This is a relatively simple Christmas holiday for NFL teams to deal with. Yes, it's a Wednesday and that's usually the start of the typical game practice week. But the Texans squeezed in an extra day of work on Tuesday, Christmas Eve, so they could spend a little more time with their families on Christmas Day.
When Christmas falls on a weekend, it's a totally different deal. And the Texans have seen their share of action on and around the holiday.
The best Christmas holiday game memories are probably from three years ago, when Houston knocked off Cincinnati on Christmas Eve to win the division. Earlier in the day, Jacksonville defeated Tennessee to enable the Texans to clinch with a win. A missed Bengals field goal gave them holiday cheer and a playoff berth.
A close second has to be the first time the Texans ever beat the Colts. That was Christmas Eve, 2006. Kris Brown's field goal got them the win and it was a joyous occasion in an otherwise tough year.
Here's another one that you might not remember. In 2004, the Texans played the day after Christmas. I remember flying to Jacksonville on Christmas Day while it was actually snowing in Houston. The Jags were alive for the postseason and the Texans pulled off the upset one week after beating the Bears on a frigid day at Soldier Field.
Two years ago was the only time the Texans actually ever played on Christmas Day. Unfortunately, it was against the Steelers during the injury plagued '17 campaign.
But that game will always be remembered for two very bright spots – David Quessenberry playing in an NFL game after years of fighting cancer. And DeAndre Hopkins making a one-for-the-ages touchdown catch that Mike Tirico quickly called the catch of the year.
