I think MDC's email says it all:

Can someone who is hopefully more sober and less homicidal throw up a post-game thread? I'm f***ng spent and will likely devolve into something that will get us shut down.

I, personally, feel like this is a game we should've had. But it was also a game that was a microcosm of both our strengths and weaknesses. Still, your 2011 Houston Texans showed muchos huevos to get us to this game, and it's a squad of which I'm proud. GO TEXANS!

The last fifteen minutes of the Texans' season? I certainly hope not.

Let's do this. NOW.

Three happy thoughts:

1. Arian Foster's first half rushing total is the highest full-game total the Ravens have ever allowed in a playoff game. (Suck on THAT, Marshall Faulk.)

2. If not for the turnovers --- looking at YOU, Jacoby --- the Texans would be dominating this game.

3. Kareem Jackson might (MIGHT!) have figured out that turning one's head improves one's ability to defend a pass.

So . . . uh, to paraphrase another great Missourian, the reports of the Texans' demise have been greatly exaggerated. (What's that? I was guilty of reporting their demise in the first quarter? Why you gotta bring up old stuff, dude? Focus on the future!)

Second quarter thread. You know what to do.

(Unless you are Jacoby Jones, that is. Seriously, that was the worst play I've ever seen at any level of football. There are Pop Warner punt returners who thought "whoa, that was stupid!" Because it was.)

Pregame enthusiasm made the first open thread fill up rather quickly, and I imagine that kickoff will bring even more commenters, so here's a shiny, new thread for your first quarter thoughts.

Also, in case there's someone out there who hasn't seen this:

"We got ourselves a game."

Your Houston Texans have a playoff game today. AGAIN. I think the kids call this "old hat." WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

This is the first of your open game threads for today's matchup against the Ravens. Who will secure that second spot in the AFC Championship Game? Leave your pre-game, in-game, and post-game observations and criticisms in the Comments below.

Texans vs Ravens coverage

"We poke a lot of fun at Houston, not because the city is basically Indianapolis plus stifling humidity and oppressive traffic, but because no one ever really took their team seriously. Not that you really should start, because they’re pretty likely to lose their first playoff game. But at least the Texans can start to shake the perception that they might actually be a lazily made user-generated team on Madden. The super generic name never helped."

Kissing Suzy Kolber wrote the above after your Houston Texans clinched the AFC South championship. I could put in the effort and dig around to find other "Texans are bland" and "Texans have no identity" comments, but we all know they are there. I also know I can go around and find a ton of comments and analysis that had the Cincinnati Bengals beating the Texans - how you doing, Charles Barkley?

Today was a monumental moment for a fledgling franchise and city long-waiting for a postseason win. The Houston Texans are no longer a Cinderella looking to make a run at the playoffs. The Texans are no longer a team who has lost three in a row and looks like a one-and-done. Your Houston Texans are a team who have gone and won a playoff game. They have won a playoff game in ten years, which puts them in a similar or better position than Buffalo, Cleveland, or Dallas to name a few franchises. The Texans now have a truly meaningful win on the national stage.

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Boo yah.