Tag: AFC postseason

Texans pleased with WR Diontae Johnson’s debut before postseason

Diontae Johnson was limited but made enough of an impact for a larger role in the Texans’ next playoff game.

Diontae Johnson caught two passes for 12 yards on four targets with one first down against the Tennessee Titans in his Houston Texans‘ debut.

He caught a punt return and nearly broke free for a substantial.

While he didn’t find the end zone, Johnson made it on the field for 37 percent of the offensive snaps as the Texans picked up their 10th win on the year in a 24-13 victory.

On paper, it’s not all impressive, but DeMeco Ryans was pleased with the debut. That’s one of two people Johnson must impress for more playing time before Saturday’s wild-card round showdown with the Los Angeles Chargers.

“I thought he picked up on the things we were asking him to do. I thought he had some really nice catches, really nice plays throughout practice and he got in the game,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said. “We were able to get him a little involved in the game as well. I thought he handled himself really well. We will start to continue to feed him more to see how he can help us.”

Claimed off waivers from the Baltimore Ravens after a rocky seven weeks, Johnson is looking for a fresh start in Houston. Known for his proven ability to get open and is a smooth route runner, skills the Texans are banking on utilizing those skills opposite Nico Collins on a run through the postseason.

Albeit here for two weeks, Johnson’s made the right impression on his teammates. Pro Bowl running back Joe Mixon said the former Pittsburgh Steelers star would be “highly valuable” to the offense.

Offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik called Johnson one of the league’s “better separators in the league” after a hot start in Carolina. That was on display during the third quarter of Sunday’s contest, though Davis Mills was a second late in connecting with the newest offensive weapon.

Johnson, who totaled 30 catches for 358 yards and three TDs with the Panthers in seven games, should have an expanded role against Los Angeles defense. The secondary, headlined by All-Pro safety Derwin James, is allowing just 210.6 passing yards per contest.

“It is just a matter of him integrating into our offense and making sure we put him in positions to where we can accentuate his talents because he is a talented player,” Ryans said. “He has made a ton of plays in this league, and it is exciting to see what he has been able to do on the practice field.”

Will the Texans rest starters in Week 18’s regular-season finale?

DeMeco Ryans makes it clear about starters playing on Sunday when the Houston Texans take the field against the Tennessee Titans.

Is C.J. Stroud playing in Week 18’s finale against the Tennessee Titans?

What about Nico Collins, who’s only 32 yards away from reaching 1,000 yards?

Will Joe Mixon be on the sidelines resting, knowing he’s seven yards from being the first Texans running back since Carlos Hyde?

The answer is the same for each: yes. Houston does not plan on resting players for the regular-season finale at Nissan Stadium, regardless of playoff implications in the wild-card round.

“I mentioned to all our guys that everybody has to be ready to go,” Ryans said. “Everybody will be out there playing and then we’ll see how the game goes.”

Sunday’s matchup won’t change much for Houston. They’ve already clinched the AFC South and can’t improve their playoff positioning. Following a  31-2 blowout loss to the Baltimore Ravens on Christmas, the Texans secured the No. 4 seed in the postseason and will host the top wild card seed come January 11 or 12.

But Ryans is about ending the season on a high note. With a win, Houston would secure its second double-dight victory campaign and back-to-back 10-win seasons since 2019.

After last week’s loss at home to the Ravens on Christmas, starters also need a chance to improve their persona.

“Our last outing on the field was not good enough. It was not representative of who we are,” Ryans said. “Defensively, offensively, just not a good representation of our team entirely. So we’ve got to go out and play better football.”

Just because starters take the field on Sunday afternoon doesn’t mean they’ll play four quarters. Houston’s an injury away from knocking itself out of the playoffs before the game even begins.

Ryans isn’t planning on running his players rampant before an elimination game, but morale must improve heading into the postseason. There must be a spark to bring back belief.

“For us right now, I think it’s a feel for where your team is at this point of the season,” Ryans said. “For me right now, our team needs to be playing better before we head into the postseason.”

Kickoff is scheduled for noon CT. The game will be locally televised on CBS.

Texans bolster defense for season finale with return of LB Azeez Al-Shaair

The Texans are bolstering up their defense at the right time with the return of linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair.

Agent Zero is back for the Houston Texans.

As the reigning AFC South champions prepare for their regular-season finale bout with the Tennessee Titans, linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair prepares to take the field for the first time since Week 13’s showdown in Jacksonville.

