I'm the last person to be a prisoner of the moment. I will get caught up in certain moments. Like the time the Saints got hosed on that call against the Rams. I did call it the worst call in NFL playoff history. I still do. At least I'm consistent with that one. Typically, I reel myself in, and reset.

After the Texans beat the Titans, I caught that prisoner of the moment feeling. Some called it the biggest or best or most impressive win in Texans history. I was feeling some of those statements. I stepped back to re-center myself, then came back to the idea. This was a pretty big win. Where it ranks in Texans history, I'm not sure. But I think it was a huge win for other reasons. Two to be exact.

This win was the clinching factor for DeMeco Ryans to win coach of the year, and for Nick Caserio to win executive of the year. When you're missing your two prized rookies in starting quarterback C.J. Stroud and starting defensive end Will Anderson Jr, plus C.J.'s top targets, plus others, and you still pull off a win on the road against a division opponent coming off their biggest win of the season, what do you think should happen?

The team came into this season with little to no real expectations of making the playoffs. Some fans kept the faith and had those wild thoughts. Some would express as much very vigorously, I might add. The overwhelming majority figured they'd win maybe five to seven games at most. They'd been left for dead after previous terrible seasons. Talent was still an issue, even after they'd been on a path to respectability with their recent drafts and free agency findings. Most thought they'd be more competitive under DeMeco but needed more time.

14 games into the season, they're tied for first in the AFC South with three games left. There's a serious shot they make the playoffs. This team was put together over the last few years by Caserio. His previous coaching hires and talent fumbles aside, he's ultimately responsible for the guys on this roster being here. He's also partially responsible for DeMeco being here. Partially because DeMeco has a documented history here as a player. That, and the fact that I believe the McNair's had a lot to do with it also.

DeMeco has completely changed the culture on Kirby. I've seen fans go from despair and pessimism to elation and long-term optimism. Players believe they can beat any other team in front of them. People in the organization have always been pleasant but seem to have a lot more pep in their step. It's a lot more fun when you're winning. What DeMeco did was restore the feeling of what's possible when you believe. Fans, players, staff, they all believe. Getting the players to buy in was easier for him since he's only 39 years old, recently removed from his playing days, has a track record of developing players, and came up the coaching ranks in a successful organization.

The work both guys have put in deserves to be recognized. The Texans have already more wins this season than they had the previous two seasons combined. Some of that was by design, given the state of the franchise a couple of seasons ago. Now, things have been totally turned around. Playoffs are now the expectation moving forward. Nothing else will suffice. There's cap space and a normal allotment of draft capital in the upcoming draft (minus 5th and 6th rounders, but an extra 4th). They have a pick in every round in the '25 draft. Stroud and Anderson Jr are both on rookie deals. Three fifths of the offensive line was re-signed this past offseason. Caserio and DeMeco have built something sustainable that's winning ahead of the schedule most had set for them. For that, they should both be recognized as the best in their respective categories this season.