00:00:00
Speaker 1: What is happening, everybody? Welcome in to a second edition of Texans Matchup for the 2026 season. I appreciate you being here with me on this show. We look back and we look ahead. Kind of all at the same time, have a little bit of fun, hear a little bit of Mark Vandermeer and Andre Ware's calls, and we have a good time here on Texans Matchup. I am your host, John Harris, football analyst, sideline reporter for your Houston Texans. And like I said, we'd like to look back. So we're going to look back, unfortunately, at one hell of a football game. Well, why unfortunately? Well, because the Texans were on the wrong end of a 36-31 loss in one hell of a football game against the Buffalo Bills last Sunday. So we're going to come up with our ultimate 11 for that game. And it was tough. It really was tough to get down to 11-11. items to put in my ultimate 11, especially because the Bills win. And you know my rule that the other team wins. I got to pay homage. So I got to put one of their plays in. And boy, that one's a gut punch. But it was tough. It was tough to pare it down. But I think we got there. Then it's looking ahead. We got the Bengals coming up. Well, the last time we faced the Bengals, we'll look back at one of the best football games I've ever seen. And the one Sunday against the Bills would have probably topped it, but because we didn't win, I can't say that, but we did win in 2023 in Cincinnati when the Texans took on Joe Burrow, and both Ohio State, former Ohio State quarterbacks put on a show. It was unbelievable that afternoon in Cincinnati, so we'll look back at that. And then, of course, when the Cincinnati Bengals get brought up as it pertains to the Texans, Well, there's always one play that sticks out maybe more than any other. We'll celebrate that at the end of the show as well. But we've got to kick off our show with the ultimate 11 plays moments of the matchup this past Sunday against the Buffalo Bills. The start of number 11, it came early in the game as the Bills got a drive going. James Cook hurting the Texans. They get down into field goal territory. facing a fourth and two and they decide to go for it now on third and two they ran the ball and i remember thinking okay if the bills are on the ball in third two they're gonna go for this on fourth down and i saw the set that they came out and i thought they're gonna try and run josh and get wide they sent everybody to the right side the left side was left with basically a i think it was a tight end and maybe a wide receiver that was that was basically it and i just thought This looks like Josh may be coming this way with the run. Lo and behold, the defense knew it too. They knew Josh was getting the ball, and Kamari Lassiter came up with one hell of a play when he darted inside Deion Dawkins, which is a risky play because you are contained. You are the last line of defense. They were running a pin and pulse. They were knocking everybody down inside, pulling Dawkins around. He is one-on-one on Lassiter. Kamari beat him inside, made a form tackle on Josh. Now, it looks like Josh was starting to fall a little bit, but Kamari had to finish him, and he did for this fourth down stop. And, man, I'm telling you, the crowd went crazy. This is number 11, Kamari with a big fourth down stop on Josh Allen.
00:03:25
Speaker 2: It's fourth down and two at the Houston 35-yard line.
00:03:29
Speaker 3: Allen's shotgun, cook in the backfield with him, motions out to the right, now settles in just outside the hash. Allen.
00:03:37
Speaker 2: Takes the snap. Whistles blow as he runs to the left. He's blocked out at the 36-yard line. A big stop by Kamari Lassiter on fourth down.
00:03:48
Speaker 1: Now, I know all of you have been around for Texas matchup over the years, and you know when I do an Ultimate 11 and the Texans unfortunately take an L, I've got to pay homage. And I'm going to pay homage with the game-winning touchdown. And there's so much going on in this particular play. I wish I could have done Telestrator and kind of point out the different things. You know, the effect of Dalt Kincaid on this play. Derrick Stingley Jr. pointing out DJ Moore kind of as a chip blocker, but on the other side of the play. And then the route Josh Palmer runs to get in the end zone. But the key to this is Josh Allen throwing an absolute seed. And when I say seed, I'm saying a ball with some sauce because this ball was ripped and put right on the money to Josh Palmer to give the Bills a 36-31 lead, which eventually would be the score. At the end of the game, at number 10, paying homage, it's Josh Allen to Josh Palmer in a big spot late in the fourth quarter.
00:04:46
Speaker 2: Need one more incompletion at least.
00:04:49
Speaker 3: Third and 11 at the Houston 34.
00:04:53
Speaker 2: Frank Gore Jr. in the backfield.
00:04:55
Speaker 4: D.J.
00:04:55
Speaker 2: Moore back in the game. Allen in the gun. Here's the snap on third and long. Allen throws downfield and caught.
00:05:02
Speaker 3: Touchdown.
00:05:04
Speaker 2: Unbelievable. Palmer.
00:05:06
Speaker 3: Down the seam with the catch and TD.
00:05:10
Speaker 2: And the Bills take the lead.
00:05:13
Speaker 1: Just hearing Mark say those words, the Bills take the lead. This is a game that had eight lead changes. It went back and forth. It was 3-0, 7-3, 10-7, 14-10, then 17-14, 24-14, 24-21, 27-21, 28-27, 30-28, 31-30. And then, of course, 36-31. It was a hell of a football game, man. It was just one too many plays made by the Bills to get that win. All right, let's get to number nine. And the Texans did get to Josh Allen. Not enough, not like last year, but they did get there. Will Anderson Jr. and Mario Edwards combining a sack. And it comes in at number nine.
00:05:54
Speaker 3: Second down and eight across the 14-yard line of Houston. Pistol set with Cook. Allen looking around. Allen tried to escape.
00:06:02
Speaker 2: Allen sacked. Nowhere to go. Will Anderson Jr. tripped him up, and Mario.
00:06:07
Speaker 3: Got on top of him to push him in the backfield, and the Texans forced third and long.
00:06:12
Speaker 1: All right, let's get to the Yocho, and eight is a key number in the number 2,808. There's two eights in that. So I devoted this one to a guy that had not been here in a while. In fact, he had not been here. in 2,808 days. Or I should say, he hadn't played a game in that time. And that would be one Jadeveon Clowney. My opening to the game, that was what I focused on, was Clowney being back. So I figured Clowney on third down, Bills are going to see some stuff from Will and Daniil, but then Clowney going in the game, I thought that was going to be a big deal for them. Wasn't from that standpoint as much as I thought. But going into the game, Jadeveon Clowney had 29 sacks as a Texan. He was one behind Will Anderson Jr., who had 30. And you just heard Will get the 30 and a half on the previous play. Well, before that, Genevion jumped up and tied Will with 30 sacks as number four all time for the Texans. And that came right here. Clowney off the left side. Bills run some trap protection, so they're pulling a guard over to try and block Clowney. Clowney whipped Alec Anderson and then wrapped up Josh Allen for his first sack in 2,808 days, his first of the 2026 season, and showed he was going to be a factor not only today but the rest of the season. Genevieve Clowney's sack comes in at the Ocho number eight.
00:07:49
Speaker 3: Second down and a long five across the Houston 28-yard line.
00:07:53
Speaker 2: Allen fakes the give. He's in the pocket. He's set.
00:07:56
Speaker 3: Back at the 34-yard line. Chatevion Clowney, welcome back to Houston.
00:08:00
Speaker 1: All right, moving on to lucky number seven. Oh, and it is number seven. That just hit me. When I pull the clips down, I order them in some kind of order. I mean, I don't sit there and go, okay, I try and put it in the best ultimate 11 order. in order of importance, in order of volume, that kind of thing. And I didn't realize I put this one at number seven, but I'm glad I did because number seven was shooting it, man. On Sunday, he was throwing a ball really well. I love watching the game from where I do, but I love going back and watching the game, just the game on TV, because when seven throws the ball, and he throws it down the field, it's the prettiest damn thing you've ever seen. I mean, it is so pretty to watch him throw the football. And when he has time to step in stride and throw a football a good distance down the field, it is beautiful. And that is the exact adjective I would use right here. The Bills, after, unfortunately, a forced fumble led to a Tyler Bass field goal that gave the Buffalo Bills a 3-0 lead. The Texans offense... knew it needed to answer. Hey, let's move the ball. Let's get some first downs. And they did. Things clicking a little bit. And then on the plus side of the field, that's where C.J. Stroud linked up with his guy, Nico Collins, against cover two. Nico gets in the cover two hole up the right sideline, and C.J. throws an absolute dime. I mean, the prettiest parabola you've seen right on the money. Putting the ball at the one-yard line. It comes in at number seven. C.J.
00:09:43
Speaker 3: Shot at Nico Collins. You've heard that before, haven't you? Well, here you go, number seven. Third down and eight. Texans at the Bills' 27-yard line. Stroud shotgun Montgomery in the backfield.
00:09:54
Speaker 2: C.J. gets the snap. C.J. with time. Going right side of the end zone. And he's got Nico Collins.
00:10:00
Speaker 3: Out of bounds inside the five first and goal Houston market at.
00:10:03
Speaker 2: The two what a catch.
00:10:08
Speaker 1: Man as I hear market Andre make that call I just I could see the ball in my mind and I'm just like that ball is so perfect I mean, that throw is so perfect. It's just unbelievable. But what number seven can do is not just with his arm. It's with his legs, and it's with his mind. And number six is a perfect example of that. Texas faced the third and 12, and the O-line's pass protection was really, really good. I mean, they gave up the one sack early to Russo, and that led to three points for the Bills, which is unfortunate. But they didn't give up a sack until the final two plays of the game when, Hopefully, you could have gotten the ball in the end zone, but you didn't. But, man, you put the ball in the end zone on that first play, which you should have. But a sack takes place, and then a sack takes place the next one. I thought the offensive line pass protection was really, really good. Even when the pass protection is good, sometimes the way the rushers are attacking CJ, whatever angles they're coming from, sometimes it opens up a big lane for CJ to run. And on third and 12, he saw everybody vacate. And then the pass protection kind of opened up a spot. So I thought initially when he stepped into the void, he's looking to throw. But then he looked up and thought, there's nobody here. This is just green grass. I mean, inside grass, you know what I mean. And he took off running. At number six, a big scramble from C.J. Stroud, a 15-yarder when they needed 12. He got 15. This is wonderful at number six from number seven.
00:11:42
Speaker 2: Third down and 12 for the Houston 38. Three receivers right. Stroud on the gun. Woody in the backfield.
00:11:46
Speaker 1: C.J.
00:11:47
Speaker 2: Ready to throw. C.J. under pressure. C.J. scrambling across the 45.
