The Mark Stoops Dynasty

[CakeWalker]

Week Ten - Week Thirteen

As we found ourselves in the second half of the regular season the Week Ten contest would see Houston travel to Pittsburgh, with the Steelers currently the team with the worst record in the NFL as they were 0-8 and having arguably their worst season in their franchise history. So it must have been a surprise to many of the local fans when for the first time in weeks the Steelers actually looked as if they were part of the contest, instead of being stepped over by their opposition. Instead, the game was a low scoring affair with both team stay relatively close to each other in the contact. Houston would take an early lead by way of a FG before Morgan would throw to Hyder for the first touchdown of the game, with the first half ending with Pittsburgh making a kick of their own and the Texans holding a narrow lead of 10-3.

The second half though would see the Steelers changed their approach as they would instead focus on their running units with running back Kerryon Johnson given a lot of the ball and the former Auburn Tiger had some really power behind him as he would be able to score the Steelers first touchdown of the game as he trucked through the Houston lines.

(Kerryon Johnson - Steelers Running Back)

Eberle would convert a second field goal for the Texans and Houston would be narrowly leading 13-10 going into the final quarter of the game. Kerryon Johnson would continue his assault on the Texans D-Line and crash through for his second touchdown of game, putting the Steelers in the lead for the first time. And it was a lead that they wouldn't surrender, finally bringing an end to their winless season.

13 - 17

​

Houston Texans	3	7	3	0	13
Pittsburgh Steelers	0	3	7	7	17

Despite an embarrassing on their plate, Houston wouldn't have the luxury of moping as they would find themselves travelling to Nashville to play the Titans in their third road game in a row, although it now finding themselves on a two game losing streak they really needed a turn of good fortune ahead of an AFC South Division clash in Week Eleven. It seemed though that the Titans never got the message as they smelled blood in the water and Tennessee didn't hold anything back as they hosted the Texans. The Titans would open up the scoring with Henderson scoring a rushing touchdown for the Titans only for Marcus Mariota to throw to Adams to give the Titans a 0-14 lead halfway through the second quarter.

(Marcus Mariota - Titans QB1)

Morgan Gifford who had clearly been struggling as Stoops' first choice QB since Watson departure, but despite the problems the second year man was facing he would manage to find Randall Hyder as Houston would be able to get themselves back into the game at 7-14. The third quarter would be a shutout for both teams, but when Elliot converted a field goal for the Titans it was started to look as if the Texans 'Apple Crumble' was well and truly beginning.

Houston though were unwilling to give up and Antonio Gibson would score a vital rushing touchdown for the Houston with the Texans now needing just a field goal to tie the game at 14-17. So when Antonio Gibson left the field with a knock to his leg, late in the fourth it looked as if the Texans were stuck in a hole with no means of digging themselves out. By some miracle though the Texans would push through for positive yardage with 3rd String Running Back Austin Ekeler and with just 0:22 left of the game Ekeler would score his first touchdown of the season and with so little time left on the clock it would be just what the Texans needed to escape defeat and claim an important divisional victory taking them to 8-2 for the season, and meaning that Mark Stoop had once again maintained his record of never falling below 0.500 for a regular season finish with that eighth victory, with six games to spare.

(Austin Ekeler - Texans 3rd String Running Back)

21 - 17

​

Houston Texans	0	7	0	14	21
Tennessee Titans	7	7	0	3	17

For most people in the National Football League Week Twelve would see a fixture that most people were keen to see how it would play out, as for the first time since Stoops had left the Raiders he would find himself squaring up against the Denver Broncos. The team that he had never lost to as a coach with a current record of 9-0, although the point must be made that all of those victories were produced by Las Vegas so this tenth encounter was likely to be a very different affair. The biggest surprise for most fans was that Stoops didn't mention or engage in any talk of 'the streak' in the build up to the game, and member of the press feeling that perhaps after three years in San Fransisco Mark Stoops no longer considered the Broncos as a rivalry worth pursuing.

19 - 6

​

Houston Texans	7	9	3	0	19
Denver Broncos	0	0	6	0	6

The fixture itself would be nothing to write home about as Texan's kicker Eberle would score a season high for four field goals for the game, whilst rookie wide receiver George Callaway (the 3rd round pick) would his his first career touchdown. With the pressure being mounted on the Broncos after Bethel would make a catch from Tobin the Broncos were forced to go for the two point conversion, but fail the attempt in a game in which Denver would find themselves shutout for three of the fourth quarters.

