If you want to hear emotion or excitement from DeAndre Hopkins this week, you won't.
The 2015 Pro bowler is approaching the postseason with a businesslike approach despite, making his first playoff appearance on Saturday against the Kansas City Chiefs.
"It is my job, so I am not going to sit here and say it is special because it is my job," Hopkins said Monday. "I can't look at it as overwhelmed or excited about something that is my job."
Hopkins has performed under pressure all season. The third-year wide receiver became the first player in NFL history with four games with 100-plus receiving yards under four different quarterbacks in the same season. At age 23, he finished the 2015 regular season with a franchise-record 11 touchdowns and 1,521 yards receiving on 111 catches. Hopkins led the offense in scoring during a tumultuous season, but he won't take all the credit.
"It means my teammates helped me get here, not just me," Hopkins said. "The organization trusts me to come in and be in this position that we are in."
If Hopkins is cool and collected, he gets it from his mother. After the Texans clinched the AFC South, he called her.
"She wasn't emotional. My mom doesn't get too excited about things like that."
She did tell her son that Saturday's game was the "real deal" and he had nothing to lose. Other than that, she also was very businesslike.
"She just looks at it like another game," Hopkins said. "It was kind of funny."
Including Hopkins, the Texans have 30 players who could potentially make their postseason debut on Saturday.
The 2015 AFC South Champion Houston Texans (9-7) will host the Kansas City Chiefs (11-5) at NRG Stadium on Saturday, Jan. 9. Kickoff for the AFC Wild Card Game is set for 3:35 p.m. CT on ESPN/ABC.
Texans players celebrated winning the AFC South Championship.