00:11:51
Speaker 3: C.J.
00:11:51
Speaker 2: Across the 50.
00:11:52
Speaker 3: He's got the first down to the 46-yard line on Buffalo.
00:11:56
Speaker 2: Tag down there. Stroud on the run. Moves the sticks.
00:12:00
Speaker 1: I think that is a weapon in a major way. And look, I understand last year, after he took that hard hit against Denver, not wanting to scramble as much. I totally understand it. But I think there are times when it is wide open and available, like it was right there for CJ to take off. And that's just going to have the Bengals and the Colts and the Cowboys and everybody that faces the Texans afterwards saying, hey, man, you guys better stay in your rush lanes. And that's going to give CJ more time to throw. And that's going to open up even more in a passing game. So it all kind of works together. But I love number six right there, C.J. Stroud taking off on the 15-yard scramble. Okay, let's get to this one. And I was thrilled because the guy on the other end of this play making a big play for this team I think has got to play a big role for this team this year, and that's Jalen Knoll. So, situation. The Bills had gone down and scored inside two minutes. D.J. Moore gets in the end zone for the first time for the Bills. The Bills now have a 24-yard. to 14 lead under two minutes. I think it was a minute 38. That's what stuck in my head. But that's enough time. Offense works on this every day in training camp. Here's your situation. Minute one, you got to go 60 yards. You got to kick a field goal. Now you got to go 75 yards. You're down four. You got to have a touchdown. Well, this couldn't have worked out any better.
00:13:20
Speaker 4: C.J.
00:13:20
Speaker 1: Went back to pass, and as he did, he found Jalen Knoll across the middle wide open. J. Knoll then took it down inside the low red zone. This is a big play that helped eventually cut this lead from 24-14 to 24-21, but it wouldn't have happened without this play, and I put it at number five.
00:13:37
Speaker 2: C.J.
00:13:38
Speaker 1: Stroud to Jalen Knoll. J.
00:13:40
Speaker 3: Knoll's first catch on the year, a big one for 34 yards to set up a late first-half touchdown.
00:13:45
Speaker 2: Stratton to the gun. Three receivers right. Woody Marks in the backfield. C.J. with a little time. Passes over the middle.
00:13:52
Speaker 3: Got a man across the 30 left side.
00:13:54
Speaker 1: Noll, 25-20.
00:13:55
Speaker 3: Out of bounds inside the 15-yard line. Jalen Noll catching run.
00:14:00
Speaker 1: All right, let's get to number four. And every now and again, I get kind of cute with the numerology, and I like that. Number four, you get four downs in football. Well, these two plays at number four were huge. And I remember... writing them down on my notes down on the field. And a lot of times I can remember everything's happening in the game, get a little older, so I got to write things down now. And I remember writing after this drive was over, the key to this were the two fourths and ones that they picked up. The first one on this drive, though, keep in mind, it's 27-21. The Bills had just kicked a field goal. But, hey, you got stops. He got us stopped basically to force him to kick a field goal. Tyler Bass hit it. You're down six. Hey, look, let's go punch this thing in the end zone. But the problem was the two drives prior to start the second half, three and out, three and out. God dang it. Here we go with second half issues offensively, kind of like last year. And I know that's something that Nick Caley has addressed with his team and wanted to do better in the second half. CJ talked about it in the second half. Hey, we can't have those three and outs. Well, they responded. Got a first down. But on the second set of downs, they got it to fourth and one, and they were on their side of the field. And I'm like, oh, this is a gutsy call. Third quarter, 27-21. If you somehow don't make it, the Bills are in not point-blank range, but they don't have to get far to at least kick a field goal. And it's 30-21. Now they're up two scores, and now you're really trudging uphill.
00:15:40
Speaker 3: But.
00:15:41
Speaker 1: We talked to D'Amico Ryans. I talked to him about it after the game. We talked about it on the coach's show. He was convinced they could pick up the fourth and one. So deep in their territory, the Texans went for this. The first fourth and one. Demo, boy, he got this. Not by much, but he gets the first fourth and one. It's the first part of number four.
00:16:00
Speaker 3: Fourth and a half yard across the Houston 37-yard line. Bills try to get heavy in the middle. CJ, hands off Montgomery, right side, plowing, getting it. Just got it across the 38-yard line. Those big legs kept moving, and he made sure he moved enough for.
00:16:23
Speaker 2: The first down. As it was Benford on top.
00:16:27
Speaker 1: Of him at the very end. Texans kept the drive alive, kept moving the ball down, and eventually got another fourth and one. This time, it was Woody Marks running over the right side. Keelan Rutledge, the rookie, pulling in front. Able to pick up this fourth and one and kept the drive alive near the end of the third quarter. As a result, the Texans were able to take a lead a few plays later. It wouldn't have happened without this second fourth and one conversion on this touchdown scoring drive.
00:16:59
Speaker 2: Fourth and inches at the Bills, 21. C.J. with the I formation behind him. Stroud.
00:17:05
Speaker 3: Hands off Montgomery, or it's Woody Marks rather, and he plows forward over right guard. He's got the first down across the 20. Woody Marks got it. The Texans get a first down in the red zone, and we head for the fourth quarter.
00:17:20
Speaker 1: And that we did. So let's get to one of the key plays in the fourth quarter. This one, like I said earlier, is going back and forth. After those fourth and ones, the Texans score a touchdown, make it 28-27. Tyler Bass would hit a field goal to put the Bills back in front 30-28. So the Texans got a drive going, but it stalled not too far beyond the logo. What about the 40 or 41-yard line? Fourth down. I did think Coach might think about going for a fourth down because he had gotten the fourth and ones earlier, but this was not fourth and one. But he's also got the best kicker in the NFL. And as soon as fourth down showed up on the screen, number 15 ran on the field as he always does. They were going to have to pull him off. He is confident, and he got out there with a new holder, a second-year snapper from 58 yards to take the lead. Now keep in mind, with the Bills having a two-point lead here, 30-28, if this field goal isn't made, they get the ball near midfield, And they score a touchdown, and now it's again two scores, and it's probably over. This is a massive kick. In that situation, you trust the best kicker in this organization's history, the best in the NFL. Kaimi Fairbairn from 58 is good, and it's at number three.
00:18:55
Speaker 3: 58-yard attempt. Left hash mark. Kaimi Fairbairn. Here's the snap. Here's the spot. Here's the kick.
00:19:02
Speaker 2: And he drops it in. It's good.
00:19:05
Speaker 3: The Texans are back in front.
00:19:09
Speaker 1: 31-30.
00:19:11
Speaker 2: Fairbairn hits the bomb for the lead.
00:19:14
Speaker 1: I'm telling you, Mark is not exaggerating. That was a rocket ship. That thing had some velo going over my head, man. It was a well-struck ball. And to know that you get just in that range. It's a field goal. It's three points. That helps so much for an offense. Kymie Fairbairn from 58 was fantastic. All right, let's get to number two. Now, this thing had gotten dicey before the half. Texas had a 14-10 lead in the second quarter. But then Josh Allen struck twice. The second time. inside the two-minute warning to D.J. Moore up the right sideline, the Bills had a 24-14 lead with a minute 38 left in the half. But after a J. Noel catch, Texans got the ball in range, and I'm telling you, C.J. Stroud threw an absolute blast.
00:20:10
Speaker 2: Dart.
00:20:12
Speaker 1: This ball was thrown, and this is a fastball. I know CJ didn't play baseball in high school, but I'm telling you, he throws a fastball. And I didn't see Nico. Not at first. And then I see Nico. This ball is ripped. And then I saw the end zone view. And, man, I'm telling you, you've got to give credit where credit is due. If the offensive line does one thing for a quarterback, it is to open a passing lane, sight lane. And they open a lane right in the middle where CJ can see where Nico's going. And he throws a laser shot right into the chest of number 12. This is for a touchdown to cut the lead to 24-21. CJ, Nico link up in the end zone for the first time in 2026. It's at number two.
00:21:01
Speaker 2: First down at the Bills, 12, bunch formation right. Collins, short side, left, Stroud in the gun. Here's the snap. C.J. with time. Throw into the end zone. Touchdown, Nico Collins. TD pass number one of the year for C.J. Stroud.
00:21:17
Speaker 3: And Collins with the catch. The Texans strike back.
00:21:21
Speaker 2: We got a ball game, fellas. We have a ball game.
00:21:26
Speaker 1: Man, did we ever have a ball game at that point, Dre. He's right on that.
00:21:30
Speaker 2: Okay.
00:21:32
Speaker 1: Let's get to number one. Now, I think about, you know, like driving up to the studio to do matchup, record matchup. I think about, all right, I'm thinking in my mind, all right, especially when I'm doing all through 11, like what plays, what thoughts? Okay, I know this play. I know the play to Jay Knoll across the middle. That was big. Obviously, Nico's touchdown. You know, I'm thinking about, you know, Kamari's stop early on. And I'm like, I don't know what I'm going to put at number one. I'm not, hmm. I went back and forth. I'm like, well, it could be Nico's touchdown. Or maybe it could be... And then... Well, I remembered. Because I remembered I could count to three. As in three touchdowns in his Texans debut for David Montgomery. And then I remember it's mile to 11. I could put as many items at number one as I want. But I'd like for them to be connected in some way. And, well... Three touchdowns from David Montgomery. That's definitely a connection. The first one, I think, is a play that everybody that follows the Texans and knows and follows what they do, understands why they do things, knew exactly why this one meant a lot. How many times last year did Texans get down to the one or two-yard line and not punch the ball in?
00:23:01
Speaker 2: Numerous.
00:23:02
Speaker 1: Cost them a Denver game. Cost them a Tampa Bay game. Seattle, maybe you could say that as well. Got down to the one. Couldn't score. Didn't happen this time because they went and got David Montgomery in a trade last March, and it paid off in a big way. Here's the first one of number one, Demo scoring from one yard out.
00:23:25
Speaker 3: Got to get it. Third and goal at the one. I-formation. Stroud digs in. Beats Montgomery again. Plowing forward. Montgomery to the goal line. Touchdown, David Montgomery. The Texans grab the lead. Power football.