Following the win Mark Stoops would speak with the press and this soundbite would circulate after the fact.

"Now that folks is what you call a 100% record! Nine wins with the Raiders and one with the Texans, meaning that I know hold a 10-0 record over the Denver Broncos, the most disappointing and lack lustre team in the National Football League. I will never...ever....lose to the Broncos!"

Week Thirteen would see the Texans play their first reverse fixture of the season as they would play host to the Titans at the NRG stadium, having only played them a fortnight previously and considering how close the first encounter had been this was also likely to be a very good game. And just like the first game the first word that would come to people's head to describe the contest would be: consistency.

The first quarter would begin in the exact same fashion as the first game with Henderson running over to score a rushing touchdown for the Titans, with Eberle only managing to score a field goal to put the Texans on the board. The second quarter would see Mariota throw his first touchdown of the game as he found Devin Duverenay to increase the Titans lead. The Texans would mount a comeback of sorts that would see Eberle convert a second field goal and Gifford link up with Hyder for another passing touchdown with Houston trailing by just one point at the end of the half at 14-13.

(Devin Duvernay - Titans Wide Receiver)

The second half would show the consistencies of both teams with Eberle would convert his third field goal having scored one in each of the previous quarters, but Tennessee were showing they were consistent in more positive areas as Mariota would throw to Stanton would would score his first career receiving touchdown with the Titans extending their lead 21-16 going into the final quarter. It looked as if Houston were turning the game on its head as receiving TD from Ekeler followed by a fourth field goal from Eberle would see the Houston go ahead 21-25 with a field goal no longer being enough for the Titans to reclaim the lead. Mariota continued to show why he was having such a great season and just after the two minute warning he would throw to Duvernay in what would be a game winning touchdown for the Titans. The score of the game would also mean that the point differential between both teams would only amount to the Texans being positive by one.

28 - 25

​

Tennessee Titans	7	7	7	7	28
Houston Texans	3	10	3	9	25

Following the weekend of game former Colts QB Peyton Manning would speak with the press about the current state of the AFC South. Manning would make the point that the way the season was going it was hard to even guess who was going to win the division with the Texans, Titans and Colts all having good chances of winning the division and would make the point that despite the Texans being 9-3 and the Colts being 6-6, the two team would have to face each other twice so Indianapolis if other game went their way could leapfrog the Texans if scores went their way.

(Peyton Manning)
​

AFC SOUTH	WINS	LOSSES
Houston Texans	9	3
Tennesse Titans	7	5
Indianapolis Colts	6	6
Jacksonville Jaguars	4	8

 

[Bobby Barrows]

You lost to the fucking Browns.

 

[CakeWalker]

You lost to the fucking Browns.

in my game - the Browns are one of the best team in the league.

 

[Chris]

in my game - the Browns are one of the best team in the league.

How could you let this happen though?

 

[CakeWalker]

Week Fourteen - Week Seventeen

The Colts had proven themselves in recent years having one multiple Super Bowl titles so this was always going to be one of the toughest games of the season, with star quarterback Andrew Luck continuing to be show he was one of the best players in the league with some people considering Luck to have proven to be any even great QB than Manning had been for the Colts. And unfortunately for the Texans Week Fourteen would not be a good week for Houston fans.

View attachment 4753
(Andrew Luck - Colts QB1)

17 - 31

​

Houston Texans	7	3	0	7	17
Indianapolis Colts	14	0	10	7	31

The Colts were just in a different league than the Texans with Andrew Luck throwing four touchdowns for the game for 210 yards, with the Texans only able to score with running play from Gibson and Ekeler getting one rushing touchdown apiece. It was clear from the body language of the Texans as they left the field that the morales of the team was at the lowest point it had been at the season so far, as questions were starting to rise in regard to whether or not Houston would be able to secure a vital playoff berth.



Week Fifteen would see the Houston face the Ravens in what would result in their second home loss of the season, with the Texans season starting to fall underneath their feet.

