The Houston Texans are making it clear-they’re not just trying to sneak into the playoffs. They’re kicking the door down.
In a red-hot start against the Arizona Cardinals, Houston rattled off 17 unanswered points in the first quarter, flexing both creativity and confidence. And if you needed a single play to sum up the Texans’ mindset right now, look no further than Woody Marks’ wild touchdown plunge from the one-yard line.
Let’s break that one down: Houston lined up with rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud under center-business as usual, right?
But then came the twist. The snap didn’t go to Stroud.
It went directly to Marks, who wasted no time turning the play into chaos-in the best way possible. With the offensive line bulldozing forward and Arizona’s defense caught on its heels, Marks launched himself airborne at the goal line, punching in a touchdown that had even seasoned insiders doing double takes.
It was the kind of play that makes you stop and say, “Wait, what just happened?” And that’s exactly what it did across social media.
But this wasn’t just a highlight-reel moment-it was a tone-setter. The Texans are playing with urgency, swagger, and a little bit of controlled madness, and it’s working. Coming into this Week 15 matchup riding a five-game winning streak, Houston is firmly in the hunt for the AFC South crown, and they’re playing like a team that believes it belongs.
And it wasn’t just Marks making noise early. Stroud, who’s been a revelation all season, dialed up a deep shot to Nico Collins for a 57-yard touchdown that opened the floodgates. Add in a clean 30-yard field goal from Ka’imi Fairbairn, and Houston had built a 17-0 cushion before Arizona could get its bearings.
Marks, who’s logged six carries for 16 yards and a touchdown so far, isn’t putting up gaudy numbers-but that one-yard score spoke volumes. He also chipped in with a catch for eight yards, showing his versatility in a Texans offense that’s getting more dynamic by the week.
With just over 10 minutes left in the first half, Houston leads 17-7. But more than the score, it’s the energy that stands out.
This is a team on the rise, playing fast, loose, and fearless. And if this first quarter is any indication, the Texans aren’t just trying to make the playoffs-they’re looking to make some noise once they get there.