00:23:45
Speaker 1: Now, knowing David Montgomery the way that we do, that is an unselfish dude. And I guarantee if we sat him down and said, hey, David, tell us about this second touchdown run. I guarantee he would say, I didn't do anything. The offensive line opened a massive gaping hole. David Montgomery is not touched on an 18-yard touchdown run. He slithers through. I mean, this is about as good as it gets. Power play. Ed Ingram pulls from the right, kicks out the left. Cade Stover gets a great block. Demo not touched. Found the running lane. Touchdown, the second of his Texans career, the second of the game, and it comes in as the second part of number one.
00:24:29
Speaker 2: First down at the Bills, 18. Pistols set. Montgomery in the backfield. Here he is. 15, 10, 5. Walk and roll.
00:24:38
Speaker 3: Touchdown, Montgomery. His second of the day. The Texans take the lead. And then we get to the final one. 27-21.
00:24:48
Speaker 1: Bills are ahead. But the Texans got a drive going. They converted those two fourths and ones earlier. Clock turned to the fourth quarter. DeMar already had two touchdowns on the ground. Now it's time to go to him through the air. And what was awesome about this, we talked about this as the radio crew. You're going to hear Mark here give the call. Everybody, mainly me, we see DeMar out in a flat wide open. And a lot of times, Mark, with his binoculars, is following a ball. So he's on with his binoculars looking at CJ. So I like to give him, from time to time, who he's targeting. And so when you hear CJ rolls out, like, Demo! David Montgomery is so wide open. So wide open on the flat. Stroud hits him. I mean, it's one of those where you're like, CJ's just like, man, I could run this thing in myself, but I got to get this to Montgomery. Gets it to Montgomery. Texans take the lead. Place goes nuts. Demos third touchdown. It's the third part of number one. CJ to David Montgomery to give the Texans a 28-27 lead.
00:25:58
Speaker 3: Here they go with Nico Collins. Right side, but tight to the line. On second and goal from the seven. Montgomery is in. Stroud of the gun. On second and goal from the seven. CJ takes the snap. Steps out to his right. Hits Montgomery. Touchdown Houston.
00:26:15
Speaker 2: The hat trick for Montgomery.
00:26:18
Speaker 3: His third TD of the day as Stroud finds him. And the Texans can take the lead with the extra point.
00:26:24
Speaker 2: What a well-executed play.
00:26:27
Speaker 1: Man, I'm a huge fan of that play. I've seen teams run it against the Texans before. The Chargers mainly back in, I remember, 2021. Killed the Texans with it. Seen the Texans run that play with Daria Gumbawale. I've seen them do it a number of different times. I remember Bill O'Brien's Texas running that play with Carlos Hyde taking a lead against the Buffalo Bills in the playoff game in 2019. So that play has been a good one for a lot of teams, a lot of Texas teams, and even some opponents. It's a great one. That was David Montgomery's third touchdown of the day. It was great. It was the fourth trip to the red zone and the fourth touchdown in the red zone. Absolutely beautiful.
00:27:10
Speaker 2: All right.
00:27:11
Speaker 1: Coming up on Texas Matchup. The last time the Texans faced the Bengals. It was in 2023. It was an Ohio homecoming, if you will, for C.J. Stroud. But it was a game that will be known as a certain player's game. We do that a lot. Oh, that's this guy's game. That's this guy's game.
00:27:33
Speaker 2: Well, this game.
00:27:34
Speaker 1: Was the Noah Brown game against the Cincinnati Bengals in 2023. We'll look back at it. Texas matchup coming up next. What's happening, everybody? Welcome back to another edition of Texas matchup. I really appreciate you being with me. We're on this show. We look back and we look ahead. And with the Bengals on the horizon, the week two opponent here at Reliant Stadium, it's always good to look back at the last time we played the Bengals. Appreciate you being with me. I am John Harris, football analyst, sideline reporter for your Houston Texans. And that week against the Bengals, if you remember back to 2023, it was such a special year. Texans, a little bit of struggles early. Play in Tampa Bay. Looked like things were not going to go well. They were going to end up, I think at that point, being 3-6 maybe. Then obviously C.J. Stroud tanked out, pulled it out of the fire with a massive win against Tampa Bay. I mean, just incredible ending, incredible win. But on the docket next was a trip to Cincinnati to face Joe Burrow, Jamar Chase, and the Cincinnati Bengals. Oh, boy. I mean.
00:28:49
Speaker 1: I was nervous. But it was a beautiful day in Cincinnati.
00:28:53
Speaker 2: Beautiful.
00:28:54
Speaker 1: Sun out. I mean, just the absolute consummate football day early in November. And the Texans didn't get off to a great start in the game. Not because of Jamar Chase. Not because of T. Higgins. But because of, well, Trenton Irwin?
00:29:15
Speaker 4: Yeah.
00:29:16
Speaker 1: Trenton Irwin. And the Bengals took a 7-0 lead.
00:29:19
Speaker 3: Mix in out of the game. One back Burrow in the gun. Three receivers wide side right on third and seven. Harris in the middle of the D-line. Burrow gets the snap. Burrow quick throw downfield. And Claude touchdown.
00:29:30
Speaker 4: Irwin.
00:29:32
Speaker 2: Trenton Irwin, fourth.
00:29:34
Speaker 3: Year out of Stanford with a bullet pass by Burrow down the right sideline.
00:29:37
Speaker 4: I told you we talked about it in the pregame. I said they are going to go after Stingley today. He is going to have to prove that he is 100% healthy or healthy enough to play. And it didn't take long for Joe Burrow to find a receiver behind Derek Stingley.
00:29:56
Speaker 2: That one hurt.
00:29:57
Speaker 1: But the Texans would respond and respond in a big way. Another guy who had a great game in this one was Dalton Schultz. Stroud found him for a big 23 yards on an early first quarter drive. Stroud.
00:30:11
Speaker 3: In the gun, first down for the Houston 18, one back, here's the snap, C.J. looking a lot of time, now throws downfield, hits Schultz, tackled at the 42-yard line, Taylor Britt with the stop, but not until C.J. finds Schultz for 24 yards.
00:30:26
Speaker 4: Excellent protection, and that's been the case the last couple of weeks, as this offensive line is now two consecutive weeks in a row, actually three consecutive weeks in a row, has had the same guys in the same spots twice. That chemistry's starting to blend together.
00:30:43
Speaker 1: That first quarter drive ended up being nullified as the Texans would fumble a fourth down snap and the Bengals would get the ball back. But the defense did a great job that day getting the ball back to C.J. Stroud. And then it was time for the offense, well, to get jingy with it. A little reverse to Tank Dell.
00:31:02
Speaker 3: Dell out to the right side, wide side of the field on second and three from the Houston 41. Devon in the backfield, and here's an end-around handoff to Hutchinson.
00:31:11
Speaker 2: Reverse. Dell running to his left, looking for room. 45, 50.
00:31:15
Speaker 3: Dell out of bounds across the 46-yard line of Cincinnati. First down run. Tank Dell on the reverse.
00:31:23
Speaker 2: You cannot teach speed.
00:31:25
Speaker 1: Then CJ found his best friend, Tank, for 17. Second and six, Stroud fakes the gift, throws down.
00:31:31
Speaker 2: What a catch.
00:31:31
Speaker 3: And Dell picks it off the turf to make the reception, rolling down at the 25-yard line to the Bengals.
00:31:37
Speaker 2: What a reception by Dell.
00:31:39
Speaker 4: I mean, he is going full speed, and Tank is pretty fast and has to reach back at his ankles and make that catch.
00:31:47
Speaker 1: Then he found his guy, Tank. for a touchdown, which tied this game at seven. One back Devon Singletary. Here's the snap.
00:31:54
Speaker 2: C.J.
00:31:54
Speaker 3: Looking, throwing right side Dell at the six, takes it to the goal line.
00:31:58
Speaker 2: He's in! Touchdown, Houston! Stroud to Dell for six. Speed kills.
00:32:05
Speaker 4: Throws Awuze, and then just accelerated into the end zone on him. Throws him, and then went right by him, and lunged for the goal line, and got himself there. Unreal.
00:32:19
Speaker 1: Texas would get a defensive stop, and then it was time for the Noah Brown game to begin. And that's one of the things Mark and I talk a lot about. You know, as we've been together since 2014, and obviously I've been here since 2007, so we go even further back. We remember games a lot of times for an individual in that game. We'll say, hey, remember that game in 2010, the Colts, you know, the Arian Foster game? Do you remember that game with the Washington Redskins in 2010? You know, the Andre Johnson game? Well, this one we affectionately called the Noah Brown game because that dude went absolutely off starting in the second quarter.
00:33:01
Speaker 2: A bootleg out to the right. He plants. Doesn't have anybody to throw it to.
00:33:04
Speaker 3: Now guns it downfield and hits Brown at the 40-yard line. And he's going to be taken down at the 45-yard line.
00:33:11
Speaker 2: Too strong to bring down right away. Gets good yardage up to the 45. Third and 13 for.
00:33:16
Speaker 3: The Houston 42. Stroud gets the snap. Airs it downfield.
00:33:20
Speaker 2: Hits Brown. 35-30.
00:33:21
Speaker 3: Wrestled down at the 29-yard line. What a play to Noah Brown, who has been phenomenal the last two weeks.
00:33:29
Speaker 2: CJ takes the snap.
00:33:31
Speaker 1: Little mini boot.
00:33:31
Speaker 3: There's trouble in the backfield. Stroud scrambling around, wanting to get rid of it. Does downfield. Hits Noah at the 42. He's down at the 40-yard line. How did he do it?
00:33:41
Speaker 2: He always gets open down the field.
00:33:43
Speaker 4: Just a big, big play Noah Brown is what they ought to start calling him because he just makes big catches all the time.
00:33:52
Speaker 3: 20 yards on this play, and Noah over 100 for the second consecutive game.
00:33:58
Speaker 1: The Texans were picking up chunks of yards, as you heard. Noah Brown calls 29, 28, 20. They were getting whatever they wanted in the passing game. Noah would finish with a monster game in this one, but his biggest play was a little bit later. But all those receptions and all those plays would eventually lead to Motor, one of my all-time favorites, still doing it for the New York Giants. He's one of my favorites, only here for a year, but, man, I loved him. Devin Singletary, he would take one in for the Texans as the offense stayed hot in this one against the Bengals.
00:34:32
Speaker 3: First and goal inside the sixth.
00:34:34
Speaker 2: Stroud under center. Schultz in the backfield. And here's motion.
