Christian Kirk’s breakout game had been in the works for months. Ask anyone in the Houston Texans’ locker room and they will tell you it was always on the horizon.
“I think he’s one of the best in the league,” Texans quarterback CJ. Stroud said of his teammate. “We’ve tried to find ways to get him the ball, but it wasn’t really working out.”
It worked out on Monday in an elimination game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, with Nico Collins being limited.
Kirk, who joined the Texans this offseason in a trade from the Jacksonville Jaguars, posted a franchise record eight catches for 144 yards as Houston secured a 30-6 win over the Steelers to advance to the divisional round. Three catches were for over 20-plus yards downfield, with a pair setting up scoring drives in the fourth quarter.
“We’re one unit, and any of us at any moment can step up and be able to fill the void, and make plays when they are needed,” Kirk told reporters. “My number was called and I’m glad I was able to step up in those moments.”
Collins, who had been the Texans’ No. 1 target, left in the third quarter after hitting his head on the turf. He was already quiet in the game due to double coverage, meaning that Stroud was tasked with finding a different pathway toward success in the passing attack.
Enter Kirk, who started off the game with a massive third-down conversion resulting in a diving catch for a gain of 36 yards. In the second quarter, Stroud found him for a 6-yard touchdown reception, thus giving Houston a 7-3 lead.
In the closing seconds of the third quarter, Stroud found the slot weapon again, this time for a pickup. of 49. Ka’imi Fairbairn would drill a 51-yard field goal four plays later to give Houston a four-point advantage.
Following a defensive touchdown from Sheldon Rankins and a forced punt, Stroud and Kirk connected for a third explosive play, this time for a 33-yard gain with 6:47 left. Seven plays later, Woody Marks capped off his first 100-yard game with a 13-yard run to extend the lead to 18.
“It’s not easy being in the year he’s in, not having the production stats-wise,” Stroud said. “For him to keep going week in and week out, prepping the right way, to see it pay off was really dope. Super proud of him and just keep it going with him and he’s a heck of a player.”
Kirk, who missed four games during the regular season with a hamstring injury, totaled 28 catches for 239 yards and a touchdown during the regular season. He posted over half his regular-season total and matched his touchdown total in one playoff game.
With Collins’ status up in the air for Sunday’s game against New England, Houston could turn to No. 13 as the unlucky charm for the Patriots at Gillette Stadium come 2 p.m. With a win, the Texans would advance to their first conference championship appearance in franchise history.
This article originally appeared on Texans Wire: Christian Kirk serves as unlikely x-factor in Texans’ win vs. Steelers
Reporting by Cole Thompson, Texans Wire / Texans Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
