Tag: AFC Playoffs

Ravens clinch a playoff berth with a 34-17 win over the Steelers in Week 16

Ravens clinch an AFC playoff berth with a 34-17 win over the Steelers in Week 16

Baltimore and Pittsburgh are both 10-5, and the Ravens clinched an AFC playoff berth after a convincing 34-17 win over the Steelers at M&T Bank Stadium.

Baltimore had lost 8-9 to Pittsburgh but used a strong performance from their defense and 162 yards from Derrick Henry to stay in the race for the AFC North title.

Henry averaged 6.8 yards on 24 carries, while Lamar Jackson was 15-23 passing for 207 yards (9.0 avg), three touchdowns, one interception, and a 115.4 rating.   Jackson’s counterpart, Russell Wilson, played his worst game as a Steeler, going 22-33 passing for 217 yards (6.6 avg), two touchdowns, and one pick-six interception to Marlon Humphrey that essentially put the game away.

Baltimore will face Houston on Christmas Day, Cleveland in Week 18, Pittsburgh will face Kansas City on Christmas Day, and the Bengals in the season finale.

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Houston Texans schedule: Are the Texans playing today?

Are the Texans playing today? Here’s a look at the schedule and the games to come. 

Will the Houston Texans take the field today in Week 16 of the NFL football schedule?

After securing the AFC South division title, Houston hits the road to take on the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium for what could be a potential AFC postseason preview.

With a win, Houston inches a step closer to securing a higher seed in the AFC postseason picture. They would also need help from the Baltimore Ravens against the Pittsburgh Steelers, who play later on Saturday afternoon.

Should both teams win, that would set up a winner-take-all spot for the No. 3 seed in the AFC on Christmas Day at NRG Stadium.

After a holiday hoedown against the Ravens, the Texans hit the road on Jan. 6 to take on the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium. Should the Texans win out, they’d finish with a 12-5 record, marking their best record since 2012.

At 9-5, the Texans currently lead the AFC South by three games.

Watch Dolphins vs. Texans live on Fubo

Houston Texans 2024 schedule

  • Week 1: at Indianapolis (W, 29-27)
  • Week 2: vs. Chicago (W, 19-13)
  • Week 3: at Minnesota (L, 34-7)
  • Week 4: vs. Jacksonville (W, 24-20)
  • Week 5: vs. Buffalo (W, 23-20)
  • Week 6: at New England (W, 41-21)
  • Week 7: at Green Bay (L, 24-22)
  • Week 8: vs. Indianapolis (W, 23-20)
  • Week 9: at New York Jets (L, 21-13)
  • Week 10: vs. Detroit (L, 26-23)
  • Week 11: at Dallas (W, 34-10)
  • Week 12: vs. Tennessee (L, 32-27)
  • Week 13: at Jacksonville (W, 23-20)
  • Week 14: Bye
  • Week 15: vs. Miami (W 20-21)
  • Week 16: at Kansas City
  • Week 17: vs. Baltimore
  • Week 18: at Tennessee
  • Record: 9-5

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Where do the Steelers stand in the crowded AFC playoff race?

The AFC playoff picture is tightening as the Pittsburgh Steelers secure their spot, with seeding battles heating up among top contenders.

Steelers fans rejoice! Although the matchup with the Philadelphia Eagles left much to be desired for the Black and Gold faithful, the Pittsburgh Steelers clinched a playoff spot following losses by the Indianapolis Colts and Los Angeles Chargers in Week 15. However, the playoff race remains extremely tight, with the Steelers currently holding the number three seed in the AFC.

The AFC playoff standings are beginning to take shape. The 13-1 Kansas City Chiefs hold the number one seed, followed by the other AFC divisional leaders: the 11-3 Buffalo Bills, the 10-4 Pittsburgh Steelers, and the 9-5 Houston Texans.

After the divisional leaders, seeded one through four, the AFC wild-card teams are as follows: the fifth-seeded 9-5 Baltimore Ravens, the sixth-seeded 9-5 Denver Broncos, and the seventh-seeded 8-6 Los Angeles Chargers.

Currently in the hunt are three AFC teams locked in a three-way tie, with identical 6-8 records: the Indianapolis Colts, the Miami Dolphins, and the Cincinnati Bengals.

An intriguing aspect of the playoff race is that, if the season ended today, the 10-4 Pittsburgh Steelers would host the 9-5 Denver Broncos in the wild-card round.  Furthermore, the Steelers can also secure the AFC North divisional title with a win over the Baltimore Ravens in Week 16.

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Ravens playoff scenarios: How Baltimore can clinch a postseason berth in Week 16

Ravens can clinch a playoff berth in Week 16 with win or Dolphins loss

The Ravens used the 35-14 win over the Giants as a get-right game coming out of the bye, and they’ll enter Week 16 against the Steelers with a chance to earn a playoff berth and keep their AFC North hopes alive.

According to NFL.com, Baltimore has a 99% chance of making the postseason this week, but it will need two scenarios to happen. 

Baltimore clinches a playoff berth with:

BAL win or tie
MIA loss or tie + IND loss or tie

In their final three games, Baltimore’s final three games are against Pittsburgh, Houston, and Cleveland. The AFC North would allow the team to move up in the seedings.

