Normally, by this time in January, That's Bull is putting away the canopies, grills, tables and chairs, and getting ready for a long winter, spring, and summer hibernation period until the pre-season starts again next August. Not so fast this year there buddy. Unlike the first 9 seasons, we've still got some tailgating to do this season.
For the first time in the Texans 10 year history, and first time in 18 years, an NFL playoff game is being played in Houston. The entire city has caught the fever and because of that, That's Bull thought it would be wise to arrive extra early for a mid-afternoon (3:30) start. With a game time set 3˝ hours later than our normal noon start, we had a member of the crew arriving well before the normal time for an 8:00 am tailgate. In fact, the whole crew was accounted for before 9:00 am, a full 2˝ hours before the gates were scheduled to open and 6˝ before game time.
The way it's worked for the past 10 seasons, including THIS season, is that the hard core tailgaters arrive a good hour, hour and a half before the gates open, and line up on the streets where the gates are to enter the parking lots. By the time the gates open, there are hundreds of cars on the streets surrounding Reliant Park. For 100 tailgates spanning 10 years it's been like this. For the first ever Texans playoff game though, some genius with the Texans thought it would be a great idea to change it.
That's Bull weren't the only tailgaters eager to get this playoff party started. All of the regulars were ready to roll, along with the bandwagoners, which is why getting there early was thought to be a good idea, but the Texans weren't allowing anyone to line up on the streets like we have for 10 years. If this STUPID decision wasn't stupid enough, they weren't even consistant with this decision. Driving in, you could see cars lined up like they normally are along the loop 610 feeder, a much busier road than say, I don't know, Main St! But to make it even worse, cars were still lining up on Main St. behind the light at Murworth, they just wouldn't let you line up on that same street in front of Reliant property.
WHOEVER THE BONEHEAD WITH THE TEXANS OR RELIANT WAS, WHO CAME UP WITH THIS IDEA, YOU SIR OR MADAM, ARE AN IDIOT WRAPPED IN A MORON!!!!!!!
Fortunately for That's Bull, our super secret tailgate network (SSTN) provided us with some valuable inside information with regards to when they were going to let us line up. So we strategically timed things to where we were able to get in line just as they were allowing you to do so and we ended up at the front where we were supposed to be anyway.
That's Bull, 1
Dufus who thought it was a good idea to change everything all of a sudden, ZERO!
Scoreboard baby!!!
They open the gates about an hour early (10:30-ish), and we cruise right into our regular 1st row spots and after a long, grueling season where we've had to deal with extreme weather, injuries, illness and losing equipment, our 1st ever playoff tailgate gets under way.
A long season for some of our tailgate-mates as well. After getting all set up, we notice that the "Emergency Tailgate Vehicle" is not in it's regular spot. In fact, it's no where to be seen at all. A little while later we see it being towed in. Gas leaks, battery problems, all kinds of problems for the Shotgun 30 crew, but they roll in and get pushed into their regular spot and get their playoff tailgate on.
With the early entry and no Beer Olympics to kill a little time, the tailgate seemed to last forever, especially with the anticipation building for our first ever playoff game. That allowed some in the crew to maybe drink a little more than normal. As result, a certain individual ended up missing the first Houston playoff win since before he was born.
The extra time also allowed us to head to the stadium early to catch all of the pre-game playoff festivities. And then it was game on! The Texans 1st ever playoff game and they get off to a slow start, falling behind 7-0 early. They quickly tie it up and fall behind again on a Bengals field goal before matching that, making it 10-10 as the 1st half was winding down. Then came the play of the game. With 59 seconds left until halftime, the Bengals were trying to get into field goal range and put some points on the board before heading into the locker room. Andy Dalton dropped back to pass and tried to flare one out to A.J. Green when rookie J.J. Watt jumped up and not only blocked the pass, but caught it, and ran it back 29 yards to give the Texans their first ever playoff lead, one they would not surrender as they roll on to a 31-10 victory.
With the victory, Texans fans were in a state of euphoria and the after game tailgate got cranked up a notch. The parking lots were very slow to empty. The security forces, who usually get pretty anal about clearing people out after about an hour, didn't start in with their "wrap it up" routine until a good 2 hours in and the celebration of the 1st playoff win in Houston in 20 years had to come to an end.
There's a small chance we could see one more tailgate but it's probably pretty unlikely. Saturday, New England would have to lose to Denver, in New England, and then next Sunday the Texans would have to beat Baltimore on the road. If that were to happen, That's Bull Tailgaters would be having an AFC Championship tailgate on January 22nd. If that doesn't happen, then our tailgate season has come to an end, and we'll see you in August.
