The future is bright in Houston surrounding theTexans under Offensive Rookie of the Year C.J. Stroud and Las Vegas couldn’t agree more.

Yes, while the big game is being played between the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers, the Texans nearly made the improbable run of a lifetime under first-year coach DeMeco Ryans. After entering the season at +20,000 or 200-to-1 odds, dead-last in the NFL. Only the Arizona Cardinals came at +19,500 or 195-to-1 odds entering the season.

For those who put a few bucks down on Houston’s seven-win turnaround, congratulations on hitting before the Texans hit their stride. That won’t be the case in for Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans on Feb. 9, 2025.

Houston enters the offseason with the 10th-best odds to hoist its first Lombardi Trophy at +2,000 or 20-to-1, according to ESPN Bet

When looking back, Houston shouldn’t be here. Yes, even with Stroud’s rise to glory, Ryans’ ability to command excellence on the field and the development of young players like Will Anderson Jr., Derek Stingley, Tank Dell and others.

The Texans were a lost cause. Amid the hiring of Jack Easterby, the firing of general manager Brian Gaine, the promotion — and later firing — of Bill O’Brien, the DeAndre Hopkins dilemma, the Deshaun Watson scandal, court case and later trade, and firing of one-and-one coaches in back-to-back years, Houston rank near the bottom of every book in the country.