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Texans might not face off against Patrick Mahomes in Week 16 because of one play

Patrick Mahomes’ status is now in jeopardy as the Houston Texans prepare to take on the Kansas City Chiefs.

The Houston Texans could have a preview of what to expect in the AFC playoffs next week when they travel to Arrowhead Stadium for a showdown with the Kansas City Chiefs.

Patrick Mahomes might be waiting to debut against second-year gunslinger C.J. Stroud in January instead of Week 16.

The three-time MVP passer sustained an ankle injury during Sunday’s win over the Cleveland Browns. During his postgame press conference, Mahomes said he was unsure if he would play next week when the Texans come to town.

“It’s hard to say right now,” Mahomes said after the Chiefs’ 14-point road victory in Cleveland “You still [have the] adrenaline rolling and usually it’s kind of the day after when you kind of get a good sense of it. I feel like I could have finished the game in different circumstances, but I thought the smart decision … was to put Carson Wentz in.

“… You just do what you have to do to get back, and I think that’s the most important thing. And now we just get back to the rehab part, the treatment part, and try to get ourselves ready on a short week against a good football team.”

According to NFL Network, Mahomes is listed as “week-to-week” entering the final three regular season games. Kansas City has already clinched the AFC West and sits at 12-1 in the conference standings.

Mahomes’ absence could benefit Houston in multiple ways. Should the Indianapolis Colts defeat the Denver Broncos on Sunday, a win next week would secure the Texans their second division title.

If Houston were to clinch the AFC South in Week 15, everything would move toward seeding. With a head-to-head win over the Buffalo Bills, the Texans could move up to as high as No. 2 in the AFC postseason picture, thus giving them a home matchup against the No. 7 seed.

While Mahomes is expected to undergo X-rays, Chiefs coach Andy Reid told reporters postgame that he could have re-entered the game but the team thought it was best to leave him sidelined.

“He wanted to fight about it, but we’ve got a good support there behind him with Carson and it was good to get him a few reps in there too and let our guys hear that snap count in case he has to go,” Reid said.

If Wentz is to start, Houston has a good indication of limiting the former No. 2 overall pick. He finished 2-of-2 passing for 20 yards in mop-up duty and would likely trust a ground game to beat Houston next weekend.

Houston, which improved to 9-5 following Sunday’s 20-12 win over the Miami Dolphins, hasn’t played at Arrowhead since the 2020 season opener.

Most fans remember the matchup against the Chiefs for the 24-0 blown first-quarter lead in the AFC Divisional Round in 2019. Houston ended up losing behind a Mahomes comeback in a 51-31 outcome.

Kickoff is scheduled for noon CT.

Steelers climb 1 spot in new power rankings

The Steelers are up to No. 6 in the NFL Network power rankings.

Despite all their detractors and doubters, the Pittsburgh Steelers just keep finding ways to win games and stay on top in the AFC North. Pittsburgh is 10-3 with four games to play and can clinch a playoff spot in the AFC in Week 15 with a win over the Philadelphia Eagles.

In the latest updated NFL power rankings on the NFL site, they gave the Steelers a one-spot bump up after the win over the Cleveland Browns to No. 6 in their latest power rankings. Here’s what they had to say about the Steelers:

I’ve been asked a lot on radio shows whether the Steelers are truly a Super Bowl contender, and my answer always seems to turn into a version of: Why the heck not? They have a championship-level defense and an offense that can get cooking at times. Throw in a mortal-lock kicker in Chris Boswell (36 of 39 on field-goal tries) and terrific special teams overall, and the formula is there. 

If the Steelers want to be seriously considered as Super Bowl contenders, these next three games will tell all. The Steelers taken on the Eagles, Baltimore Ravens and Kansas City Chiefs in a span of 10 days. The Eagles are the No. 2 team on these rankings and the Chiefs are No. 3. Come out of this stretch with a win or two and it will do a long way toward legitimizing their shot in the AFC.

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Dolphins vs. Texans injury report: Latest updates, news for Wednesday

Here’s the injury report from Wednesday’s practice as the Houston Texans prepare to take on the Miami Dolphins.

Here are the full injury reports ahead of the Houston Texans and Miami Dolphins’ matchup at NRG Stadium in Week 15

Houston Texans (8-5)

Did not practice

  • DB Jalen Pitre (chest)
  • OL Juice Scruggs (foot)
  • WR Robert Woods (personal)

Limited participation

  • DL Denico Autry (knee)
  • WR Nico Collins (rest day)
  • OL Kenyon Green (shoulder)
  • DL Foley Fatukasi (foot)
  • LB Christian Harris (calf)
  • OT Laremy Tunsil (rest)

Full practice

  • WR Xavier Hutchinson (shoulder)

Miami Dolphins (6-7)

Did not practice

  • OT Terron Armstead (knee)
  • WR Odell Beckham Jr. (personal)
  • DL Calais Campbell (rest)
  • WR Dee Eskridge (knee)
  • OT Kendall Lam (back)
  • DB Jordan Poyer (rest)

Limited participation

  • DL Bradley Chubb (knee)
  • WR Grant DuBose (shoulder)
  • LB Cameron Goode (knee)
  • WR Tyreek Hill (wrist)
  • FB Alec Ingold (ankle)
  • RB Raheem Mostert (hip)
  • WR Jaylen Waddle (hamstring)

Full practice

  • LS Blake Ferguson (non-football illness)
  • LB Anthony Walker Jr. (hamstring)

Win and get in: Steelers playoff scenarios for Week 15

Here’s what the Steelers need this weekend to clinch a spot in the playoffs.

