The NFL hasn’t seen a true reincarnation of the Kardiac Kids since Sam Rutigliano’s Browns opened the ’80s with heart-pounding finishes. But watching Denver at NRG Stadium on Sunday, it’s clear the Broncos are perfectly comfortable living on the edge.
With an 18–15 victory, Denver completed its own version of the Texas Two-Step, sweeping the Cowboys and Texans on consecutive weeks. They’ve now rallied to win four games when trailing in the fourth quarter, outscoring Houston 11–0 in the final frame.
For the Texans, the question becomes who are they now?
It was this very week two years ago that Houston—led by rookie sensation C.J. Stroud—found its offensive rhythm, rolling up 1,459 yards in three straight wins over Tampa Bay, Cincinnati, and Arizona. That stretch crowned Stroud as a budding superstar and brought an infectious energy to DeMeco Ryans’ postgame smiles.
Fast-forward to the present, and Houston sits near the bottom with the Raiders and Browns. It’s bleak.
Beyond the looming question of whether Stroud will clear concussion protocol this week, plenty of others hang in the air. Stroud’s day ended violently when Denver safety Kris Abrahms-Draine collided with him on a six-yard scramble, slamming his head into the turf.
From there, the questions multiply. Why does this offense show so little imagination when it’s first-and-goal from the one? Did they actually rehearse handing the ball to British Brooks in those situations? Why is Will Anderson Jr. On the sideline while opponents rack up their biggest gains?
Why did the front office believe Nick Chubb still had gas in the tank? Why does Nico Collins look more like a possession receiver than a vertical threat? Why is Joe Mixon watching in street clothes?
And when DeMeco Ryans stands before the cameras and says, “It’s on me to do better,” does anyone still believe it?
Those words once carried weight. Now, they echo in a locker room, and throughout a city that’s no longer listening.
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