Rex Ryan was made to look foolish as the Houston Texans comfortably beat the Los Angeles Chargers in the NFL playoffs, with the former New York Jets coach forced to issue an apology
Rex Ryan has apologized to the Houston Texans for his ‘bye week’ remark (Image: X/Twitter – ESPN)
Former New York Jets coach Rex Ryan was left eating his words after the Houston Texans’ surprise triumph over the Los Angeles Chargers this past Saturday. The 62-year-old boldly claimed before the weekend that the match-up would be akin to a “bye week” for the Chargers, who finished the regular season with an 11-6 record – only marginally better than the Texans’ 10-7.
“Chargers, basically, I never realized, they get a bye,” Ryan joked on ESPN’s Get Up. “Oh, wait, they gotta play the Texans. What’s the difference? ,” he scoffed.
However, the Texans had the last laugh as they comfortably dispatched the Chargers at NRG Stadium with a 32-12 win, securing their spot in the divisional round against the Kansas City Chiefs. In the aftermath of their victory, Texans running back Joe Mixon took to Instagram Live to celebrate, where he and his teammates were seen enjoying cigars and taking digs at Ryan.
“We smoking on that Rex Ryan pack!” he exclaimed.
Even Houston’s head coach DeMeco Ryans couldn’t resist referencing Ryan’s pre-game remarks during his post-game locker room speech, commending his team for an “outstanding job” and quipping, “That was their bye week?”
On Sunday, Ryan owned up to his mistake about the Texans and apologized on ESPN NFL Countdown. However, he couldn’t help but take a jab at Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert, who had a four-interception game.
“Who had a worse day, me or Justin Herbert? ” Ryan quipped. He praised the Texans, saying, “You’ve got to tip your hat to them because that team played their absolute a– off.
“If you guys were gonna play like that, I would’ve taken you to win the Super Bowl!” Ryan explained that he based his initial prediction on the Texans’ 1-5 record against playoff teams but acknowledged he was wrong.
Rex Ryan on the Texans’ reaction to his “bye week” comment: “Who had a worse day, me or Justin Herbert? …Sorry, Houston. But I’m not picking you next week either! Or maybe I will…” pic.twitter.com/PJ1b3H4K0u
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) January 12, 2025
The ex-Jets head coach – who’s hoping to return to New York and take charge of the team again – jokingly said he might not pick them again next week, but the Texans will look to prove him wrong once more when they face their toughest challenge of the season against the Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium.
With their latest win, the Texans advance to the divisional round for the second consecutive season. They made it to the same stage last year before losing to the Baltimore Ravens.
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