Tag: AFC South

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.”

Steelers may find success in 2024 playoffs despite losing streak

The Steelers’ playoff hopes may hinge on a favorable wildcard matchup against the Texans, offering a chance to regain momentum in 2024.

Although fans of the Black and Gold are preparing to hit the panic button on the Pittsburgh Steelers’ playoff aspirations, there may still be hope for a postseason victory in 2024.

If the Steelers’ season were to end today, they would be the fifth seed in the AFC playoff picture and would face the fourth-seeded AFC South divisional leader, the Houston Texans.

While many are skeptical about the Mike Tomlin-led Steelers’ ability to win their first playoff game this season, the Texans could be the perfect matchup to make this dream a reality.

The Pittsburgh Steelers have all the pieces to make a deep playoff run, but one thing the team is missing is momentum. After losing three consecutive games in a 10-day span, the Steelers’ morale has hit an all-time low in 2024.

Call it wishful thinking, but a victory over the struggling 9-7 Houston Texans in the wildcard round of the playoffs could be the perfect opportunity for the Pittsburgh Steelers to regain their confidence and position themselves for the Super Bowl run fans once believed the team could achieve.

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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)

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 Chiefs 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 20-12)
  • Week 16: at Kansas City
  • Week 17: vs. Baltimore
  • Week 18: at Tennessee
  • Record: 9-5

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Texans clinch second-consecutive AFC South title thanks to help from Broncos

The Houston Texans are going back to the playoffs!!!

The Houston Texans are headed back to the playoffs.

With the Denver Broncos securing a victory over the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday evening, the Texans have clinched the AFC South for a second consecutive season.

Houston (9-5) defeated the Miami Dolphins, 20-12, on Sunday afternoon to put itself in position to clinch. Even if the Colts (6-8) were to finish with the same record to close out 2024, the Texans hold the head-to-head wins, thus giving them the advantage.

The Texans’ offense scored two touchdowns on passes from C.J. Stroud to Nico Collins to take a 20-6 lead midway through the third quarter. Tua Tagovailoa brought Miami within eight points, but his four turnovers, including two interceptions to Derek Stingley Jr., were too much to overcome.

Denver’s defense forced five turnovers, including a 50-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown by Nik Bonitto with 12:29 remaining in the fourth quarter. While rookie quarterback Bo Nix threw three interceptions, Anthony Richardson threw two, including one in the red zone on a potential game-tying scoring drive.

The Texans might have a playoff berth, but the seeding remains a mystery. If the season were to end today, Houston would play the Baltimore Ravens, who still remain the highest-ranked wild-card team entering Week 16.

Houston could go as high as the No. 2 seed in the conference should it win its final three games against the Kansas City Chiefs, Ravens and Tennessee Titans. At 12-5, everything would be based on tiebreakers.

The Texans would own tiebreakers over both Kansas City and Baltimore should each win the division. Houston also holds the tiebreaker over the Buffalo Bills following its Week 5 win at NRG Stadium.

Entering the evening games, the Texans weren’t paying attention to the outcome of Sunday’s contest in Denver. At least that’s what the locker room said.

Even if that’s a lie, it’s a double victory Monday when players enter the locker room for a short week of practice.

The Texans will face the Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium on Saturday, December 21. Kickoff is scheduled for noon CT and will be nationally televised on NBC.

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)

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.

Tennessee Titans vs. Houston Texans: 3 reasons for optimism in Week 12

The Tennessee Titans have an AFC South battle with the Houston Texans Sunday and there are three reasons to be optimistic they can win.

The Tennessee Titans are coming off a disappointing 23-13 loss to the Minnesota Vikings in a game many observers believe was taken away by the officiating crew. While there were some questionable calls, the Titans must play cleaner and not make unforced errors. 

This week, the 2-8 Titans will take on the Houston Texans in an AFC South battle. The Texans sit atop the division and are coming off a decisive victory over the Dallas Cowboys on Monday Night Football.  

