APCan the Houston Texans get to the Super Bowl with T.J. Yates at quarterback? It sounds crazy, but on Sunday in Cincinnati it was just crazy enough to work.
Yates completed 26 of 44 passes for 300 yards, with two touchdowns and one interception, and he engineered a furious fourth-quarter comeback as the Texans went from down 19-10 to winning 20-19 in Cincinnati. The comeback reached its fruition when Yates hit Kevin Walter in the end zone for a six-yard touchdown with two seconds left, at the end of a drive that was kept alive by Yates scampering 17 yards on third-and-15. It was a gutty showing for Yates, a rookie fifth-round draft pick who’s only playing because the Texans have lost starter Matt Schaub and backup Matt Leinart for the season.
The Bengals headed into today’s game in position to be the sixth and final playoff team in the AFC, but this loss probably means Cincinnati won’t be in the playoffs. The competition for the last AFC wild-card berth is going to be furious, and this was a game the Bengals couldn’t afford to lose.
But the Texans are now in the playoffs for the first time in franchise history. Despite being down to their third-string quarterback, they’ve clinched the AFC South. A playoff game in Houston with T.J. Yates as the Texans’ quarterback? No one saw that coming before the season, but the Texans have made it happen.
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A thing of beauty!
Simply said… DAT YATES!
I knew T.J. could pull this win off. Way to go TEXANS!!! Congrats from a 10 year fan.
First Playoff Birth
First AFC South Title
First 10 win season
First 7 Game win streak
TJ Yates first 300 yd game
Lots of firsts today.
Why not Yates!
What would they do if they won the Super Bowl with Yates?
But, but, but they should have signed Favre, McNabb, or Orton according to a certain faction of “expert” PFT commenters. This Texans team is different, you can see the chemistry and heart for once. Even if they are one and done in the playoffs, the foundation is in place to be in the AFC South conversation while this group is in its prime.
That was so freaking awesome. I would imagine Bengals fans in Cincy are glad this one was blacked out. They just got TJ’d.
I’m not so sure that shouldn’t say “because of being down to their third-string quarterback” instead of “despite being down to their third-string quarterback.”
Love this win. Can we now say TJ just wins?
Great way to prove yourself! Congratulations team
Yates leading the way to the SuperBowl? That shhh cray!!!
Yates rookie of the year
Congrats, but the Texans will come back down to Earth in the playoffs. They have NO chance to beat any of the top teams when it counts. I’d love to see the Ravens crush them again.
You can always count on a Tar Heel when the pressure is on.
1) The Texans are not beating up on the Jags, Bucs, and Browns anymore. Two wins in a row against good teams (Falcons, Bengals) with a rookie QB.
2) Clutch defensive performance will be lost in Yates’ fourth quarter insanity, but half a game ball should go to D.
3) Question now: can the Texans win out and hope Baltimore or NE trips up and get to a first-round bye?
4) If not, looks like Texans/Jets at HOU first round.
Unbelievable!! From a 10 year fan who has made atleast one game a year I couldn’t be more proud of this team
I’ve got to hand it to Gary. After giving Wade the first 4 draft picks for his shiny new defense, Gary did OK with the first offensive pick.
Bengals choked. Had nothing to do with Yates. Bengals flat out suck and Zimmer should be ashamed of that Defense.
I think this takes any doubt out about Colt McCoy. TJ Yates, Dalton, Tebow, and every other rookie is better than Colt. They also show more upside.
Mac3333, it had everything to do with Yates.
Game ball to Kubiak for finding this stud in the fifth round.
Yates = rookie of the year!!!!
The Bengals did not choke. The Texans woke up and started playing offense…after almost giving the game away many times over.
T.J. has been excellent in the fast-paced 2-minute drill. Remember, he came off the bench and looked pretty good in that situation.
The Owen Daniels 1-handed tipped grab for a first down? T.J. running for 15 on 3rd and (was it 13?).
They made plays and got some help when Pacman grabbed Jacoby Jones going to the end-zone. Jones doesn’t have great hands, he may drop it if it hits his hands…no need to interfere.
TJ Yates was Ice Cold today. No way we win that game with Schaub at QB.
Ooops – I should have sound
First round (Wild card round) Loss to whatever team they play in the first playoff game they play – guess they could still get a bye somehow .. but lets face it – they aren’t going ANYWHERE in the playoffs … nice season but it ends with first playoff game
All TJ does is win!!!!
Got to admit I was a little nervous.
That was an awesome game! Yates is shutting all the naysayers up. No I’m not calling him the MVP or anything, and he’s still making some mistakes. But he is showing that he’s not gonna be a liability to this team.
Between Ed hochuli making the rules up as he went along and the bengals just choking defensively that’s why the texans won not because of Yates texans are one and done. Sometimes it’s better to be lucky than good. It doesn’t hurt to have hochuli calling your games either
Sounds familiar in Dallas
Go Yates! Good job! Cool for the Texans and their fans!
the evolution of tj yates is amazing. but also not surprising. he went from being unc’s biggest liability a few years ago to the dude that carried a decimated team last year. an amazing turnaround. his success in the nfl is not surprising at all because his growth in college was so astronomical. he’s a damn good kid and i hope to watch him succeed.
That game was nerve racking, but looking back through Houston’s history I really couldn’t see it being any other way. I’ve been a Texans fan since the first day, do this is VERY exciting. Yates stepped up when we needed him the most. Pretty good for a Tar Heel, he just became a legend in H Town!
Kubiak deserves COTY. SF and GB haven’t had the adversity his team has and they both have their starting QBs.
darkchilde00 says:
Dec 11, 2011 4:36 PM
First Playoff Birth
First AFC South Title
First 10 win season
First 7 Game win streak
TJ Yates first 300 yd game
Lots of firsts today.
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….And your point is?? We were plagued by a defensive minded head coach the first couple years of our existance..and look where that Packers D is now, had absolute no offense until schaub came into the mix..sounds like a lot of excuses I know, but why can’t you just let us soak in the glory we have so desperately been waiting for.
Matt Scuab has lost his job
Did you see Yates on that designed run wow
Yates as ROY? Your just stupid!