00:34:40
Speaker 3: CJ pushes the ball to Singletary. Right side run, and Devin is in. Touchdown, Houston. Singletary with the rushing TD. And the Texans are up two scores on Cincinnati. For Singletary, that is rushing touchdown number one of his Texans career on his best day as a Texan.
00:35:03
Speaker 1: The Bengals would answer back, but only with a 50-yard field goal. Well, for the time being, Joe Burrow on the following drive would then seemingly take a crack at the Texans' lead with this dime. Now, when I'm telling you dime, I am not exaggerating. I don't know that I've ever seen a prettier long ball more accurately thrown than this one from Joe Burrow to Jamar Chase, which sent Cincinnati fans into hysterics.
00:35:38
Speaker 3: Burrow takes the snap pocket collapsing Burrow looking around now scrambles out to the left side squares up and guns long downfield.
00:35:46
Speaker 2: And caught Chase.
00:35:48
Speaker 3: Across the 10-5 touchdown Burrow kept it alive Chase got the ball brought it to the end zone as Petrie could not stay with him 64 yard reception and the Bengals are.
00:36:03
Speaker 1: Right in it that ball was probably in the air I would say 45 to 50 yards in the air. And it hit Jamar Chase in full stride. It happened right in front of me, and I just was like, oh, my God. That was gorgeous. But gorgeous-er, if that's the right word to use, on this day was C.J. Stroud and Noah Brown. They would link up again, starting to answer that Chase touchdown. Here is C.J. hitting Noah yet again.
00:36:35
Speaker 2: C.J. fakes it again. Rolls out to the left. Plants.
00:36:38
Speaker 3: And now guns it downfield and hits Noah Brown at the 40. And Brown cradles the ball. He's down inside the 36-yard line.
00:36:46
Speaker 2: Awuzie with the tackle.
00:36:48
Speaker 3: Another huge play to Noah Brown having a monster afternoon.
00:36:54
Speaker 1: Then as we got into the fourth quarter, CJ went back to pass. Didn't like what he saw. He decided to do it himself. Ran this one in from eight yards out. And your Texans. seemingly running away with this thing now. On first and goal, Stroud gets the snap. C.J.
00:37:12
Speaker 2: Looking, scrambling forward.
00:37:14
Speaker 1: C.J.
00:37:14
Speaker 2: On the run across the five.
00:37:16
Speaker 4: He's in!
00:37:17
Speaker 2: Touchdown, C.J. Stroud!
00:37:19
Speaker 3: The quarterback with the touchdown run, and the Texans go back up two scores on Cincinnati.
00:37:27
Speaker 1: The Texans had a 10-point lead. I've seen a lot of Texans football. I knew it wasn't over, but I was feeling really confident about how they were moving the ball. The Bengals weren't. Okay, we're in a pretty good situation here, especially when DeAndre Houston Carson came down with an interception in the end zone. Now the Texans have the ball. They're up 10, seemingly going to put this thing away, and then the unthinkable happened. CJ threw an interception to Tank Dell. Joe Mixon scored a touchdown there. and it was game on. Texans on the next drive could not pick it up on third down, had to punt to the Bengals. Joe Burrow hit Tyler Boyd on a crosser. Boyd, not the fastest receiver in the world, took off, and eventually the Texans would knock him out of bounds, but deep in Texans territory. Thankfully, Sheldon Rankins had a sack on the next play, but on the play after that, Joe Burrow found Tyler Boyd in the end zone wide open to take the, and he dropped it. He dropped it. The Bengals would have to settle for a game-tying field goal to make it 27-27, but it also gave C.J. Stroud more time. First and second down, though, didn't work out. Third down, the money down. And the rookie came up huge to Dalton Schultz.
00:39:02
Speaker 3: Here's the snap. Stroud looking. Stroud firing downfield. And caught by Schultz at the 46-yard line.
00:39:09
Speaker 2: The tackle made by Cam Taylor Britt. The 46 of the Bengals. 31 seconds to go.
00:39:15
Speaker 1: And then, well, remember earlier when I said it was the Noah Brown game? And I gave you those big plays from Noah? And I said he wasn't done yet? Well, he had one more in store for the Bengals that would put the Texans in game-winning field goal opportunity before the end of regulation. Now motion by Boone.
00:39:36
Speaker 3: CJ takes the snap, throws over the middle, hits Noah Brown, breaks a tackle, 30, Noah 25, Noah 20, and he's wrapped up at the 20-yard line.
00:39:45
Speaker 2: Timeout called with five seconds to go.
00:39:48
Speaker 3: They get the ball to Brown, and they're ready to try a field goal.
00:39:53
Speaker 1: The thing about that play, Noah makes the catch, and as he's running, he breaks a tackle early. And then he gets hit by a couple of Bengals, and he won't go down. And the clock is running. I'll never forget Michael Dieter was the starting center at the time. He's looking up at the clock, and he doesn't know whether he should help block the pile or look. And it's like, you got to go down. I'm screaming from the sidelines, go down, go down. You got to get this time out. Eventually, Noah would go down at about the 20 or 21-yard line. And now it's time for Kaimi.
00:40:27
Speaker 2: Oh, no.
00:40:29
Speaker 1: If you remember, and I know you do, in the week's win prior, the win over Tampa Bay, Kaimi had hurt himself on a kickoff. That was Daria Gumbawaleh. kicking the go-ahead field goal in the fourth quarter. Well, during the week, they had to go get a kicker, and they found Matt Amendola. No relation, I don't think. I think they spell Amendola differently. So no Danny Amendola relation, but it's the game winner. It's 27-27. It's a 38-yarder. So you think that's definitely in range, but man, his first week kicking with the Texans, could Matt Amendola be the hero the Texans needed to beat the Bengals?
00:41:19
Speaker 3: 38-yard field goal attempt from the left hash mark for the victory for Matt Amendola.
00:41:25
Speaker 2: Here's the snap. Here's the spot. Here's the kick. Plenty of leg. And it's good!
00:41:31
Speaker 3: The Texans walk off with a win for Cincinnati!
00:41:36
Speaker 2: They take it 30-27.
00:41:37
Speaker 3: Matt Amendola at the buzzer. The Texans walk away.
00:41:45
Speaker 1: With a win that we'll never forget. That was absolutely one I would never forget. Considering where the Texans had been, they had this Wunderking quarterback now, this young man who could just seemingly do everything. He had brought them from behind against Tampa Bay. He had just done it against Cincinnati. C.J. Stroud was showing exactly how special he was as a quarterback. Noah Brown went off. Dalton Schultz had the big catches in that game. I mean, big catches. That third down catch, he'd had one earlier in the game on that same route. It was just incredible. I remember that locker room maybe more than others. I'd been there for wins against Cincinnati. I remember 2015 Monday night game. 2017, Deshaun's debut. But that one in 2023, that was incredible. That was one you will always remember. And when we tell the story of CJ's career 25, 30, 40 years from now, hey, remember that Tampa Bay-Cincinnati back-to-back? It was just incredible. He was. He put the team on its back that day and got some big help, especially from Noah Brown. Yeah, the Noah Brown game. That's the one we remember as such. Okay, Cincinnati coming to Reliant Stadium makes all of us remember one Texans moment maybe more than any others. And it birthed the career of a legend. We'll have that for you next on Texas Matchup. We got one final segment of this edition of Texas Matchup where we love looking back, looking ahead, putting them together, listening to the calls from Mark and Andre. It's all fun time on the show. even though Sunday was a tough loss to the Buffalo Bills. Love being here to tell the story of it and other instances in Texans history. I'm your host, John Harris, football analyst, sideline reporter for your Houston Texans. And it is the Bengals coming up on Sunday. Now, for some reason, the Bengals have been that team the Texans have had some massive victories. Going back to 2011-12, The win in Cincinnati, TJ Yates hitting Kevin Walter with about two seconds left in the game. That would be a win that would clinch. You didn't know it at the exact time, but you knew it about 30 minutes, 45 minutes later that the Texans had won the AFC South with that. Then in 2015, going back up there, TJ Yates throwing the touchdown to DeAndre Hopkins in the near corner of the end zone on Monday night, ending a regular season that was undefeated at the time for the Bengals. And that was nice. 2017, Sean Watson's debut, the 49-yard touchdown run, a win, just a scant five days after getting beat by Jacksonville in the opener after Hurricane Harvey. That was incredible. We played the 2023 game, which was an incredible football game. It's the last time the Texans have played the Cincinnati Bengals. But we've had some matchups with the Bengals here at Reliant Stadium. 2016, Christmas Eve night, the missed field goal at the end after an alpha blue touchdown gave them the lead with Tom Savage in charge, clinched AFC South that night. But I think when you say Bengals v. Texans, to most Texans fans, they always remember one game, and that was the very first game playoff game in Texans history right here at Reliant Stadium. The Bengals, after the Texans had beaten them earlier, were coming to town as a wildcard team. The Texans' first playoff game. You knew there were going to be nerves. There were going to be moments in this game, especially early on. You kind of, I don't know how this thing's going to go. Well, the Bengals came out hot. And you could tell the Texans came out a little bit nervous. And it was kind of, it was teetering there for For a little while. I mean, look, that was a very talented Bengals team. A.J. Green, Andy Dalton, I thought, as a rookie, had a really solid year. It was rookies going at each other in a wild card playoff game. Well, the Texans' offense started kind of getting going. But then the game changed. And when I say the game changed, I think a career changed. For one, Justin James Watt, a.k.a. J.J.
00:46:28
Speaker 4: Watt.
00:46:29
Speaker 1: You could argue it's the greatest play in Texans history. I think Texans fans have said that. I think we did a tournament bracket of that sort. What's the greatest play in Texans history? There have been some good ones, but this one from J.J. Watt might be the best one, and it was against the Bengals in 2011. Dalton gets the snap, throws it.
00:46:50
Speaker 2: It's intercepted.
00:46:51
Speaker 3: Watt takes it across the 15.
00:46:54
Speaker 2: 10, 5. Rock and roll. Touchdown, Texans. Pick six. Just like that, the Texans take the lead. And Reliant Stadium has erupted.
00:47:06
Speaker 1: And for good reason.
00:47:08
Speaker 2: J.J.
00:47:08
Speaker 1: Would erupt over his career. The Texans would win that playoff game. And hopefully the result, a win over the Bengals, is what we get this Sunday against Joe Burrow and Cincinnati. We'll see you then, everybody. Thank you for listening. And as always, go Texans.