21 - 14

​

Baltimore Ravens	0	21	0	0	21
Houston Texans	0	0	7	7	14

Despite both team's defences being tough at the breakdown, the collapse during the second quarter would result in Raven's QB Lamar Jackson throwing three passing touchdowns that would end up being a mountain that the Texans would be unable to surpass despite receiving touchdowns from Ekeler and Hamler.

(Chris Carson - Jaguars Running Back)

And the rot would only continue during Week Sixteen as Houston would suffer their biggest loss margin of the season as Jacksonville would tear apart the Texans defence with Chris Carson scoring a hat-trick of rushing touchdowns, with Wilson throwing to Westbrook for the Jags 4th TD of the game in which the only consolation that the Texans could take away was an Eberle field goal in Q1.

3 - 34

​

Houston Texans	3	0	0	0	3
Jacksonville Jaguars	7	10	10	7	34

Week Seventeen would see Tarik Cohen return from his injury earlier than expected and he would manage to score a touchdown on his return, however the Texans would end the season with yet another loss as they would lose at home to the Colts. Despite, scoring four touchdowns of their own they were unable to match Andrew Luck's plays on the defence as they would find themselves brushed away in the final game of the regular season meaning they had only won two games in the second portion of the season, ending the season at 9-7. With the question being, had the Texans made the playoffs?

35 - 30

​

Indianapolis Colts	7	14	7	7	35
Houston Texans	0	17	7	6	30

​

 

[Chris]

What the fuck

 

[CakeWalker]

What the fuck

Much of the second half of season was without a real QB and Tarik Cohen was injured until game 17. So yeah - I had a real crumble. Cliffhanger until the next update as to whether the season is over or not.

 

[Chris]

What a typical Texans season

 

[CakeWalker]

​

AFC SOUTH	WINS	LOSS	%	Points Difference
Houston Texans	9	7	0.563	+54
Indianapolis Colts	8	8	0.500	+35
Jacksonville Jaguars	7	9	0.438	-22
Tennessee Titans	7	9	0.438	-23

Mark Stoops would discover that he the Texans had reached the playoffs, despite having a miserable end to the regular season. More shockingly however, for the first since 2017 the Indianapolis bring an end to their ten year streak. A turn of event in the final game of the season between the Jaguars and the Titans meant that Jacksonville had not finished bottom of the AFC South as he been expected of them.

To make Wild Card Weekend even more interesting the Texans would find out that they would play host to the Broncos, and for obvious reasons this was an opponent that Mark Stoops was relishing to face. Stoops though would have some words for Denver's Head Coach Pat Shurmur.

Stoops would make it clear that it was his personal mission to make sure that the Denver Broncos never got close to winning a Super Bowl whilst he was an active coach in the National Football League and that if Shurmur had any sense he would just hand in his resignation and find a real franchise to work for. Shurmur wouldn't offer a response to taunting, although some analysts couldn't work out whether or not Stoops had been joking.

The game itself between both sides would be a tense affair with the pressure of advancing in the playoffs felt by both sets of players. Antonio Gibson would score first for the Texans with a rushing touchdown that would prove to be the only points in the first quarter, but in the second Houston would extend their lead with a convert field goal from Eberle. Broncos would close the gap though as Tobins would throw to Bethel to make the game 7-10 at the end of the first half. The three point margin would prove to be vital for Houston as the second half would see both team score a field goal each, as well a Broncos receiving touchdown that would be balanced out by a touchdown from Randall Hyder who had found himself becoming the Texans WR1 for the season. The three point gap would prove to be just what was needed to close off the game.

For Houston it would be their first playoff victory since 2016 in which they beat the Raiders 27-14 on Wild Card Weekend. Since then the Texans had only made two appearances in the playoffs losing both, 21-7 (2018) and 35-28 (2022) to their AFC South Divisional rivals the Indianapolis Colts. It wasn't at all surprising therefore that the city of Houston would party well into the night, in a fashion that you would expect from a team that had won the Super Bowl and not a Wild Card game.

