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  • Houston Texans could get used to this. The Texans are in the driver's seat forhomefield advantage throughout the playoffs at the season's halfway point.
    Photo by © Michelle Watson/CultureMapSNAP.com
  • Arian Foster and the Texans are rolling, emerging as the NFL's most dominantteam.
    Photo by © Michelle Watson/CultureMapSNAP.com

Home for the playoffs?

The road to the Super Bowl goes through Houston: Texans grab huge advantage bydestroying Ravens

  • Would J.J. Watt be having a staredown if he was happily married? Probably not.Or something like that . . .
    Photo by Michelle Watson/CultureMapSnap
  • Vikings quarterback Christian Ponder is estaic.
    Photo by Michelle Watson/CultureMapSnap
  • Houston Texans fans are distraught.
    Photo by Michelle Watson/CultureMapSnap
  • But should they be? The Texans defense showed flashes of its old, snarlyattitude.
    Photo by Michelle Watson/CultureMapSnap
  • Especially against superhuman running back Adrian Peterson.
    Photo by Michelle Watson/CultureMapSnap
  • Sure, Christian Ponder made a few plays — and unexpected throwaways.
    Photo by Michelle Watson/CultureMapSnap
  • Adrian Peterson and Andre Johnson — two of the most even keel stars in football— might have a better grasp on reality though.
    Photo by Michelle Watson/CultureMapSnap

Vikings 23, Texans 6

J.J. Watt just needs to get married like Wonder Ponder: AFC playoff truths . . .er, overreactions

  • The Texans are feeling it. Even the usually-quiet Andre Johnson is screaming.
    Photo by © Michelle Watson/CultureMapSNAP.com
  • All because Matt Schaub stood tall in the pocket and show why no quarterback ismore elite than him in 2012.
    Photo by © Michelle Watson/CultureMapSNAP.com
  • Andre Johnson did the heavy lifting with 14 catches.
    Photo by © Michelle Watson/CultureMapSNAP.com
  • But Matt Schaub spread the ball around to nine different receivers, includingtight end Garrett Graham, who caught two touchdown passes.
    Photo by © Michelle Watson/CatchLightGroup.com
  • How much does a wild 43-37 overtime game take out of a coach? Look at GaryKubiak post victory.
    Photo by © Michelle Watson/CultureMapSNAP.com
  • With Matt Schaub completing 78 percent of his passes on a day when he'd 55times, the Texans had enough though.
    Photo by © Michelle Watson/CultureMapSNAP.com
  • Matt Schaub and Gary Kubiak have been through plenty together.
    Photo by © Michelle Watson/CultureMapSNAP.com
  • And they both know there is no sweeter sight than seeing Andre Johnson runningfree.
    Photo by © Michelle Watson/CultureMapSNAP.com

Beyond the Boxscore

Peyton Manning and Tom Brady are inferior to Matt Schaub now: Doubted QBabsolutely owns 2012

  • Arian Foster proves characters win.
    Photo by Dennis M. Ayotte Jr
  • Ben Tate scored two touchdowns in Jacksonville.
    Photo by © Michelle Watson/CatchLightGroup.com
  • It's good to be Matt Schaub when you have a ground game like the Texans'.
    Photo by © Michelle Watson/CatchLightGroup.com

Texans 27, Jaguars 7

Arian Foster gives the Texans an early Super edge: Character running back isreally ruthless

  • Jason Witten, please don't change a thing.
    Dallas Cowboys/Facebook
  • Kevin Ogletree had the best game of his career in week one against the New YorkGiants.
    Dallas Cowboys/Facebook
  • Head coach Jason Garrett is known for a highly academic brand of football.
  • Dez Bryant should spend the weekend taking healthy doses of ginkgo biloba andreviewing flashcards of his routes.
    Dallas Cowboys/Facebook
  • Tony Romo is at his best when plays break down and he is forced to improvise.

Football fantasies

What the Dallas Cowboys should be doing this weekend: Improv classes andcryogenic freezers

  • Andre Johnson still caught 13 passes for 201 yards in the playoffs on thathurting knee.
    Photo by © Michelle Watson/CatchLightGroup.com
  • Andre Johnson had his left knee drained a few weeks ago.
    Photo by © Michelle Watson/CatchLightGroup.com

The Road to New Orleans?

Texans' Andre Johnson endures injury and surgery, focused on bouncing back nextseason

  • The Texans have wrapped up Arian Foster for the next five years.
    Photo by © Michelle Watson/CatchLightGroup.com
  • With the most dynamic player in football on their side, the Texans' profile willcontinue to rise.
    Photo by © Michelle Watson/CatchLightGroup.com

Beyond the Boxscore

Is Arian Foster the Texans best bet? New mega contract locks the star player infor another five seasons

  • Despite beating Cincinnati already, T.J. Yates hasn't gained a believer in TonyDungy.
  • Tony Dungy
  • Antonio Smith and the Texans love to be doubted — and use it as motivation.
    Photo by © Michelle Watson/CatchLightGroup.com

Words That Help

Playoff fuel: NBC's Tony Dungy pegs the Texans as first-round losers, seesRavens as champs

  • Wade Phillips
    Photo by © Michelle Watson/CatchLightGroup.com
  • Wade Phillips' schemes have helped players like Connor Barwin (98) enjoy careeryears for the Texans defense.
    Photo by © Michelle Watson/CatchLightGroup.com

Playoff Urgency

Thanks for the memories? Wade Phillips eyes Tampa Bay head job, Texans couldneed new defensive guru

  • Tom Brady walks off the field the loser in another Super Bowl. Brady hasn't wonthe big game since 2005.
    Elsa/Getty Images
  • The middle finger from M.I.A. that marred Madonna's halftime show wasn't nearlyas offensive as Tom Brady's play.
    Jeff Kravitz/Film Magic Inc.
  • The Super Bowl ended on desperation Hail Mary heave from Tom Brady that had nochance.
    Rob Carr/Getty Images

Beyond the Boxscore

Forgive M.I.A.: Tom Brady more offensive than a middle finger, proving he's noall-time great post Spygate

  • Longhorns' 24-hour rule- all wins and losses are forgotten after 24 hours andthe focus turns to the next opponent.
  • The OU game was an aberration, one of those deals where everything goes wrongfor one team, The Longhorns
    Photo by Jackson Laizure
  • Brandon Weeden led the No. 6-ranked Oklahoma State Cowboys against a Longhorns.

Longhorns midterm review

Bye week jitters: Horns halfway to paradise or purgatory

  • There’s a way that we’ve come to look at our football stars. We reach for easymetaphors of them as demi-gods, or heroes, or knights on some field of battle,casting about for glory.
    Neil Leifer
  • Looking at the game, and its players, through Leifer’s lens offers a fairlyfundamental shift in that perception.
    Neil Leifer
  • Guts and Glory.
    Neil Leifer
  • More than a game.
    Neil Leifer

Down and Distance

"More Than A Game": Why we mythologize athletes

  • Bill Cowher
  • Someone should tell Bill Cowher that the Baltimore Ravens' defense actuallyranked behind the Texans' defense this season.

Texans in the Playoffs

Baltimore is sure of a blowout, Texans D has something to say

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