Al-Shaair, who was suspended for three games after an illegal hit on Trevor Lawrence, was reinstated on Monday for Week 18’s battle.

“It’s really great getting Azeez back,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said Monday. “We’ve missed him over these past three weeks, just missed his presence, his leadership, missed his playmaking ability on the field. So, we’re excited to get him back out there and let him knock some of the rust off.”

The Texans haven’t announced if they plan on playing him against his former team, but signs point to him taking the field one final time in the regular season.

Houston’s defensive struggles are well past Al-Shaair’s absence, but the linebacker spot was sporadic during his time away from the facility. The Texans clinched the AFC South division title, but struggled to contain Patrick Mahomes or Lamar Jackson in losses to the Kansas City Chiefs or Baltimore Ravens.

Al-Shaair’s return won’t solve all the defensive woes, but it should stabilize Houston’s run game entering the playoffs. The Texans allowed a season-high 251 rushing yards during a 31-2 loss to the Ravens on Christmas, including a 48-yard touchdown run to MVP candidate Lamar Jackson.

“We’re all excited,” Texans linebacker Christian Harris said of Al-Shaair’s return. “It’s great to have our leader back, our captain. He brings crazy energy. He inspires a lot of us in many different ways. We’re excited.”

Sunday will also mark the first time Al-Shaair’s played since he tweeted out his frustrations after NFLPA representative Ramon Foster upheld his suspension.

“If you want me to be your villain, I’ll be your villain,” he wrote in a post that included a photo of the Batman villain Joker.

In 10 games, Al-Shaair has totaled 68 tackles, seven for losses and two forced fumbles.

Kickoff from Nissan Stadium is set for noon CT. The game will be televised on CBS.

Updated playoff bracket: Where do the Texans rank following Christmas loss to Ravens?

The Houston Texans will host a playoff game following Week 18 against the top wild-card team.

Well, that’s one to throw out and never watch again.

The Houston Texans have not only clinched the AFC South, but also the No. 4 seed in the conference playoff race following a 31-2 loss on Christmas Day to the Baltimore Ravens.

Lamar Jackson made history and catapulted Josh Allen in the race for MVP.

Derrick Henry turned back into the Tennessee Titan Tyrant that tortured  Houstonians every time he stepped foot inside NRG Stadium.

And the Texans? They just sat and watched. There was nothing even an above-average performance would have changed following a Kamari Lassiter safety against the All-Pro runner.

Houston (9-7) knows its fate. It also knows who likely is headed to the postseason in the AFC based on the outlooks of Week 17’s matchups. The Los Angeles Chargers (9-6) and Denver Broncos (9-6) can clinch a spot in the AFC wild-card hunt with wins on Saturday afternoon.

The Kansas City Chiefs (15-1) have already clinched the No. 1 seed in the AFC, while the Buffalo Bills (12-3) need one more win to secure the No. 2 spot. And the Ravens (11-5) need one more victory to clinch the AFC North and not repeat a Christmas massacre in the wild-card round later next month.

Below is a look at the potential NFL playoff bracket ahead of the rest of Week 17’s battles.

Who is in the NFL playoffs so far?

A total of nine teams have clinched playoff berths thus far. They are listed below by conference.

AFC

  • Kansas City Chiefs (15-1)
  • Buffalo Bills (12-3)
  • Baltimore Ravens (11-5)
  • Pittsburgh Steelers (10-6)
  • Houston Texans (9-7)

NFC

  • Detroit Lions (13-2)
  • Philadelphia Eagles (12-3)
  • Minnesota Vikings (13-2)
  • Green Bay Packers (11-4)

NFL division winners 2024

Only three NFL divisions have been clinched entering Sunday’s Week 16. Below is a look at the division winners thus far:

AFC

  • AFC East: Buffalo Bills (12-3)
  • AFC North: TBD
  • AFC South: Houston Texans (9-7)
  • AFC West: Kansas City Chiefs (15-1)

NFC

  • NFC East: TBD
  • NFC North: TBD
  • NFC South: TBD
  • NFC West: TBD

NFL playoff bracket update

AFC bracket

1. Kansas City Chiefs (15-1, AFC West winners): BYE

The coveted No. 1 seed is in the Chiefs’ hands after a beatdown on Christmas morning against the Steelers. The AFC championship game had gone through Arrowhead Stadium for a record five consecutive seasons before the Ravens ended that streak in 2023.

Now, make it six with Mahomes at QB1.

