The Houston Texans will face a rookie in Indianapolis Colts quarterback Riley Leonard during their 2025 regular-season finale. However, Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans made it clear that his team is not taking anything about this game lightly.
Ryans has already said that C.J. Stroud and the Texans’ starters will play in the finale.
In his penultimate pregame media availability, Ryans also made it clear what this game, season, and the postseason are about for the Texans.
DeMeco Ryans: Riley Leonard Facing ‘Great Opportunity’
GettyRiley Leonard #15 of the Indianapolis Colts warms up before a game against the Kansas City Chiefs
Ryans met with the media for his second-to-last pre-game press conference of the 2025 regular season, ahead of the Texans’ showdown with the Colts, who will start Leonard after starting an un-retired Philip Rivers over their past three outings.
Ryans called it a “great opportunity” for Leonard.
“He’s a very athletic quarterback. So, he’ll do a good job of moving in the pocket, trying to escape some things. And we have to do as best as we can, defensively, to make sure we’re just playing sound with our technique, our fundamentals. Just being where we’re supposed to be,” Ryans told reporters on December 31.
“There will be a lot of unknowns. There’s nothing that we can just hang our hat on that they’re doing certain things. So, have to be prepared for anything. One thing, knowing that he is an athletic quarterback, have to be prepared for him to pull the football and run it. So, we have to make sure we’re aware for that. Other than that, it’s just about us, just doing what we need to do defensively, playing how we play.”
For Ryans, part of that process is having the Texans’ regular starters play for as long as the game dictates.
That is in the case of rest and rehab.
“My mindset is our guys are playing. We have something to play for, that’s the division. We have to control what we can control, and that’s going and trying to find a way to beat a really good Colts team,” Ryans said.
“That’s my focus, that’s where we are. When it comes to managing guys, everybody’s–for me, as I coach, and I’ve always been about this, is everybody is on their own individualized plan. And that’s how I always attack everything from OTAs all the way through the season. Each man has to do what he has to do to prepare himself to be ready to go play. If guys are ready to go, they’ll be out there.”
DeMeco Ryans Not Scoreboard Watching
GettyHouston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans looks on against the Denver Broncos.
Ryans joked about telling one of his friends that the NFL was going to schedule the Texans’ finale against the Colts at the same time as the Jacksonville Jaguars face the Tennessee Titans in theirs. He said he understands it from an interest standpoint.
The Texans need to beat the Colts and for the Titans to beat the Jaguars to win the AFC South in the final week of the season.
However, Ryans said the situation “won’t be nerve-wracking for me.”
“I’m gonna be focused on our game and what we have to do. Because no matter what happens with all these scenarios, I think it matters most … Houston has to win, and that’s our focus. And that’s what we’ll be focused on. Whatever else happens, it happens. We–really, we can’t control that. We want to see what happens in that game, for sure. But we can’t control it. So, you can’t control it; for me, you don’t worry about it. And so, the schedule’s set up.”
The situation is out of the Texans’ control, largely, due to their three-game losing streak to begin the season. They fell behind the Colts and Jaguars in the division race and now need compliance to achieve a third straight AFC South crown.
Ryans commended the Texans’ resilience, saying, “You can’t doubt yourself in sports, and then expect to win.”
“Every time I line up, every time we suit up, we’re expecting a win. Things don’t always go your way, you don’t look at yourself like you’re less than, or you’re not worth it. You keep battling, you keep working. And if you continue to work the right way, or you keep punching, that wall will break for us.”
Ryans said he hopes what the Texans have done can be “inspirational” to others in some way.
DeMeco Ryans Puts Team on Notice for New Year’s Eve
GettyHouston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans reacts against the San Francisco 49ers.
Ryans made another strong point regarding the Texans, specifically how they view the holiday with New Year’s Eve here and New Year’s Day rapidly approaching.
Ryans remarked on how quickly the year passed, but also made it clear there is work to do.
“For us and what we do, it’s hard for us to celebrate holidays, and knowing what’s at stake for us, and what’s the most important thing. The most important thing is, hey, we have to have a great day of practice tomorrow,” Ryans said.
“We don’t have days to waste. We don’t have time to go out and party, have a good time. What’s important right now? Get your rest, and let’s make sure we’re preparing for the cause.”
DeMeco Ryans Doubles Down Amid Clear Point About Colts Game