Every Wednesday, Texans Ring of Honor inductee J.J. Watt joins the Pat McAfee Show on ESPN for his weekly appearance.
This week, Watt and McAfee dove into the Texans run to the AFC South title and a playoff berth secured by knocking off the Indianapolis Colts, who McAfee played for over eight seasons.
"It is obviously an unbelievably exciting time down there, not only currently with being in the playoffs, hosting a home playoff game but also just knowing what they're set up for in the future," Watt said during his weekly appearance on the Pat McAfee Show. "With DeMeco as a head coach with C.J. at quarterback, with the cap space that they have and now that's going to be a premier destination for free agents."
Heading into the 2023 season, coming off a strong draft and offseason, Watt had confidence that Houston had a chance to make a big splash this year.
"Before the season I said that they could be a possible 10-win team, a playoff team," he said. "They do look great. I mean it's awesome. I hope the place is rocking on Saturday and it'll be a lot of fun to watch. I think they've got a great shot."
The Texans are the first team in NFL history to win their division with a rookie quarterback and a rookie head coach.
"DeMeco Ryans is the catalyst for it all," Watt said about the Texans success. "That's truly just the honest fact … He is an incredible motivator, he is an incredibly smart, experienced coach. He knows how to get that information into his players and to pull the best out of them. He's done that."
Ryans' remarkable inaugural season as a head coach in the NFL has been matched by standout performances from his rookie quarterback.
Stroud was named the AFC Offensive Player of the Week for a second time this year on Wednesday after passing for 264 yards and two touchdowns in the playoff-clinching 23-19 victory over the Colts last Saturday.
The rookie signal-caller has passed for 4,108 yards and 23 touchdowns this year and should be considered a front-runner for the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Award.
"Every step of the way C.J. has done it right and I do think DeMeco is an embodiment of that," Watt said.