2. Buffalo Bills (12-3, AFC East winners) vs. 7. Denver Broncos (9-6, wild card No. 3)

The Bills are the only team to defeat the Chiefs to this point, but a road loss to the Los Angeles Rams knocked them out of first place entering Week 17. If the season ended today, Buffalo would host Bo Nix and a surging Broncos defense in an intriguing first-round matchup.

3. Baltimore Ravens (11-5, AFC North leaders) vs. 6. Los Angeles Chargers (9-6, wild card No. 2)

This is where things get less sticky. The Ravens must win in Week 18 over Cleveland to clinch the division a second time. Should they lose and Pittsburgh win, it could become a head-to-head based on point advantages. Much like with the head-to-heads elsewhere, Los Angeles won twice against Denver, so Jim Harbaugh would get the last laugh over Sean Payton for seeding purposes.

4. Houston Texans (9-7, AFC South winners) vs. 5. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-6, wild card No. 1)

Some are calling this the “mid-off” since both Houston and Pittsubrgh have looked dreadful down the stretch. Since Week 15, the duo has combined for a 1-5 record and have been outscored by 48 combined points.

Houston would host because it won the AFC South. Nothing more should be expected following yesterday’s implosion at NRG Stadium.

NFC bracket

1. Detroit Lions (13-2, NFC North leaders): BYE

2. Philadelphia Eagles (12-3, NFC East leaders) vs. 7. Washington Commanders (10-5, wild card No. 3)

3. Los Angeles Rams (10-6, NFC West leaders) vs. 6. Green Bay Packers (10-4, wild card No. 2)

4. Atlanta Falcons (8-7, NFC South leaders) vs. 5. Minnesota Vikings (13-2, wild card No. 1)

NFL playoff picture entering Week 17

AFC

  1. Kansas City Chiefs (15-1, AFC West winners)
  2. Buffalo Bills (12-3, AFC East winners)
  3. Baltimore Ravens (11-5, AFC North leaders)
  4. Houston Texans (9-7, AFC South winners)
  5. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-6, wild card No. 1)
  6. Los Angeles Chargers (9-6, wild card No. 3)
  7. Denver Broncos (9-6, wild card No. 2)

In the hunt: Indianapolis Colts (7-8), Miami Dolphins (7-8), Cincinnati Bengals (7-8).

NFC

  1. Detroit Lions (13-2, NFC North leaders)
  2. Philadelphia Eagles (12-3, NFC East leaders)
  3. Los Angeles Rams (9-6, NFC West leaders)
  4. Atlanta Falcons  (8-7, NFC South leaders)
  5. Minnesota Vikings (13-2, wild card No. 1)
  6. Green Bay Packers (10-4, wild card No. 2)
  7. Washington Commanders (10-5, wild card No. 3)

In the hunt: Seattle Seahawks (8-7), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-7)

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.

AFC playoff picture: Ravens barely holding onto playoff berth after Week 10

Results in Week 10 have had a major bearing on the AFC playoff picture, with the Baltimore Ravens falling down the pecking order.

The top of the AFC playoff picture didn’t change much in Week 10. The Pittsburgh Steelers tightened their grip on the conference with another win while the Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills stayed still during their bye week. But there was plenty of shifting at the bottom of the AFC playoff picture, seeing significant changes impacting the other playoff berths.

The Baltimore Ravens dropped down significantly following their Week 10 loss to the New England Patriots. While they were held at No. 5 entering the week thanks to the Steelers’ undefeated record putting them in the lead of the AFC North, they were nearly pushed out of the seeding after Sunday.

Let’s see how the AFC playoff picture looks following Week 10, with standings courtesy of Tankathon.

AFC playoff picture: Ravens at the top of the Wild Card after Week 9

The AFC playoff picture has once again changed around following Week 9’s games. For the Baltimore Ravens, they sit at No. 4.

We’re finally at the midseason point in the 2020 NFL season for many teams. After Week 9, the remaining games grow in importance when it comes to securing vital seeding in the postseason hunt. With yet another week of football wrapped up, the AFC playoff picture has once again changed.

For the Baltimore Ravens, they’re in a good spot at the top of the Wild-Card seeding. But with the Pittsburgh Steelers still undefeated and in the highly prized No. 1 seed, they’re ahead of Baltimore in the AFC North standings, which helps keep the Ravens from anything higher at the moment.

Let’s see how the AFC playoff picture looks following Week 9.