Rex Ryan Apologizes to Texans After Joe Mixon's Viral Video, Trolls Justin Herbert

ESPN analyst Rex Ryan apologized to the Houston Texans during Sunday NFL Countdown, but maybe he should have apologized to the Los Angeles Chargers for motivating their opponent.

Following the Texans' 32-12 victory over the Chargers in Saturday's AFC Wild Card Round, running back Joe Mixon took to social media while smoking a cigar and said, "We're smoking on that Rex Ryan bye week pack."

The celebration was a reference to comments Ryan made before the game when he suggested facing the Texans was essentially a first-round bye for the Chargers.

On Sunday, the former New York Jets coach grabbed a cigar and pretended to smoke it before joking he might have had a worse day than Justin Herbert. He also said he might have picked the Texans to win the Super Bowl if he knew they were going to play like they did Saturday.

Mixon certainly played like someone who was motivated, as he ran for 106 yards and one touchdown. His score came with fewer than four minutes remaining and ended any long-shot chances at a Chargers comeback.

That Ryan suggested he may have had a worse day than Herbert was notable, as Houston's defense made life particularly difficult for the Los Angeles quarterback.

Herbert went 14-of-32 for 242 yards, one touchdown and a stunning four interceptions, one of which Eric Murray returned for a touchdown late in the third quarter to give the Texans a two-score lead for the first time all game.

Los Angeles never climbed back within a single score thanks in large part to that dominant defense that also sacked Herbert four times.

Counterpart C.J. Stroud was solid at 22-of-33 for 282 yards, one touchdown and one interception, although things are likely about to get more difficult in the immediate future. If the second-seeded Buffalo Bills defeat the Denver Broncos on Sunday, Houston will face the two-time reigning champion Kansas City Chiefs in the Divisional Round.

It might take more than some motivation from Ryan to defeat Patrick Mahomes and Co. in the next round.