Speaker 1: What is happening, everybody? Welcome in to a second edition of Texans Matchup for the 2026 season. I appreciate you being here with me on this show. We look back and we look ahead. Kind of all at the same time, have a little bit of fun, hear a little bit of Mark Vandermeer and Andre Ware's calls, and we have a good time here on Texans Matchup. I am your host, John Harris, football analyst, sideline reporter for your Houston Texans. And like I said, we'd like to look back. So we're going to look back, unfortunately, at one hell of a football game. Well, why unfortunately? Well, because the Texans were on the wrong end of a 36-31 loss in one hell of a football game against the Buffalo Bills last Sunday. So we're going to come up with our ultimate 11 for that game. And it was tough. It really was tough to get down to 11-11. items to put in my ultimate 11, especially because the Bills win. And you know my rule that the other team wins. I got to pay homage. So I got to put one of their plays in. And boy, that one's a gut punch. But it was tough. It was tough to pare it down. But I think we got there. Then it's looking ahead. We got the Bengals coming up. Well, the last time we faced the Bengals, we'll look back at one of the best football games I've ever seen. And the one Sunday against the Bills would have probably topped it, but because we didn't win, I can't say that, but we did win in 2023 in Cincinnati when the Texans took on Joe Burrow, and both Ohio State, former Ohio State quarterbacks put on a show. It was unbelievable that afternoon in Cincinnati, so we'll look back at that. And then, of course, when the Cincinnati Bengals get brought up as it pertains to the Texans, Well, there's always one play that sticks out maybe more than any other. We'll celebrate that at the end of the show as well. But we've got to kick off our show with the ultimate 11 plays moments of the matchup this past Sunday against the Buffalo Bills. The start of number 11, it came early in the game as the Bills got a drive going. James Cook hurting the Texans. They get down into field goal territory. facing a fourth and two and they decide to go for it now on third and two they ran the ball and i remember thinking okay if the bills are on the ball in third two they're gonna go for this on fourth down and i saw the set that they came out and i thought they're gonna try and run josh and get wide they sent everybody to the right side the left side was left with basically a i think it was a tight end and maybe a wide receiver that was that was basically it and i just thought This looks like Josh may be coming this way with the run. Lo and behold, the defense knew it too. They knew Josh was getting the ball, and Kamari Lassiter came up with one hell of a play when he darted inside Deion Dawkins, which is a risky play because you are contained. You are the last line of defense. They were running a pin and pulse. They were knocking everybody down inside, pulling Dawkins around. He is one-on-one on Lassiter. Kamari beat him inside, made a form tackle on Josh. Now, it looks like Josh was starting to fall a little bit, but Kamari had to finish him, and he did for this fourth down stop. And, man, I'm telling you, the crowd went crazy. This is number 11, Kamari with a big fourth down stop on Josh Allen.
00:03:25
Speaker 2: It's fourth down and two at the Houston 35-yard line.
00:03:29
Speaker 3: Allen's shotgun, cook in the backfield with him, motions out to the right, now settles in just outside the hash. Allen.
00:03:37
Speaker 2: Takes the snap. Whistles blow as he runs to the left. He's blocked out at the 36-yard line. A big stop by Kamari Lassiter on fourth down.
00:03:48
Speaker 1: Now, I know all of you have been around for Texas matchup over the years, and you know when I do an Ultimate 11 and the Texans unfortunately take an L, I've got to pay homage. And I'm going to pay homage with the game-winning touchdown. And there's so much going on in this particular play. I wish I could have done Telestrator and kind of point out the different things. You know, the effect of Dalt Kincaid on this play. Derrick Stingley Jr. pointing out DJ Moore kind of as a chip blocker, but on the other side of the play. And then the route Josh Palmer runs to get in the end zone. But the key to this is Josh Allen throwing an absolute seed. And when I say seed, I'm saying a ball with some sauce because this ball was ripped and put right on the money to Josh Palmer to give the Bills a 36-31 lead, which eventually would be the score. At the end of the game, at number 10, paying homage, it's Josh Allen to Josh Palmer in a big spot late in the fourth quarter.
00:04:46
Speaker 2: Need one more incompletion at least.
00:04:49
Speaker 3: Third and 11 at the Houston 34.
00:04:53
Speaker 2: Frank Gore Jr. in the backfield.
00:04:55
Speaker 4: D.J.
00:04:55
Speaker 2: Moore back in the game. Allen in the gun. Here's the snap on third and long. Allen throws downfield and caught.
00:05:02
Speaker 3: Touchdown.
00:05:04
Speaker 2: Unbelievable. Palmer.
00:05:06
Speaker 3: Down the seam with the catch and TD.
00:05:10
Speaker 2: And the Bills take the lead.
00:05:13
Speaker 1: Just hearing Mark say those words, the Bills take the lead. This is a game that had eight lead changes. It went back and forth. It was 3-0, 7-3, 10-7, 14-10, then 17-14, 24-14, 24-21, 27-21, 28-27, 30-28, 31-30. And then, of course, 36-31. It was a hell of a football game, man. It was just one too many plays made by the Bills to get that win. All right, let's get to number nine. And the Texans did get to Josh Allen. Not enough, not like last year, but they did get there. Will Anderson Jr. and Mario Edwards combining a sack. And it comes in at number nine.
00:05:54
Speaker 3: Second down and eight across the 14-yard line of Houston. Pistol set with Cook. Allen looking around. Allen tried to escape.
00:06:02
Speaker 2: Allen sacked. Nowhere to go. Will Anderson Jr. tripped him up, and Mario.
00:06:07
Speaker 3: Got on top of him to push him in the backfield, and the Texans forced third and long.
00:06:12
Speaker 1: All right, let's get to the Yocho, and eight is a key number in the number 2,808. There's two eights in that. So I devoted this one to a guy that had not been here in a while. In fact, he had not been here. in 2,808 days. Or I should say, he hadn't played a game in that time. And that would be one Jadeveon Clowney. My opening to the game, that was what I focused on, was Clowney being back. So I figured Clowney on third down, Bills are going to see some stuff from Will and Daniil, but then Clowney going in the game, I thought that was going to be a big deal for them. Wasn't from that standpoint as much as I thought. But going into the game, Jadeveon Clowney had 29 sacks as a Texan. He was one behind Will Anderson Jr., who had 30. And you just heard Will get the 30 and a half on the previous play. Well, before that, Genevion jumped up and tied Will with 30 sacks as number four all time for the Texans. And that came right here. Clowney off the left side. Bills run some trap protection, so they're pulling a guard over to try and block Clowney. Clowney whipped Alec Anderson and then wrapped up Josh Allen for his first sack in 2,808 days, his first of the 2026 season, and showed he was going to be a factor not only today but the rest of the season. Genevieve Clowney's sack comes in at the Ocho number eight.
00:07:49
Speaker 3: Second down and a long five across the Houston 28-yard line.
00:07:53
Speaker 2: Allen fakes the give. He's in the pocket. He's set.
00:07:56
Speaker 3: Back at the 34-yard line. Chatevion Clowney, welcome back to Houston.
00:08:00
Speaker 1: All right, moving on to lucky number seven. Oh, and it is number seven. That just hit me. When I pull the clips down, I order them in some kind of order. I mean, I don't sit there and go, okay, I try and put it in the best ultimate 11 order. in order of importance, in order of volume, that kind of thing. And I didn't realize I put this one at number seven, but I'm glad I did because number seven was shooting it, man. On Sunday, he was throwing a ball really well. I love watching the game from where I do, but I love going back and watching the game, just the game on TV, because when seven throws the ball, and he throws it down the field, it's the prettiest damn thing you've ever seen. I mean, it is so pretty to watch him throw the football. And when he has time to step in stride and throw a football a good distance down the field, it is beautiful. And that is the exact adjective I would use right here. The Bills, after, unfortunately, a forced fumble led to a Tyler Bass field goal that gave the Buffalo Bills a 3-0 lead. The Texans offense... knew it needed to answer. Hey, let's move the ball. Let's get some first downs. And they did. Things clicking a little bit. And then on the plus side of the field, that's where C.J. Stroud linked up with his guy, Nico Collins, against cover two. Nico gets in the cover two hole up the right sideline, and C.J. throws an absolute dime. I mean, the prettiest parabola you've seen right on the money. Putting the ball at the one-yard line. It comes in at number seven. C.J.
00:09:43
Speaker 3: Shot at Nico Collins. You've heard that before, haven't you? Well, here you go, number seven. Third down and eight. Texans at the Bills' 27-yard line. Stroud shotgun Montgomery in the backfield.
00:09:54
Speaker 2: C.J. gets the snap. C.J. with time. Going right side of the end zone. And he's got Nico Collins.
00:10:00
Speaker 3: Out of bounds inside the five first and goal Houston market at.
00:10:03
Speaker 2: The two what a catch.
00:10:08
Speaker 1: Man as I hear market Andre make that call I just I could see the ball in my mind and I'm just like that ball is so perfect I mean, that throw is so perfect. It's just unbelievable. But what number seven can do is not just with his arm. It's with his legs, and it's with his mind. And number six is a perfect example of that. Texas faced the third and 12, and the O-line's pass protection was really, really good. I mean, they gave up the one sack early to Russo, and that led to three points for the Bills, which is unfortunate. But they didn't give up a sack until the final two plays of the game when, Hopefully, you could have gotten the ball in the end zone, but you didn't. But, man, you put the ball in the end zone on that first play, which you should have. But a sack takes place, and then a sack takes place the next one. I thought the offensive line pass protection was really, really good. Even when the pass protection is good, sometimes the way the rushers are attacking CJ, whatever angles they're coming from, sometimes it opens up a big lane for CJ to run. And on third and 12, he saw everybody vacate. And then the pass protection kind of opened up a spot. So I thought initially when he stepped into the void, he's looking to throw. But then he looked up and thought, there's nobody here. This is just green grass. I mean, inside grass, you know what I mean. And he took off running. At number six, a big scramble from C.J. Stroud, a 15-yarder when they needed 12. He got 15. This is wonderful at number six from number seven.
00:11:42
Speaker 2: Third down and 12 for the Houston 38. Three receivers right. Stroud on the gun. Woody in the backfield.
00:11:46
Speaker 1: C.J.
00:11:47
Speaker 2: Ready to throw. C.J. under pressure. C.J. scrambling across the 45.