You could say things are getting pretty serious. Week 15 of the NFL regular season is upon us and the Pittsburgh Steelers are preparing for a huge stretch of three games in just 10 days. First up are the Philadelphia Eagles and the Steelers control their own playoff destiny.

Win and get in. If the Steelers beat the Eagles, they clinch a playoff birth with three games left to play. But what is the Steelers slip up on the road?

The Steelers can still clinch a playoff spot with a loss but they need help from the Miami Dolphins and Indianapolis Colts.

The Dolphins need to lose to or tie the Houston Texans and the Colts have to lose to or tie the Denver Broncos. These are both very possible scenarios given the Colts and Broncos are fighting for their own playoff lives. The two losses might be an easer road to clinch over a Steelers win given how good the Eagles are and the game is in Philadelphia.

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Texans can clinch playoff spot in Week 15 with one possible scenario

Here’s how the Houston Texans can clinch the AFC South division title in Week 15’s showdown against the Miami Dolphins.

Even though the Houston Texans won’t play an AFC South opponent, they can clinch the division before midnight on Week 15.

The pathway to the postseason is simple, but also partially out of Houston’s control.

As NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport pointed out, the Texans can secure one of the final five playoff spots in the AFC in front of the fans at NRG Stadium with a win over the Miami Dolphins.

That’s only one part of the equation. Houston also needs the Denver Broncos to defeat the Indianapolis Colts at Empower Stadium, thus moving the Colts’ record to two games below .500.

Even if the two teams were to finish with 9-8 records, the Texans swept Indianapolis during the regular season, thus giving them a division advantage.

If both teams won, Houston would simply need to defeat Kansas City at Arrowhead Stadium to secure a 10-win season. Much like Week 15’s outlook, even if the Colts were to finish 10-7, they’d lose the head-to-head battle.

A Texans’ win also benefits the Pittsburgh Steelers, who would clinch a playoff berth with a victory over the Philadelphia Eagles and losses from Indianapolis and Miami.

The Green Bay Packers can clinch a playoff spot if they beat the Seattle Seahawks, get a loss or tie from the Atlanta Falcons and get a tie between the Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers in Week 15.

The Minnesota Vikings can also punch their ticket to the postseason with a win over the Chicago Bears. The Eagles are already in playoffs but would secure the NFC East with a victory over Pittsburgh.

None of that matters to Houston for now. Just win against a red-hot Dolphins roster on the warpath to January football since Tua Tagovailoa’s return and wait for the rest to fall in line.

It’s not like the Texans must win to stay alive. According to the New York Times playoff simulator, Houston has a 96 percent chance of making the postseason and would improve their standing to over 99 percent with a win over the Seahawks.

Kickoff from NRG Stadium is scheduled for noon CT.

What are the Texans’ chances of making the NFL playoffs?

Here’s what the odds look like for the Houston Texans to win the AFC South and make the playoffs in 2024.

Following a 23-20 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Stadium,  the Houston Texans improved to 8-5 in the 2024 campaign.

Entering the bye week, they remain the AFC South favorites and the fourth seed in the conference standings, trailing Kansas City Chiefs (11-1), Buffalo Bills (10-2) and Pittsburgh Steelers (9-3).

Kansas City and Buffalo have already clinched playoff berths, with the latter clinching the AFC East title. The Texans likely would need chaos to ensue, along with a win next week, to guarantee their spot in the College Football Playoff.

Should Houston somehow drop the division title, it would remain in the hunt for a wild-card berth. Well, at least for the time being alongside the Denver Broncos (8-5), Baltimore Ravens (8-5) and Los Angeles Chargers (8-4).

The Texans will play the Miami Dolphins, Chiefs and Ravens following the bye. They also hold a two-game lead over the Indianapolis Colts in the AFC South division race.

Houston controls its playoff fate. According to Andrew Mason of DenverSports.com, if the Broncos beat the Colts in Week 15, Houston would need to defeat the Dolphins at NRG Stadium to clinch a playoff berth.

Here’s a look at the AFC’s playoff picture entering Week 14.

AFC Playoff Picture

  1. Kansas City Chiefs (11-1)
  2. Buffalo Bills (10-2)
  3. Pittsburgh Steelers (9-3)
  4. Houston Texans (8-5)
  5. Los Angeles Chargers (8-4)
  6. Baltimore Ravens (8-5)
  7. Denver Broncos (8-5)

In the Hunt

  1. Indianapolis Colts (6-7)
  2. Miami Dolphins (5-7)
  3. Cincinnati Bengals (4-8)