(SportsRadio 610) - It's fair to say the Texans have taken on the personality of their first-year head coach DeMeco Ryans.
They have one of the better run defenses in the league and overall have been opportunistic in taking the ball away, none greater than the back-to-back pick-6s from Steven Nelson and Christian Harris last Saturday to seal the wild-card victory at home against the Cleveland Browns.
Ryans was asked Wednesday about instilling the relentless mindset in this team throughout his first season.
"For me, I always want the team to just play football how I see football – how I think it should be played," Ryans said. "I think football should be played with passion, I think it should be played with energy, and I think, when you get the opportunity to do it, you should give everything you have to the game because you don't know when your last play will be. You don't know when it's your last season.
"It's just about shelling out all of the effort you can possibly give. If you do that, and you take advantage of each and every day that you get the opportunity to suit up and play this game because it's a privilege to be able to play this game. Guys are truly blessed to be the athletes that they are to be able to take the physical pounding that this game – it will tax you. I think that for me and my mindset, how I play the game – have fun, give it everything you have and just own each and every moment that you have. I like where our team is right now. The way we play, we finish the right way. We play with great effort, and we enjoy playing with each other. We enjoy seeing our brothers make plays. We enjoy the success of others, and that's how I truly believe the game should be played."