00:11:51
Speaker 3: C.J.
00:11:51
Speaker 2: Across the 50.
00:11:52
Speaker 3: He's got the first down to the 46-yard line on Buffalo.
00:11:56
Speaker 2: Tag down there. Stroud on the run. Moves the sticks.
00:12:00
Speaker 1: I think that is a weapon in a major way. And look, I understand last year, after he took that hard hit against Denver, not wanting to scramble as much. I totally understand it. But I think there are times when it is wide open and available, like it was right there for CJ to take off. And that's just going to have the Bengals and the Colts and the Cowboys and everybody that faces the Texans afterwards saying, hey, man, you guys better stay in your rush lanes. And that's going to give CJ more time to throw. And that's going to open up even more in a passing game. So it all kind of works together. But I love number six right there, C.J. Stroud taking off on the 15-yard scramble. Okay, let's get to this one. And I was thrilled because the guy on the other end of this play making a big play for this team I think has got to play a big role for this team this year, and that's Jalen Knoll. So, situation. The Bills had gone down and scored inside two minutes. D.J. Moore gets in the end zone for the first time for the Bills. The Bills now have a 24-yard. to 14 lead under two minutes. I think it was a minute 38. That's what stuck in my head. But that's enough time. Offense works on this every day in training camp. Here's your situation. Minute one, you got to go 60 yards. You got to kick a field goal. Now you got to go 75 yards. You're down four. You got to have a touchdown. Well, this couldn't have worked out any better.
00:13:20
Speaker 4: C.J.
00:13:20
Speaker 1: Went back to pass, and as he did, he found Jalen Knoll across the middle wide open. J. Knoll then took it down inside the low red zone. This is a big play that helped eventually cut this lead from 24-14 to 24-21, but it wouldn't have happened without this play, and I put it at number five.
00:13:37
Speaker 2: C.J.
00:13:38
Speaker 1: Stroud to Jalen Knoll. J.
00:13:40
Speaker 3: Knoll's first catch on the year, a big one for 34 yards to set up a late first-half touchdown.
00:13:45
Speaker 2: Stratton to the gun. Three receivers right. Woody Marks in the backfield. C.J. with a little time. Passes over the middle.
00:13:52
Speaker 3: Got a man across the 30 left side.
00:13:54
Speaker 1: Noll, 25-20.
00:13:55
Speaker 3: Out of bounds inside the 15-yard line. Jalen Noll catching run.
00:14:00
Speaker 1: All right, let's get to number four. And every now and again, I get kind of cute with the numerology, and I like that. Number four, you get four downs in football. Well, these two plays at number four were huge. And I remember... writing them down on my notes down on the field. And a lot of times I can remember everything's happening in the game, get a little older, so I got to write things down now. And I remember writing after this drive was over, the key to this were the two fourths and ones that they picked up. The first one on this drive, though, keep in mind, it's 27-21. The Bills had just kicked a field goal. But, hey, you got stops. He got us stopped basically to force him to kick a field goal. Tyler Bass hit it. You're down six. Hey, look, let's go punch this thing in the end zone. But the problem was the two drives prior to start the second half, three and out, three and out. God dang it. Here we go with second half issues offensively, kind of like last year. And I know that's something that Nick Caley has addressed with his team and wanted to do better in the second half. CJ talked about it in the second half. Hey, we can't have those three and outs. Well, they responded. Got a first down. But on the second set of downs, they got it to fourth and one, and they were on their side of the field. And I'm like, oh, this is a gutsy call. Third quarter, 27-21. If you somehow don't make it, the Bills are in not point-blank range, but they don't have to get far to at least kick a field goal. And it's 30-21. Now they're up two scores, and now you're really trudging uphill.
00:15:40
Speaker 3: But.
00:15:41
Speaker 1: We talked to D'Amico Ryans. I talked to him about it after the game. We talked about it on the coach's show. He was convinced they could pick up the fourth and one. So deep in their territory, the Texans went for this. The first fourth and one. Demo, boy, he got this. Not by much, but he gets the first fourth and one. It's the first part of number four.
00:16:00
Speaker 3: Fourth and a half yard across the Houston 37-yard line. Bills try to get heavy in the middle. CJ, hands off Montgomery, right side, plowing, getting it. Just got it across the 38-yard line. Those big legs kept moving, and he made sure he moved enough for.
00:16:23
Speaker 2: The first down. As it was Benford on top.
00:16:27
Speaker 1: Of him at the very end. Texans kept the drive alive, kept moving the ball down, and eventually got another fourth and one. This time, it was Woody Marks running over the right side. Keelan Rutledge, the rookie, pulling in front. Able to pick up this fourth and one and kept the drive alive near the end of the third quarter. As a result, the Texans were able to take a lead a few plays later. It wouldn't have happened without this second fourth and one conversion on this touchdown scoring drive.
00:16:59
Speaker 2: Fourth and inches at the Bills, 21. C.J. with the I formation behind him. Stroud.
00:17:05
Speaker 3: Hands off Montgomery, or it's Woody Marks rather, and he plows forward over right guard. He's got the first down across the 20. Woody Marks got it. The Texans get a first down in the red zone, and we head for the fourth quarter.
00:17:20
Speaker 1: And that we did. So let's get to one of the key plays in the fourth quarter. This one, like I said earlier, is going back and forth. After those fourth and ones, the Texans score a touchdown, make it 28-27. Tyler Bass would hit a field goal to put the Bills back in front 30-28. So the Texans got a drive going, but it stalled not too far beyond the logo. What about the 40 or 41-yard line? Fourth down. I did think Coach might think about going for a fourth down because he had gotten the fourth and ones earlier, but this was not fourth and one. But he's also got the best kicker in the NFL. And as soon as fourth down showed up on the screen, number 15 ran on the field as he always does. They were going to have to pull him off. He is confident, and he got out there with a new holder, a second-year snapper from 58 yards to take the lead. Now keep in mind, with the Bills having a two-point lead here, 30-28, if this field goal isn't made, they get the ball near midfield, And they score a touchdown, and now it's again two scores, and it's probably over. This is a massive kick. In that situation, you trust the best kicker in this organization's history, the best in the NFL. Kaimi Fairbairn from 58 is good, and it's at number three.
00:18:55
Speaker 3: 58-yard attempt. Left hash mark. Kaimi Fairbairn. Here's the snap. Here's the spot. Here's the kick.
00:19:02
Speaker 2: And he drops it in. It's good.
00:19:05
Speaker 3: The Texans are back in front.
00:19:09
Speaker 1: 31-30.
00:19:11
Speaker 2: Fairbairn hits the bomb for the lead.
00:19:14
Speaker 1: I'm telling you, Mark is not exaggerating. That was a rocket ship. That thing had some velo going over my head, man. It was a well-struck ball. And to know that you get just in that range. It's a field goal. It's three points. That helps so much for an offense. Kymie Fairbairn from 58 was fantastic. All right, let's get to number two. Now, this thing had gotten dicey before the half. Texas had a 14-10 lead in the second quarter. But then Josh Allen struck twice. The second time. inside the two-minute warning to D.J. Moore up the right sideline, the Bills had a 24-14 lead with a minute 38 left in the half. But after a J. Noel catch, Texans got the ball in range, and I'm telling you, C.J. Stroud threw an absolute blast.
00:20:10
Speaker 2: Dart.
00:20:12
Speaker 1: This ball was thrown, and this is a fastball. I know CJ didn't play baseball in high school, but I'm telling you, he throws a fastball. And I didn't see Nico. Not at first. And then I see Nico. This ball is ripped. And then I saw the end zone view. And, man, I'm telling you, you've got to give credit where credit is due. If the offensive line does one thing for a quarterback, it is to open a passing lane, sight lane. And they open a lane right in the middle where CJ can see where Nico's going. And he throws a laser shot right into the chest of number 12. This is for a touchdown to cut the lead to 24-21. CJ, Nico link up in the end zone for the first time in 2026. It's at number two.
00:21:01
Speaker 2: First down at the Bills, 12, bunch formation right. Collins, short side, left, Stroud in the gun. Here's the snap. C.J. with time. Throw into the end zone. Touchdown, Nico Collins. TD pass number one of the year for C.J. Stroud.
00:21:17
Speaker 3: And Collins with the catch. The Texans strike back.
00:21:21
Speaker 2: We got a ball game, fellas. We have a ball game.
00:21:26
Speaker 1: Man, did we ever have a ball game at that point, Dre. He's right on that.
00:21:30
Speaker 2: Okay.
00:21:32
Speaker 1: Let's get to number one. Now, I think about, you know, like driving up to the studio to do matchup, record matchup. I think about, all right, I'm thinking in my mind, all right, especially when I'm doing all through 11, like what plays, what thoughts? Okay, I know this play. I know the play to Jay Knoll across the middle. That was big. Obviously, Nico's touchdown. You know, I'm thinking about, you know, Kamari's stop early on. And I'm like, I don't know what I'm going to put at number one. I'm not, hmm. I went back and forth. I'm like, well, it could be Nico's touchdown. Or maybe it could be... And then... Well, I remembered. Because I remembered I could count to three. As in three touchdowns in his Texans debut for David Montgomery. And then I remember it's mile to 11. I could put as many items at number one as I want. But I'd like for them to be connected in some way. And, well... Three touchdowns from David Montgomery. That's definitely a connection. The first one, I think, is a play that everybody that follows the Texans and knows and follows what they do, understands why they do things, knew exactly why this one meant a lot. How many times last year did Texans get down to the one or two-yard line and not punch the ball in?
00:23:01
Speaker 2: Numerous.
00:23:02
Speaker 1: Cost them a Denver game. Cost them a Tampa Bay game. Seattle, maybe you could say that as well. Got down to the one. Couldn't score. Didn't happen this time because they went and got David Montgomery in a trade last March, and it paid off in a big way. Here's the first one of number one, Demo scoring from one yard out.
00:23:25
Speaker 3: Got to get it. Third and goal at the one. I-formation. Stroud digs in. Beats Montgomery again. Plowing forward. Montgomery to the goal line. Touchdown, David Montgomery. The Texans grab the lead. Power football.
