It can’t be underscored enough that the most important element to Week 15 is for the Houston Texans to get a win over the Tennessee Titans Sunday at noon CT at Nissan Stadium. Nevertheless, there are other games in Week 15 that impact the Texans’ playoff hunt, and they need them to break a certain way. Here is a list of the games Texans fans should keep an eye on and root for specific outcomes.
early games
New England Patriots at Cincinnati Bengals — Root for Bengals
It is highly unlikely the second-best team in the AFC drops their third game in a row, this time to a 1-12 that could end up winning the Joe Burrow Sweepstakes. Nonetheless, if the Patriots finish with the same record as the Texans, Houston gets a first-round bye. In order for that to happen, the Patriots will have to drop one in Cincinnati.
Denver Broncos at Kansas City Chiefs — Root for Broncos
It is the same situation as with the Patriots, though it probably won’t include a first-round bye. However, if the Chiefs finish with the same record as the Texans, Houston moves up further in the playoff seeding. It could be the difference between playing a surging Buffalo Bills team that would be the winner in any other division or the Pittsburgh Steelers, who have had their share of ups and downs.