Tag: AFC South standings

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.

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 South standings update entering Week 13

Checking in on the AFC South standings entering Week 13.

Roughly a month and a half stands between the remainder of the regular season and the playoffs. The race within the AFC South is only beginning to heat up with six games remaining.

In Week 12, three of the teams in the division came away with a win with the lone loss coming due to a matchup between division-mates. The division now boasts three teams with winning records, something only two other conferences can say.

Be sure to check out our friends over at Titans Wire, Jaguars Wire and Texans Wire to get all the news and analysis you need around the division.

Here’s a look around the AFC South at the division standings entering Week 13:

AFC South standings update entering Week 12

The race in the AFC South is heating up!

With seven games remaining on the schedule for each team in the division, the playoff race within the AFC South standings will be a fun one to watch over the course of the next two months.

While one team in the division enjoyed its bye week, two teams in the division lost their games with the other coming out victorious in an AFC South matchup.

Be sure to check out our friends over at Titans Wire, Jaguars Wire and Texans Wire to get all the news and analysis you need around the division.

Here’s a look around the AFC South at the division standings entering Week 12:

AFC South standings update entering Week 11

Taking a look around the AFC South entering Week 11.

At one point, it appeared the AFC South had a runaway favorite to win the division. Now, three teams are seemingly in the mix as the playoff picture comes into focus entering Week 11.

With all four teams in the division on the field in Week 10, two of them came away with wins on the road. The other two failed to enter the win column, scoring just nine combined points in their games.

Be sure to check out our friends over at Titans Wire, Jaguars Wire and Texans Wire to get all the news and analysis you need around the division.

Here’s a look around the AFC South at the division standings entering Week 11:

AFC South standings update entering Week 10

Here’s where Indy sits in the AFC South entering Week 10.

The Indianapolis Colts (4-5) were able to end their three-game losing streak with a road victory and now prepare for a trip to Germany as they take on the New England Patriots (2-7) in Week 10.

The leaders in the AFC South will be coming out of the bye week while two of the teams came away with victories. The other team was defeated in prime time, which also pushed them down to the basement of the standings.

Be sure to check out our friends over at Titans Wire, Jaguars Wire and Texans Wire to get all the news and analysis you need around the division.

Here’s a look around the AFC South at the division standings entering Week 10:

AFC South standings update entering Week 9

Checking out the AFC South standings in Week 9.

As we enter into the midway point of the 2023 season, the AFC South has one team running away with the division.

Two teams in the division walked away with wins in Week 8 while the other two found themselves in the loss column. As it currently stands, there’s only one team with a winning record in the division.

Be sure to check out our friends over at Titans Wire, Jaguars Wire and Texans Wire to get all the news and analysis you need around the division.

Here’s a look around the AFC South at the division standings entering Week 9:

AFC South standings update entering Week 8

Taking a look around the AFC South entering Week 8.

Roughly halfway through the season, the AFC South division seemingly has a team preparing to runaway with the top spot entering Week 8.

While two teams were on a bye, one team found its way to a victory on the road in prime time while the other was on the wrong end of two incorrect calls leading to a heartbreaking loss.

Be sure to check out our friends over at Titans Wire, Jaguars Wire and Texans Wire to get all the news and analysis you need around the division.

Here’s a look around the AFC South at the division standings entering Week 8:

AFC South standings update entering Week 7

Taking a look around the AFC South entering Week 7.

The Indianapolis Colts (3-3) found their way back into the loss column with a 37-20 defeat on the road against the Jacksonville Jaguars (4-2) at TIAA Bank Field in Week 6.

While the Jags are now on a three-game winning streak, one other team in the division secured a Week 6 win. The other remaining team also found themselves in the loss column.

Be sure to check out our friends over at Titans Wire, Jaguars Wire and Texans Wire to get all the news and analysis you need around the division.

Here’s a look around the AFC South at the division standings entering Week 7:

AFC South standings update entering Week 6

Taking a look around the AFC South entering Week 6.

The Indianapolis Colts (3-2) secured their first home win of the season in a 23-16 victory over the Tennessee Titans (2-3) in Week 5.

Entering the week with a four-way tie for the top spot in the division, there was some separation made in Week 5. Two of the teams in the division secured victories while the other two made it back into the loss column.

Be sure to check out our friends over at Titans Wire, Jaguars Wire and Texans Wire to get all the news and analysis you need around the division.

Here’s a look around the AFC South at the division standings entering Week 6: