The Houston Texans dropped four slots in the latest USA TODAY NFL power rankings for Week 12.
After taking it on the chin 41-7 to the Baltimore Ravens Sunday afternoon at M&T Bank Stadium, the former first place squad in the AFC South dropped from No. 8 in the power rankings down to No. 12 overall.
Key three-game homestand opens with visits from division-leading Colts, Patriots. Overmatched in Baltimore, Houston must step up vs. big boys now.
Falling out of the top-10 seems fair. After all, the Ravens held the No. 2 seed, if the AFC playoffs were to start in Week 11, and they are presumably going to win the AFC North and be in the postseason. It was a measuring stick game of sorts, and the Texans didn’t measure up as a 41-yard touchdown run from running back Carlos Hyde was all that prevented Houston from suffering its third ever regular season shutout.
The Indianapolis Colts, the Texans’ opponent on Thursday night to kickoff Week 12, came in at No. 10 overall. Their 33-13 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars was good enough to propel them four spots into the top-10.
The Tennessee Titans rose two spots up to No. 16. The loss to the Colts knocked the Jacksonville Jaguars down two spots to No. 22 overall.
If the Texans are able to come away with a win against the Colts, it probably won’t elevate them too far into the top-10, possibly anywhere from eight to 10 overall.
As pointed out, the Texans have a critical three-game homestand upcoming and their true chance to measure up against the best the conference, and frankly the league, has to offer will be next week against the New England Patriots.
Nonetheless, Week 12’s showdown with the Colts is consequential given Indianapolis beat Houston 30-23 in Week 7 and holds the tiebreaker. A sweep would assuredly give the Colts the AFC South.