00:23:45
Speaker 1: Now, knowing David Montgomery the way that we do, that is an unselfish dude. And I guarantee if we sat him down and said, hey, David, tell us about this second touchdown run. I guarantee he would say, I didn't do anything. The offensive line opened a massive gaping hole. David Montgomery is not touched on an 18-yard touchdown run. He slithers through. I mean, this is about as good as it gets. Power play. Ed Ingram pulls from the right, kicks out the left. Cade Stover gets a great block. Demo not touched. Found the running lane. Touchdown, the second of his Texans career, the second of the game, and it comes in as the second part of number one.
00:24:29
Speaker 2: First down at the Bills, 18. Pistols set. Montgomery in the backfield. Here he is. 15, 10, 5. Walk and roll.
00:24:38
Speaker 3: Touchdown, Montgomery. His second of the day. The Texans take the lead. And then we get to the final one. 27-21.
00:24:48
Speaker 1: Bills are ahead. But the Texans got a drive going. They converted those two fourths and ones earlier. Clock turned to the fourth quarter. DeMar already had two touchdowns on the ground. Now it's time to go to him through the air. And what was awesome about this, we talked about this as the radio crew. You're going to hear Mark here give the call. Everybody, mainly me, we see DeMar out in a flat wide open. And a lot of times, Mark, with his binoculars, is following a ball. So he's on with his binoculars looking at CJ. So I like to give him, from time to time, who he's targeting. And so when you hear CJ rolls out, like, Demo! David Montgomery is so wide open. So wide open on the flat. Stroud hits him. I mean, it's one of those where you're like, CJ's just like, man, I could run this thing in myself, but I got to get this to Montgomery. Gets it to Montgomery. Texans take the lead. Place goes nuts. Demos third touchdown. It's the third part of number one. CJ to David Montgomery to give the Texans a 28-27 lead.
00:25:58
Speaker 3: Here they go with Nico Collins. Right side, but tight to the line. On second and goal from the seven. Montgomery is in. Stroud of the gun. On second and goal from the seven. CJ takes the snap. Steps out to his right. Hits Montgomery. Touchdown Houston.
00:26:15
Speaker 2: The hat trick for Montgomery.
00:26:18
Speaker 3: His third TD of the day as Stroud finds him. And the Texans can take the lead with the extra point.
00:26:24
Speaker 2: What a well-executed play.
00:26:27
Speaker 1: Man, I'm a huge fan of that play. I've seen teams run it against the Texans before. The Chargers mainly back in, I remember, 2021. Killed the Texans with it. Seen the Texans run that play with Daria Gumbawale. I've seen them do it a number of different times. I remember Bill O'Brien's Texas running that play with Carlos Hyde taking a lead against the Buffalo Bills in the playoff game in 2019. So that play has been a good one for a lot of teams, a lot of Texas teams, and even some opponents. It's a great one. That was David Montgomery's third touchdown of the day. It was great. It was the fourth trip to the red zone and the fourth touchdown in the red zone. Absolutely beautiful.
00:27:10
Speaker 2: All right.
00:27:11
Speaker 1: Coming up on Texas Matchup. The last time the Texans faced the Bengals. It was in 2023. It was an Ohio homecoming, if you will, for C.J. Stroud. But it was a game that will be known as a certain player's game. We do that a lot. Oh, that's this guy's game. That's this guy's game.
00:27:33
Speaker 2: Well, this game.
00:27:34
Speaker 1: Was the Noah Brown game against the Cincinnati Bengals in 2023. We'll look back at it. Texas matchup coming up next. What's happening, everybody? Welcome back to another edition of Texas matchup. I really appreciate you being with me. We're on this show. We look back and we look ahead. And with the Bengals on the horizon, the week two opponent here at Reliant Stadium, it's always good to look back at the last time we played the Bengals. Appreciate you being with me. I am John Harris, football analyst, sideline reporter for your Houston Texans. And that week against the Bengals, if you remember back to 2023, it was such a special year. Texans, a little bit of struggles early. Play in Tampa Bay. Looked like things were not going to go well. They were going to end up, I think at that point, being 3-6 maybe. Then obviously C.J. Stroud tanked out, pulled it out of the fire with a massive win against Tampa Bay. I mean, just incredible ending, incredible win. But on the docket next was a trip to Cincinnati to face Joe Burrow, Jamar Chase, and the Cincinnati Bengals. Oh, boy. I mean.
00:28:49
Speaker 1: I was nervous. But it was a beautiful day in Cincinnati.
00:28:53
Speaker 2: Beautiful.
00:28:54
Speaker 1: Sun out. I mean, just the absolute consummate football day early in November. And the Texans didn't get off to a great start in the game. Not because of Jamar Chase. Not because of T. Higgins. But because of, well, Trenton Irwin?
00:29:15
Speaker 4: Yeah.
00:29:16
Speaker 1: Trenton Irwin. And the Bengals took a 7-0 lead.
00:29:19
Speaker 3: Mix in out of the game. One back Burrow in the gun. Three receivers wide side right on third and seven. Harris in the middle of the D-line. Burrow gets the snap. Burrow quick throw downfield. And Claude touchdown.
00:29:30
Speaker 4: Irwin.
00:29:32
Speaker 2: Trenton Irwin, fourth.
00:29:34
Speaker 3: Year out of Stanford with a bullet pass by Burrow down the right sideline.
00:29:37
Speaker 4: I told you we talked about it in the pregame. I said they are going to go after Stingley today. He is going to have to prove that he is 100% healthy or healthy enough to play. And it didn't take long for Joe Burrow to find a receiver behind Derek Stingley.
00:29:56
Speaker 2: That one hurt.
00:29:57
Speaker 1: But the Texans would respond and respond in a big way. Another guy who had a great game in this one was Dalton Schultz. Stroud found him for a big 23 yards on an early first quarter drive. Stroud.
00:30:11
Speaker 3: In the gun, first down for the Houston 18, one back, here's the snap, C.J. looking a lot of time, now throws downfield, hits Schultz, tackled at the 42-yard line, Taylor Britt with the stop, but not until C.J. finds Schultz for 24 yards.
00:30:26
Speaker 4: Excellent protection, and that's been the case the last couple of weeks, as this offensive line is now two consecutive weeks in a row, actually three consecutive weeks in a row, has had the same guys in the same spots twice. That chemistry's starting to blend together.
00:30:43
Speaker 1: That first quarter drive ended up being nullified as the Texans would fumble a fourth down snap and the Bengals would get the ball back. But the defense did a great job that day getting the ball back to C.J. Stroud. And then it was time for the offense, well, to get jingy with it. A little reverse to Tank Dell.
00:31:02
Speaker 3: Dell out to the right side, wide side of the field on second and three from the Houston 41. Devon in the backfield, and here's an end-around handoff to Hutchinson.
00:31:11
Speaker 2: Reverse. Dell running to his left, looking for room. 45, 50.
00:31:15
Speaker 3: Dell out of bounds across the 46-yard line of Cincinnati. First down run. Tank Dell on the reverse.
00:31:23
Speaker 2: You cannot teach speed.
00:31:25
Speaker 1: Then CJ found his best friend, Tank, for 17. Second and six, Stroud fakes the gift, throws down.
00:31:31
Speaker 2: What a catch.
00:31:31
Speaker 3: And Dell picks it off the turf to make the reception, rolling down at the 25-yard line to the Bengals.
00:31:37
Speaker 2: What a reception by Dell.
00:31:39
Speaker 4: I mean, he is going full speed, and Tank is pretty fast and has to reach back at his ankles and make that catch.
00:31:47
Speaker 1: Then he found his guy, Tank. for a touchdown, which tied this game at seven. One back Devon Singletary. Here's the snap.
00:31:54
Speaker 2: C.J.
00:31:54
Speaker 3: Looking, throwing right side Dell at the six, takes it to the goal line.
00:31:58
Speaker 2: He's in! Touchdown, Houston! Stroud to Dell for six. Speed kills.
00:32:05
Speaker 4: Throws Awuze, and then just accelerated into the end zone on him. Throws him, and then went right by him, and lunged for the goal line, and got himself there. Unreal.
00:32:19
Speaker 1: Texas would get a defensive stop, and then it was time for the Noah Brown game to begin. And that's one of the things Mark and I talk a lot about. You know, as we've been together since 2014, and obviously I've been here since 2007, so we go even further back. We remember games a lot of times for an individual in that game. We'll say, hey, remember that game in 2010, the Colts, you know, the Arian Foster game? Do you remember that game with the Washington Redskins in 2010? You know, the Andre Johnson game? Well, this one we affectionately called the Noah Brown game because that dude went absolutely off starting in the second quarter.
00:33:01
Speaker 2: A bootleg out to the right. He plants. Doesn't have anybody to throw it to.
00:33:04
Speaker 3: Now guns it downfield and hits Brown at the 40-yard line. And he's going to be taken down at the 45-yard line.
00:33:11
Speaker 2: Too strong to bring down right away. Gets good yardage up to the 45. Third and 13 for.
00:33:16
Speaker 3: The Houston 42. Stroud gets the snap. Airs it downfield.
00:33:20
Speaker 2: Hits Brown. 35-30.
00:33:21
Speaker 3: Wrestled down at the 29-yard line. What a play to Noah Brown, who has been phenomenal the last two weeks.
00:33:29
Speaker 2: CJ takes the snap.
00:33:31
Speaker 1: Little mini boot.
00:33:31
Speaker 3: There's trouble in the backfield. Stroud scrambling around, wanting to get rid of it. Does downfield. Hits Noah at the 42. He's down at the 40-yard line. How did he do it?
00:33:41
Speaker 2: He always gets open down the field.
00:33:43
Speaker 4: Just a big, big play Noah Brown is what they ought to start calling him because he just makes big catches all the time.
00:33:52
Speaker 3: 20 yards on this play, and Noah over 100 for the second consecutive game.
00:33:58
Speaker 1: The Texans were picking up chunks of yards, as you heard. Noah Brown calls 29, 28, 20. They were getting whatever they wanted in the passing game. Noah would finish with a monster game in this one, but his biggest play was a little bit later. But all those receptions and all those plays would eventually lead to Motor, one of my all-time favorites, still doing it for the New York Giants. He's one of my favorites, only here for a year, but, man, I loved him. Devin Singletary, he would take one in for the Texans as the offense stayed hot in this one against the Bengals.
00:34:32
Speaker 3: First and goal inside the sixth.
00:34:34
Speaker 2: Stroud under center. Schultz in the backfield. And here's motion.