17 - 20

​

Denver Broncos	0	7	3	7	17
Houston Texans	7	3	3	7	20

Wild Card Results:

Kansas City Chiefs 25 - 28 Las Vegas Raiders

Dallas Cowboys 37 - 31 Atlanta Falcons

Chicago Bears 28 - 48 Washington Redskins

In their short franchise history the Texans had never won two games in a row in the playoffs, although with a Head Coach who was the only Head Coach in history to win the Super Bowl with two different team the time for breaking records clearly couldn't cup at a better time. However, Houston Texans (9-7) found themselves in a position where they were playing the #1 seeded team in the playoffs the Miami Dolphins (13-3) and for every neutral in the league it was the Texans they were cheering for. Unfortunately on game day the star of the contest would be Miami's QB Joe Burrows.

(Joe Burrows - Miami Dolphins QB1)

Burrows would spearhead the Dolphin attack and throw a hat trick of passing touchdowns in the game finding the likes of Kittle, Hines and Claxton with Miami's HB McFadden also scoring a running TD for the Dolphins. The Texans weren't able to muster up much of a response and would have to settle for only a field goal and a solitary rushing touchdown from Tarik Cohen to draw an end to their season.

10 - 28

​

Houston Texans	0	7	3	0	10
Miami Dolphins	0	7	7	10	28

Mark Stoops would speak after the game with the various members of the associated press.

"I am incredibly proud of my team and I think we have an excellent season considering some of the hardships we have faced. Tarik Cohen was a key member of my plans for the season, so losing halfway through had a massive knock on effect on how we ran the football. Of course Antonio (Gibson) and Austin (Ekeler) both stepped up to the mark and delivered what was needed of them, but Cohen is something else. The sort of player that only exists one in a million.

At the same time it is a shame that Deshaun Watson chose money over this team, but I have no interest in keeping players that don't want to be part of the long-term project this franchise is creating. I might only be here for three season, but I have a target in mind and that is to reach the Super Bowl. And considering this team has won their first playoff game in eleven years I think I am already on to a good start, I whole heartily put my hand up when I say that making the playoffs was not something I was expecting to achieve this year but it seems I am like a magnet with an inability to not feature in the playoffs apart from last season blip, but we won't open that can of worms again.

I personally want to thank every single Houston Texans fan in believe in us and supporting us and I want to make it clear that we will reach the Super Bowl in the next two years - this is a goal that this franchise deserves because we are far too much of a big name to not be able to make it!"

Results from the Divisional Round:

Dallas Cowboys 24 - 10 Los Angeles Rams

Las Vegas Raiders 24 - 35 Cleveland Browns

Washington Redskins 21 - 28 Minnesotta Vikings ​

AFC CHAMPIONSHIP

Cleveland Browns (12-4) 35 - 28 Miami Dolphins (13-3)

NFC CHAMPIONSHIP

Dallas Cowboys (9-7) 28 - 25 Minnesotta Vikings (11-5)

During the traditional Pro Bowl weekend five member of the Texans squad would be selected to represent the AFC: Demarcus Lawrence (LE), Austin Hooper (TE), Jadaveon Clowney (ROLB), Justin Reid (FS) and Eberle (K) however the game would be won the NFC 28-16. Mark Stoops would turn down the chance to a member of the AFC Coaching staff.

(Zac Taylor - Miami Dolphins Head Coach)

End of season honours would be awarded to Zac Taylor (13-3) who would win Head Coach of the Year for his performance with the Dolphins, whilst the League Most Valuable Player would actually be won by a Quarterback whose team hadn't even made the playoffs in the Bengals' Tyree Jackson who had throw a massive 45 touchdowns for the season with a 72% completion rate. Jackson would go on the record that this was personally a massive honour, but that he would have swapped this award if it had meant the Bengals had made their way in the the playoffs this season instead despite having a 9-7 record.

(Tyree Jackson - Cincinnati Bengals QB1)

LXI

24 - 14

The victory would be the first Super Bowl in the Brown history having come so close to the accolade in recent years, however it would be a bitter pill to swallow for the Cowboys who had come so close to winning the Super Bowl having not held the title since 1995. After eight season as the Head Coach of the Browns Freddie Kitchens was considered by many as one of most intelligent head coaches currently active in the National Football League and many analysts would applaud Kitchens for what he had down to turn the Browns into a competent football team.

