In the standings, the game between the Houston Texans and the Tennessee Titans in Nashville meant nothing. The Texans had clinched the AFC South title and the 4-seed in the AFC long before this game kicked off on Sunday. However, the Texans needed to wash the sour taste of a 31-2 trouncing at the hands of the Baltimore Ravens out of their mouths, and for the most part, that was accomplished in their 23-14 win over the Titans.

The win also gave DeMeco Ryans 10 wins for the second year in a row, and gave the Texans an 11th consecutive road win inside the division, one of the more remarkable streaks in my 50-plus years of watching sports. There were winners and losers on Sunday, as the Texans now know that it will be the Chargers visiting NRG Stadium on Saturday afternoon. Here we go:

WINNERS

4. C.J. Stroud
The big question all week leading up to this game was “How long would DeMeco Ryans keep C.J. Stroud on the game?” Ultimately, the answer seemed to be “For as long as it took for Stroud to show us he could look like 2023 C.J. Stroud,” and that took just one drive. Stroud led the Texans down the field on the opening drive, was efficient (6-6, 50 yards, TD), and capped it off with a short touchdown pass to Nico Collins on third and goal. Mission accomplished.

3. Dameon Pierce
If the Texans are going to make a run in the postseason, it will probably be on the back of Joe Mixon in the run game. Coming into Sunday’s game, Pierce only had 21 carries for the entire season, which was actually fifth on the team behind Mixon, his quarterback, a guy who hasn’t been on the team since October (Cam Akers), and Dare Ogunbowale. However, if anything happens to Mixon, it would be nice to have a real threat to back him up. I still don’t know if Pierce is that guy anymore, but man it was fun to see this, because we love Dameon Pierce:

— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) January 5, 2025

2. Davis Mills
We knew coming into this game that it would likely be the Davis Mills show, and with Stroud getting just the one series to open the day, Mills ended up playing the lion’s share of the game. He finished with a solid enough day, playing almost entirely with backups, completing 12 of 22 for 128 yards. He’s not C. J. Stroud, by any means, and he probably doesn’t win you a playoff game on the road, but he signed a one year contract extension this offseason. Mills showed that he can, at the very least, come in and probably go 2-2- or 3-1 over a four game stretch.

1. Derek Barnett
One thing we love around here — BIG MAN TOUCHDOWNS, and for the second time this season, Derek Barnett took one to the house, first with some violence and then with some speed and then with some power:

— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) January 5, 2025

LOSERS

4. Bobby Slowik
I am in the camp of people that think the Texans need a change at offensive coordinator this offseason. The offense has been stale and the offensive line is going to get C.J. Stroud killed. On Sunday, the Texans first team offense had a nice touchdown drive, and then the backups got a second touchdown on a Dameon Pierce 92-yard sprint. Both of those things are fine, but nothing that swings my season-spanning opinion on Slowik. If anything, the two pass plays he called on 3rd and goal, and 4th and goal, from the one yard line, when Pierce was cooking, were validation of my opinion that he needs to be gone.

3. Russ Yeast
Yeast was called up from the practice squad before Sunday’s game. After misplacing this touchdown heave from Will Levis, I’d be surprised if he’s called up again next weekend for the playoffs:  

Will Levis could’ve thrown that ball over a mountain. pic.twitter.com/loYjSsWkAa

— KSR (@KSRonX) January 5, 2025

2. Jerod Mayo
For a couple years, before he was promoted to head coach by the New England Patriots, Jerod Mayo was one of the hottest names on the coaching candidate lists each offseason. Oftentimes, he would be the only non-coordinator or non-former head coach to make these lists. The Patriots loved him so much, he was contractually promised their job after they cut ties with Bill Belichick. On Sunday, after beating Buffalo to finish 4-13 in his first season as the Patriots head coach, Mayo was fired by Pats’ owner Robert Kraft after one season:

Statement from Patriots Chairman and CEO Robert Kraft: https://t.co/2YgHtzzBHK pic.twitter.com/GMXGgd768x

— New England Patriots (@Patriots) January 5, 2025

I’m so glad it’s no longer the Texans catching heat for firing coaches after one season. Have fun, New England.

1. Will Levis
Will Levis is a quarterback who is almost assuredly getting replaced two years into his career. He’s been abjectly terrible for an eventual 3-14 team, who will pick first in the draft. This was his celebration while trailing by 10, after throwing a ball that got Calvin Ridley an incentive bonus:

Will Levis helping Calvin Ridley reach his incentive pic.twitter.com/XgyvZfM0rc

— Jordan Dajani (@JordanDajani) January 5, 2025

On the very next play, he was the triggerman on a botched backfield handoff that was returned by the Texans for a touchdown to make the score 23-6, Texans. Will Levis is the biggest loser in the NFL.