00:34:40
Speaker 3: CJ pushes the ball to Singletary. Right side run, and Devin is in. Touchdown, Houston. Singletary with the rushing TD. And the Texans are up two scores on Cincinnati. For Singletary, that is rushing touchdown number one of his Texans career on his best day as a Texan.
00:35:03
Speaker 1: The Bengals would answer back, but only with a 50-yard field goal. Well, for the time being, Joe Burrow on the following drive would then seemingly take a crack at the Texans' lead with this dime. Now, when I'm telling you dime, I am not exaggerating. I don't know that I've ever seen a prettier long ball more accurately thrown than this one from Joe Burrow to Jamar Chase, which sent Cincinnati fans into hysterics.
00:35:38
Speaker 3: Burrow takes the snap pocket collapsing Burrow looking around now scrambles out to the left side squares up and guns long downfield.
00:35:46
Speaker 2: And caught Chase.
00:35:48
Speaker 3: Across the 10-5 touchdown Burrow kept it alive Chase got the ball brought it to the end zone as Petrie could not stay with him 64 yard reception and the Bengals are.
00:36:03
Speaker 1: Right in it that ball was probably in the air I would say 45 to 50 yards in the air. And it hit Jamar Chase in full stride. It happened right in front of me, and I just was like, oh, my God. That was gorgeous. But gorgeous-er, if that's the right word to use, on this day was C.J. Stroud and Noah Brown. They would link up again, starting to answer that Chase touchdown. Here is C.J. hitting Noah yet again.
00:36:35
Speaker 2: C.J. fakes it again. Rolls out to the left. Plants.
00:36:38
Speaker 3: And now guns it downfield and hits Noah Brown at the 40. And Brown cradles the ball. He's down inside the 36-yard line.
00:36:46
Speaker 2: Awuzie with the tackle.
00:36:48
Speaker 3: Another huge play to Noah Brown having a monster afternoon.
00:36:54
Speaker 1: Then as we got into the fourth quarter, CJ went back to pass. Didn't like what he saw. He decided to do it himself. Ran this one in from eight yards out. And your Texans. seemingly running away with this thing now. On first and goal, Stroud gets the snap. C.J.
00:37:12
Speaker 2: Looking, scrambling forward.
00:37:14
Speaker 1: C.J.
00:37:14
Speaker 2: On the run across the five.
00:37:16
Speaker 4: He's in!
00:37:17
Speaker 2: Touchdown, C.J. Stroud!
00:37:19
Speaker 3: The quarterback with the touchdown run, and the Texans go back up two scores on Cincinnati.
00:37:27
Speaker 1: The Texans had a 10-point lead. I've seen a lot of Texans football. I knew it wasn't over, but I was feeling really confident about how they were moving the ball. The Bengals weren't. Okay, we're in a pretty good situation here, especially when DeAndre Houston Carson came down with an interception in the end zone. Now the Texans have the ball. They're up 10, seemingly going to put this thing away, and then the unthinkable happened. CJ threw an interception to Tank Dell. Joe Mixon scored a touchdown there. and it was game on. Texans on the next drive could not pick it up on third down, had to punt to the Bengals. Joe Burrow hit Tyler Boyd on a crosser. Boyd, not the fastest receiver in the world, took off, and eventually the Texans would knock him out of bounds, but deep in Texans territory. Thankfully, Sheldon Rankins had a sack on the next play, but on the play after that, Joe Burrow found Tyler Boyd in the end zone wide open to take the, and he dropped it. He dropped it. The Bengals would have to settle for a game-tying field goal to make it 27-27, but it also gave C.J. Stroud more time. First and second down, though, didn't work out. Third down, the money down. And the rookie came up huge to Dalton Schultz.
00:39:02
Speaker 3: Here's the snap. Stroud looking. Stroud firing downfield. And caught by Schultz at the 46-yard line.
00:39:09
Speaker 2: The tackle made by Cam Taylor Britt. The 46 of the Bengals. 31 seconds to go.
00:39:15
Speaker 1: And then, well, remember earlier when I said it was the Noah Brown game? And I gave you those big plays from Noah? And I said he wasn't done yet? Well, he had one more in store for the Bengals that would put the Texans in game-winning field goal opportunity before the end of regulation. Now motion by Boone.
00:39:36
Speaker 3: CJ takes the snap, throws over the middle, hits Noah Brown, breaks a tackle, 30, Noah 25, Noah 20, and he's wrapped up at the 20-yard line.
00:39:45
Speaker 2: Timeout called with five seconds to go.
00:39:48
Speaker 3: They get the ball to Brown, and they're ready to try a field goal.
00:39:53
Speaker 1: The thing about that play, Noah makes the catch, and as he's running, he breaks a tackle early. And then he gets hit by a couple of Bengals, and he won't go down. And the clock is running. I'll never forget Michael Dieter was the starting center at the time. He's looking up at the clock, and he doesn't know whether he should help block the pile or look. And it's like, you got to go down. I'm screaming from the sidelines, go down, go down. You got to get this time out. Eventually, Noah would go down at about the 20 or 21-yard line. And now it's time for Kaimi.
00:40:27
Speaker 2: Oh, no.
00:40:29
Speaker 1: If you remember, and I know you do, in the week's win prior, the win over Tampa Bay, Kaimi had hurt himself on a kickoff. That was Daria Gumbawaleh. kicking the go-ahead field goal in the fourth quarter. Well, during the week, they had to go get a kicker, and they found Matt Amendola. No relation, I don't think. I think they spell Amendola differently. So no Danny Amendola relation, but it's the game winner. It's 27-27. It's a 38-yarder. So you think that's definitely in range, but man, his first week kicking with the Texans, could Matt Amendola be the hero the Texans needed to beat the Bengals?
00:41:19
Speaker 3: 38-yard field goal attempt from the left hash mark for the victory for Matt Amendola.
00:41:25
Speaker 2: Here's the snap. Here's the spot. Here's the kick. Plenty of leg. And it's good!
00:41:31
Speaker 3: The Texans walk off with a win for Cincinnati!
00:41:36
Speaker 2: They take it 30-27.
00:41:37
Speaker 3: Matt Amendola at the buzzer. The Texans walk away.
00:41:45
Speaker 1: With a win that we'll never forget. That was absolutely one I would never forget. Considering where the Texans had been, they had this Wunderking quarterback now, this young man who could just seemingly do everything. He had brought them from behind against Tampa Bay. He had just done it against Cincinnati. C.J. Stroud was showing exactly how special he was as a quarterback. Noah Brown went off. Dalton Schultz had the big catches in that game. I mean, big catches. That third down catch, he'd had one earlier in the game on that same route. It was just incredible. I remember that locker room maybe more than others. I'd been there for wins against Cincinnati. I remember 2015 Monday night game. 2017, Deshaun's debut. But that one in 2023, that was incredible. That was one you will always remember. And when we tell the story of CJ's career 25, 30, 40 years from now, hey, remember that Tampa Bay-Cincinnati back-to-back? It was just incredible. He was. He put the team on its back that day and got some big help, especially from Noah Brown. Yeah, the Noah Brown game. That's the one we remember as such. Okay, Cincinnati coming to Reliant Stadium makes all of us remember one Texans moment maybe more than any others. And it birthed the career of a legend. We'll have that for you next on Texas Matchup. We got one final segment of this edition of Texas Matchup where we love looking back, looking ahead, putting them together, listening to the calls from Mark and Andre. It's all fun time on the show. even though Sunday was a tough loss to the Buffalo Bills. Love being here to tell the story of it and other instances in Texans history. I'm your host, John Harris, football analyst, sideline reporter for your Houston Texans. And it is the Bengals coming up on Sunday. Now, for some reason, the Bengals have been that team the Texans have had some massive victories. Going back to 2011-12, The win in Cincinnati, TJ Yates hitting Kevin Walter with about two seconds left in the game. That would be a win that would clinch. You didn't know it at the exact time, but you knew it about 30 minutes, 45 minutes later that the Texans had won the AFC South with that. Then in 2015, going back up there, TJ Yates throwing the touchdown to DeAndre Hopkins in the near corner of the end zone on Monday night, ending a regular season that was undefeated at the time for the Bengals. And that was nice. 2017, Sean Watson's debut, the 49-yard touchdown run, a win, just a scant five days after getting beat by Jacksonville in the opener after Hurricane Harvey. That was incredible. We played the 2023 game, which was an incredible football game. It's the last time the Texans have played the Cincinnati Bengals. But we've had some matchups with the Bengals here at Reliant Stadium. 2016, Christmas Eve night, the missed field goal at the end after an alpha blue touchdown gave them the lead with Tom Savage in charge, clinched AFC South that night. But I think when you say Bengals v. Texans, to most Texans fans, they always remember one game, and that was the very first game playoff game in Texans history right here at Reliant Stadium. The Bengals, after the Texans had beaten them earlier, were coming to town as a wildcard team. The Texans' first playoff game. You knew there were going to be nerves. There were going to be moments in this game, especially early on. You kind of, I don't know how this thing's going to go. Well, the Bengals came out hot. And you could tell the Texans came out a little bit nervous. And it was kind of, it was teetering there for For a little while. I mean, look, that was a very talented Bengals team. A.J. Green, Andy Dalton, I thought, as a rookie, had a really solid year. It was rookies going at each other in a wild card playoff game. Well, the Texans' offense started kind of getting going. But then the game changed. And when I say the game changed, I think a career changed. For one, Justin James Watt, a.k.a. J.J.
00:46:28
Speaker 4: Watt.
00:46:29
Speaker 1: You could argue it's the greatest play in Texans history. I think Texans fans have said that. I think we did a tournament bracket of that sort. What's the greatest play in Texans history? There have been some good ones, but this one from J.J. Watt might be the best one, and it was against the Bengals in 2011. Dalton gets the snap, throws it.
00:46:50
Speaker 2: It's intercepted.
00:46:51
Speaker 3: Watt takes it across the 15.
00:46:54
Speaker 2: 10, 5. Rock and roll. Touchdown, Texans. Pick six. Just like that, the Texans take the lead. And Reliant Stadium has erupted.
00:47:06
Speaker 1: And for good reason.
00:47:08
Speaker 2: J.J.
00:47:08
Speaker 1: Would erupt over his career. The Texans would win that playoff game. And hopefully the result, a win over the Bengals, is what we get this Sunday against Joe Burrow and Cincinnati. We'll see you then, everybody. Thank you for listening. And as always, go Texans.
