Linebacker Whitney Mercilus unwittingly offered up a superb Dr. Seuss impression when asked what it meant for the Texans, led by a rock-solid defense, to win their third playoff game in franchise history.
"It means a lot, it means a lot, but it doesn't mean squat today," Mercilus said.
Mercilus then posed a grim reminder of the task at hand for what will be an underdog team, indeed, on the road at New England or Kansas City next weekend.
"Because we have to go out and do this again next week," he said.
Mercilus played his second consecutive standout playoff game for the Texans, and this time his fellow defenders followed suit, in the Texans' 27-14 victory over the Raiders in a wild-card playoff game on Saturday in NRG Stadium.