“My big hope is that when we’re in the playoffs, we’re going to make a deep run and go to the Super Bowl. We deserve that,” Texans fan Rey Lopez said.
HOUSTON — Fans flooded NRG Stadium and surrounding tailgates Sunday as the Houston Texans defeated the Indianapolis Colts, securing the Texans the No. 5 seed in the AFC playoffs.
Texans fans celebrated the win, a 38-30 victory, and described the atmosphere during and after the game as electric.
“You can feel the energy, like, I love to just enjoy it with everybody, have a great time. The camaraderie is really great. It’s a lot of fun,” Texans fan Jinny Beck said.
Sunday’s victory has shifted attention to what lies ahead, with many fans believing the current Texans team has the potential for a deep playoff run.
The Texans found out late Sunday night that they’ll face the Steelers in Pittsburgh in the first round of the playoffs next Monday night at 7 p.m. That’s because the Steelers pulled out a thriller over the Baltimore Ravens Sunday night to claim the AFC North and the final playoff spot.
“It’s very exciting. I mean, with the playoffs, anything is possible. With this team, I know the offensive line is struggling, but that defense, we definitely, I believe we have a championship defense for sure,” Texans fan Jorge Flores said.
Hope for a Super Bowl appearance also echoed throughout the crowd, which is something the franchise has never achieved. The Texans have also never made it to the AFC Championship game. But fans said this season feels different.
“I’m hoping we win in the playoffs and go all the way to the Super Bowl,” Texans fan David Beck said.
Texans fan Rey Lopez added, “My big hope is that when we’re in the playoffs, we’re going to make a deep run and go to the Super Bowl. We deserve that.”
For longtime supporters, the possibility of a historic run carries deep meaning for the City of Houston.
“The city would love it. We’ve been wanting that for so long. We need a championship here in football,” David Beck said.
Flores, who is also in charge of the Texans Lonestar Trillgaters, said making it all the way to the Super Bowl would be the culmination of his decades of loyalty.
“It would mean the world to me, man, I’ve been a Texans fan since they came, 2002, even an Oilers fan at a young age, man, it’s been a dream. I think, I believe this is the team to do it, for sure,” Flores said.
As cheers rang out at NRG Stadium, Texans fans made one thing clear: belief is high that this playoff run could be one to remember.