Tough draw
Buffalo seen as ‘tough, tough, tough’ opponent in playoff opener
» McClain: Attention turns toward wild-card playoff foe Buffalo.
You’re welcome, Mike Vrabel.
Vrabel, the Texans’ former defensive assistant in his second year as Tennessee’s head coach, may not have needed the help his old boss, Bill O’Brien, gave him on Sunday when the Titans needed it the most.
Vrabel needed to win for the Titans to be in the playoffs as the last wild card. He got it in the form of a 35-14 victory that sends Tennessee to New England for the first round.
O’Brien entered the game almost assured of hosting Buffalo in the wild card round. He rested nine of his key players, seven of whom were inactive. Quarterback Deshaun Watson and receiver DeAndre Hopkins suited up but didn’t play.
O’Brien didn’t do it for Vrabel, of course. He did it because the Texans’ clinched their fourth AFC South title in five years a week ago at Tampa Bay, and he thought his strategy would give his players the best chance to get ready for the Bills, who also rested some starters in a 13-6 loss to the New York Jets.
“This is when the real season begins,” safety Justin Reid said. “It’s win or go home, and that’s the mentality.”
After allowing running back Derrick Henry to rush for 211 yards and three touchdowns and win the NFL rushing title, the Texans finished with a 10-6 record. They’ll play the Bills and try to win a wild-card game for the second time in O’Brien’s six seasons.
After the 2016 season, the Texans eliminated Oakland in the wild card round before losing at New England.
“We’re talented at every different level from our starters to our backs,” said outside linebacker Whitney Mercilus, who signed a new four-year contract on Saturday. “There’s not really a drop-off anywhere.”
Mercilus is playing on his fifth division winner, the first as a rookie in 2012. His teams have been 2-4 in the playoffs.
“When we get everything going — offense, defense and special teams — we can be a pretty good team, so we’ve got to make sure all three click,” Mercilus said after the Texans allowed 467 yards, including a pair of Ryan Tannehill touchdown passes.
Healthy numbers improving
The Texans will play Buffalo, where their former general manager Brian Gaine works in the Bills’ personnel department. Gaine, who was fired in June, scouted the Texans on Sunday.
The Texans play the Bills when they’re in terrific physical condition for this time of the season. The players who sat out Sunday should return, possibly even receiver Will Fuller, and the team will benefit from having J.J. Watt back on defense.
“When you get to this part of the season, the most important thing is the health of the team,” Reid said. “I feel real good about it.
“This game, it was what it was. We didn’t have everyone playing, but as far as where we’re at, we’re bringing J.J. back. We got the team all healthy. We’ve got our best players playing. I feel real good about it.”
O’Brien should feel a lot better about his team going into the Buffalo game than he did after the Texans’ performance against the Titans. With AJ McCarron at quarterback, they scored a touchdown on their first series for the first time this season, but after that, they were outscored 35-7.
While the Titans were pounding them on the ground and through the air, O’Brien was already preparing for the Bills.
“(Buffalo coach) Sean McDermott does a great job, so you know it’s a big challenge,” O’Brien said. “They’re wellcoached. We know Buffalo is a good team. They do a lot of things well.”
Like the Texans, the Bills finished 10-6. The Texans defeated Buffalo 20-13 at NRG Stadium last year when they got their first look at rookie quarterback Josh Allen.
In his second season, Allen threw for 3,089 yards and 20 touchdowns. He had nine interceptions and was sacked 38 times.
Allen also rushed for 510 yards — third on the team — and nine touchdowns. His favorite receiver is John Brown, who caught 76 passes for 1,060 yards and six touchdowns.
“They’re a good team, talented,” Reid said. “They’ve got a lot of good players.”
The Bills are loaded on defense, including rookie defensive tackle Ed Oliver, the Houston native who played for the University of Houston and was a firstround pick this year.
Lot to feel good about
They have five players with at least 4½ sacks. The Texans have one, Mercilus (7½). Buffalo allowed 16.1 points a game this season.
“They’re tough, tough, tough,” O’Brien said. “They’re very disciplined. They’re smart, and they don’t beat themselves.”
If the Texans defeat Buffalo, their reward will be a second trip to Baltimore this season, unless Tennessee knocks off New England, in which case the Texans would go to Kansas City. The Texans were embarrassed by the Ravens 41-7 on Nov. 17 and responded with four victories in five games to clinch another division title.
“There’s a lot of things I feel good about,” O’Brien said. “I wouldn’t list them. It wasn’t very good today (but) I think we’ve got a good team that’s excited about getting going.”