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A Texans Super Bowl appearance? JJ Watt says 'No question' it can happen.
J.J. Watt leaned against the wall inside the bowels of NRG Stadium one recent day, and appeared as a towering figure. He was back in his stomping grounds, a day away from calling their final regular season game against the Colts, at the same place where he became the Houston Texans' most accomplished player.
Watt has been the Texans' good luck charm. He called four of their games during the regular season since becoming an in-game analyst for CBS, and the Texans won all four.
There was the Jacksonville game where the Texans were down 19 heading into the fourth quarter before storming back to win. And there was the Indianapolis game last Sunday where the Texans needed a field goal in the final seconds to win. That one ended in a dub, too.
Watt laughs at that stat.
"It's 100% true," Watt said in an exclusive interview with the Houston Chronicle. "I'm glad they enjoy having us on their call. It's a funny quirky stat. I wish I had that much effect on a football game."
Watt won't call the Texans' wild-card matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday night. Instead, it will be broadcast on ABC/ESPN, but he will be part of the game's ManningCast on ESPN2, joining Peyton and Eli Manning for their unique take on a broadcast.
He would have been watching closely anyway. He's a die-hard fan of both the Texans and his brother T.J. Watt, who plays for the Steelers.
Watt said he's been impressed with the Texans this season. They are 12-5, having played one of the toughest schedules in the NFL and enter the playoffs as a No. 5 seed.
But he claims he knew all along this was possible, as soon as Houston hired head coach DeMeco Ryans three years ago.
"There was no other option that would have made sense at all," Watt said of the McNairs hiring Ryans in 2023. "DeMeco Ryans was the perfect fit, at the perfect time for this organization because of who he is, because of the way he goes about his business, because of what this organization needed at that moment."
Read the rest of this exclusive story here.
 | Jonathan M. Alexander, Texans beat reporter |
Texans Trivia!
Monday's question: How many times in franchise history have the Texans faced the Steelers in the playoffs?
Monday's answer: Zero. This will be the first time the Texans have ever faced the Steelers in the playoffs. Shoutout to Steven Phillips!
Photo by: Kirk Sides, Staff Photographer
What I'm eating on the road
Going to Pittsburgh for the game?
I have a few suggestions for you. Check out Primanti Bros., one of my favorite sandwich shops in the city. There are several locations, but I hear you should check out the one in the Strip District.
Also, check out Dish Osteria. They say it's the best in the city. It serves Sicilian and Mediterranean dishes. I'd recommend getting a reservation today.
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Photo by: Jason Fochtman, Houston Chronicle
Tytus Howard's versatility
Earlier in his career Tytus Howard would get mad when asked to change positions. Now, the Texans lineman embraces his versatility and is a leader.
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