Things may look bleak for Titans fans, but there are some reasons for optimism heading into Week 12, and here are three of them.

Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images

Passing defense

The Titans rank first in the league in passing defense and are inside the top five in all major categories against the pass. Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud has not been as dynamic as he was as a rookie and is going through somewhat of a sophomore slump. If the Titans’ secondary can hold up against wide receivers Nico Collins and Tank Dell, it’s possible to force Stroud into some mistakes, giving the Titans a chance. 

Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images

Will Levis

Levis has looked like a different quarterback since returning from his shoulder injury. He’s not only protecting the ball, he’s making better decisions. More importantly, he is attacking teams vertically and having success. If the offensive line can hold up against the Texans’ pass rush, Levis has a chance to lead the Titans to an upset.

Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images

It’s a divisional matchup

Games within a division are different and are almost always closer than they should be when looking solely at the statistics or the standings. This AFC South battle should be no different. The talent differential between these two teams is not as wide as their records may indicate, and the Titans are growing every week. This could be the week they break through, especially against a Texans team that is coming off a huge win against the Dallas Cowboys on Monday Night Football. Believe it or not, the Titans have not been eliminated from playoff contention and still have something to play for. There is belief in the locker room and that could be a recipe for an upset on Sunday. 

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Quinnen Williams was the dark cloud over C.J. Stroud, Jets defeat Texans 21-13

Quinnen Williams was the dark cloud over C.J. Stroud, Jets defeat Texans 21-13

New York Jets defensive lineman Quinnen Williams had his imprints written all over his team’s victory on Thursday night. With the Houston Texans frequently in plus territory, Williams and Jets defense unleashed everything they had in the tank to keep quarterback C.J Stroud out of he end-zone.

Stroud had a dismal night trying to attack the No. 2 pass defense in the NFL. Through 30 attempts, Stroud completed just 11 passes for 191 passing yards, and he was sacked eight tines.

With muddy looks for Stroud, Williams did his diligence in the pass rush, tallying 1.5 of those eight sacks on the night. Williams’ pressure and strip sack stopped a promising Texans scoring drive in the first half, setting the tone for relentlessness on defense the entire evening.

While the Jets did allowed running back Joe Mixon to get off, their ability to stall the Texans drives turned out to be a crucial component needed to help them stop their losing streak in front of their home crowd.

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Titans have hope, CBS Sports breaks down AFC South

In some good news: The AFC South is a very winnable division.

The Tennessee Titans enter their bye week on a high note after their 31-12 victory over the Miami Dolphins. Now sitting at 1-3, they have a chance to regroup, get healthy, and potentially turn their season around. After a disappointing start to the season, the Titans still have a chance to make some noise in the AFC South and that division is the reason why. 

As Cody Benjamin of CBS Sports outlines in his first-quarter NFL Division Rankings, the Titans play in one of the worst divisions in the NFL. 

8. AFC South

  • Houston Texans (3-1)
  • Indianapolis Colts (2-2)
  • Tennessee Titans (1-3)
  • Jacksonville Jaguars (0-4)

The Texans are performing well enough, with C.J. Stroud, Nico Collins and Stefon Diggs moving the ball. Even they’ve had to eke out their wins, though, and the rest of the division is a nightmare. The Colts once again have their two most important players banged up by Anthony Richardson and Jonathan Taylor. The Titans have a reckless captain in Will Levis. The Jaguars have been one of the most listless, erratic offenses right after paying big bucks to Trevor Lawrence.

Having a bye lead into their Week 6 battle with division rival Indianapolis could potentially give them an advantage and help them maintain the momentum generated by their first win. The Colts sit one game ahead of the Titans at 2-2, but have not looked like juggernauts this season and have some injury concerns. 

After four weeks, the Titans have shown that they can win if they can protect the ball and rely on their defense and running game. At this point, there are no elite teams in this division, and that could be good for the Titans’ chances.

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