Tag: AFC South Standings 2024

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.