 

[Chris]

The 9-7 Cowboys beat the 11-5 Vikings

....and then the Browns came rumbling

 

[CakeWalker]

The 9-7 Cowboys beat the 11-5 Vikings

....and then the Browns came rumbling

@Grimhail Gorbachev cursed the Cowboys - by laughing at the Browns. He created a butterfly effect for the the SB61 win...

 

[CakeWalker]

NFL OFFSEASON

(Bill O'Brien - Houston Texans General Manager)

Bill O'Brien who had been the Texans Head Coach until 2020 before becoming the franchise's General Manager would make an announcement during the start of the offseason that with Mark Stoops only contracted to take charge of the Texans for another two season O'Brien would reveal that he would be the man that would be making all the choices in regards to the draft options (simulated draft for realism) and that with the current line-up that the Texans had, he had made sure to speak to Stoops and Stormberd on a weekly basis to make sure they were aligned in their thinking in regards to the best draft picks for the 2027 Draft. O'Brien would make the point that this year draft class was arguably the most lack lustre it had been in recent years, and so any selections would not be considered as starter but rather as players to develop for the future.

The hunt for talent is something that Jarno Stormberd has proven is one of his key skills as Mark Stoops' second in command with Stormberd manage to sign a number of high skilled players to the Texans' 2027 roster. The first man that would sign for Houston would be none other than former Cowboy Travis Fredrick (Rating 79).

(Travis Fredrick - Center)

Fredrick had spent the last thirteen season as a member of the Dallas Cowboys and looked set to remain in the state and would slot in as Houston's starting Center for the new season. Fredrick would find himself be joined another offensive linemen in Will Hernandez (Rating 84) who had recently departed the Giants and it was clear that the Texans were making sure they could offer as much protection as possible to Morgan Gifford for the new season.

(Will Hernandez - Left Guard)

The phrase an offence scores point but a defence wins championship might have been motivation behind some of the additions that were brought into to add depth to the Texans' defence. And the first would be a second string right outside linebacker who also had been team mates with Hernandez, Oshane Ximines (Rating 74) with Ximines being added as solid cover.

(Oshane Ximines - Linebacker)

(Jonathan Abrams - Strong Safety)

Abrams (Rating 81) who had been a member of Stoops' premier Super Bowl victory would find himself scooped up and continue a trend of Stoops and Stormberd signing talent from previous clubs, but the real major signing for the defence would come in the form of Danielle Hunter (Rating 88) Left End who had been a life long member of the Vikings setup, but clearly in the latter stages of his career Jamaican born Hunter was clearly looking for a new challenge to end his career.

(Danielle Hunter - Left End)

The biggest announcement though for the Texans would come when it would emerge on houstontexans.com that a star quarterback had signed a long-term contract with the Texans, although this would arguably seen as potentially the end of the Morgan Gifford experiment. So when it was announced that the mystery signing was none other than former Cowboys QB1 Dak Prescott it was fair in saying that the slight rivalry between Dallas and Houston was suddenly ignited with a large amount of banter present between both clubs. Even Texas' third team the San Antonio would make light of the situation on their social media page. Dak Prescott (Rating 82) would find himself with a known O-Lineman Fredrick present within his new setup, and a massive amount of expectation on him going into the new season.

(Dak Prescott - Houston Texans QB1)

​

2027 Draft Pick	Player/Position	University	Rating
Round 1 #26	DaQuan Spencer (SS)	Rhode Island	71
Round 2 #26	Rico Charles (CB)	Mississippi State	67
Round 3 #26	Mack Tows (LOLB)	Nebraska	72
Round 4 #26	Will Kyle (RE)	Mississippi State	65
Round 5 #26	Vonn Lesterer (ROLB)	UAB	54
Round 6 #26	Darren Cole (WR)	Washington	60
Round 7 #26	Gerald Whitetaker (LT)	Stanford	56

​

 

[Chris]

I feel like Bill O'Brien as the Texans GM gives people in Houston nightmares

 

[CakeWalker]

I feel like Bill O'Brien as the Texans GM gives people in Houston nightmares

I had a feeling you'd enjoy this fairytale

 

[CakeWalker]

Week One - Week Three

For the 2027 season the Texans have an interesting schedule with their first string of AFC South game taking place back to back in games 1, 2 & 3 with their second string seemingly mirroring their start by being their final three games of the season. For Week One Houston would face off against a team that they had been unable to beat last season despite finishing above them in the division - the Indianapolis Colts. Unlike the previous two games though, it seemed as though Jarno Stormberd had made sure his defence understood what was required of them in order to offer a strong defensive package to counter Andrew Luck.

(Dak Prescott - Houston Texans QB1)

The game would begin with Houston's new quarterback through his first passing touchdown as a Texan with the Colts being caught off guard as Prescott would find KJ Hamler, in the Texans half with Hamler breaking the line and sprinting down the field to score the first touchdown of the game. As often is the case on Kickoff Weekend both teams were very aware of their opponents, with both defensive lines making sure to close up the gaps as much as possible. The rest of the first half would see both teams kick a field goal apiece with the first half ending 10-3 in favour of Houston. The second half would remain very similiar in being a cagey affair with the Colts being only to add to the score with a single field goal in the third quarter. Prescott would throw a short pass for Hamler's second receiving touchdown later in the fourth quarter in what would wrap up an impressive winning start to the season for the Texans.

17 - 6

​

Houston Texans	7	3	0	7	17
Indianapolis Colts	0	3	3	0	6

Week Two would see Houston play their first home game of the season as they would play host to the Titans. And for all the fans in attendance at the NRG it would be just the season opener that they would have been hoping for as the Texans would run riot. Prescott would have an outstanding game in which he would result in him being awarded the accolade of the the AFC Offensive Player of the Week with 19/26 200 yds that would result in three passing touchdowns at he would find Hamler, Fuller and Hyder in strong fashion to really establish himself as the Texans new leading man. Tarik Cohen would also impress with a rushing touchdown, which would be the 60th of his career whilst 3rd String QB (2nd String Gifford injured) Tanner Cash would be involved in a trick play as the Texans would fake a field goal and instead Cash would pull off a trick play to score his first career rushing touchdown.

3 - 35

​

Tennessee Titans	0	0	3	0	3
Houston Texans	14	7	7	7	35

(Will Fuller V - Houston Texans Wide Receiver)

Will Fuller V one of Houston's one field captains would make it clear after the game that the team that had come out of training camp and completed preseason was very different to the one that had fallen apart at the end of last season, and Fuller would promise the Houston fans that this season would a season that they would all be proud of.

The Texans would remain with home field advantage as they were set to play their third AFC South game in a row as they would welcomed the Jaguars in a game that would be a much closer encounter than the previous game, with the Week Three game proving to be a gripping contest, although not for reason that would normally be expected. Jacksonville had a really flair to their defence, to the point that the Texans were really struggling to penetrate the defence. On the flip side though, the Jaguars were equally struggling to push past the Texans. However, as the teams entered the fourth quarter the Texans lead 0-9 with Judge Sanborn having kicked three field goals, one for each of the three previous quarters.

(CeeDee Lamb - Jacksonville Jaguars Wide Receiver)

The game would really open up in Q4 though as the Jaguars would score their first points of the game as Thompson would throw the ball to Lamb for the first touchdown of the game, closing up the gap between both teams by just two points to 7-9. On the Texans next drive, Judge Sanborn would score his fourth field goal of the game with Houston pushing ahead slightly again. The Jaguars though seemed to have found some form when it mattered as Thompson would throw a second passing touchdown of the game this time finding James Proche.

(James Proche - Jacksonville Jaguars Wide Receiver)

The score from Proche would see the Jaguars attempt two point conversion, but they would fail to convert. With timing running out Jacksonville had found themselves in the lead by just one point as they lead 13-12 with four minutes left on the clock. The Texans would have to gruel their way up the field doing their best to give Sanborn the opportunity to get within field goal distance, and would find themselves calling a timeout with only seconds left in the game. Judge Sanborn though would show why he had been been favoured ahead of Eberle this season as the Texans kicker, as the 2026 7th round pick would convert the FG to give the Texans the game.

13 - 15

​

Jacksonville Jaguars	0	0	0	13	13
Houston Texans	3	3	3	6	15

The Texans had started the season in brilliant fashion with three wins in the column over each of their AFC South rivals, with the road victory at the Cots arguably being the most important and building up some momentum ahead of their next three game against the Panthers, the Patriots and the Falcons. ​