts, Houston needed one first down to ice it.
They could’ve leaned on veteran Nick Chubb, the battle-tested back with years of closing experience from his Cleveland days. But instead, head coach DeMeco Ryans turned to a rookie. And Woody Marks didn’t flinch.
Marks took the handoff, powered through contact, and churned ahead for nine gritty yards - enough to move the chains, drain the clock, and seal the Texans’ fourth straight win.
“You see the toughness that Woody exhibits,” Ryans said after the game. And it was on full display in that moment - a rookie running back trusted to finish a game on the road in December.
Marks, a fourth-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, finished the day with 64 yards on 19 carries. It wasn’t flashy, but it was the kind of performance that earns trust in NFL locker rooms. He ran hard, played through pain, and made the play when it mattered most.
And yes, he even had to ask for a little advice before that final carry.
“I had to pull C.J. to the side and ask him, ‘If I break out, should I score or not?’” Marks said, referring to third-year quarterback C.J.
Stroud. “He kind of gave me tips on what to do.”
Stroud, smiling, kept the details of that conversation to himself. “I can’t tell you,” he said, clearly enjoying the moment.
But what stood out more than Marks’ awareness was his resilience. Early in the game, he went down with an ankle injury and had to be taken to the locker room for evaluation.
For a rookie, that could’ve been the end of his afternoon. Instead, he came back - and finished strong.
“He did an outstanding job of just pushing through,” Ryans said. “That’s what you talk about - the injuries, getting nicked up, toughing it out, coming back, battling, and wanting the football at the end of the game to close it out.”
That kind of mental and physical toughness is what separates guys who flash from those who stick. And Marks is starting to look like a player who’s here to stay.
He’s also earning respect from his teammates. Rookie offensive lineman Aireontae Ersery, who’s been blocking for Marks all season, didn’t hold back when talking about his backfield mate.
“I love Woody,” Ersery said. “Woody doesn’t say too much; he just goes in there and works, and I love people like that.
He also has a fun personality. So I am super proud of him and the way he has progressed over this season.”
Marks might not be making national headlines just yet, but inside the Texans’ locker room, he’s becoming a guy they can count on. And in a league where December football is all about who can take a hit, deliver one, and still get up for the next play, that matters.
Houston’s win moves them to 7-5 and keeps them firmly in the playoff hunt. But beyond the standings, this was a moment that showed something deeper - a young team learning how to close, and a rookie running back proving he belongs in the spotlight.