Battle Red Blog
With great drama, suspense, and even terror, the Houston Texans surmounted the surmountable Tennessee Titans, swept them off their porch with a 35-yard kick, and grasped their fifth win the 2025 season. After much deliberation was spent after starting 0-3, the Houston Texans scratched and clawed their way back into playoff contention with seven weeks left in the NFL season.
This mid-season comeback has definitely caught the eyes of some power rankers out there, but this ugly, exhausting, 16-13 hiccup of a victory will quickly challenge their opinions on the Texans as a whole. Houston was one big mistake away from losing to the hapless Tennessee Titans…but, they didn’t! At the end of the day, wins are the only thing that matters in this league, regardless if they’re pretty or not. And this is what I keep telling myself as I prepare for the great neck of Davis Mills to make its third appearance of the season, fingers crossed that he will not regurgitate another opening drive interception.
These are the visuals that the journalists responsible for the power rankings will have to contend with when they consider the Houston Texans: Spicy defense, long necks, and short kicks. Will that be enough to give the team a boost up? Well, here’s where the Houston Texans are ranked entering week 12 of NFL regular season:
18. Houston Texans (5-5)
Houston’s defense kept things under control while Davis Mills and the offense bogged down. The Texans drove inside Tennessee territory six times but came away with only 16 points and will be glad to get C.J. Stroud back soon (hopefully), even with Mills delivering two straight nail-biter wins in the final minutes. The Texans have the NFL’s stingiest defense, allowing just 16.3 points per game, but the offense now must ante up down the stretch if they want to make the playoffs. Next Gen Stats only gives Houston a 29% chanceto make it now, even as the team currently sits one spot outside the postseason field. However, that stands to change dramatically over the next three games, with the Texans welcoming the Bills to town before going on the road to face Indianapolis and Kansas City. If they can win at least two of those games, the Texans will be over .500 and in far better shape to make the dance.
19. Houston Texans (5-5)
Week 11 result: Beat the Titans 16-13 Week 11 ranking: 18
Who’s under the most pressure: Offensive coordinator Nick Caley
Houston’s defense lowers the number of points needed to get a comfortable win. This season, the Texans have allowed more than 20 points only twice and given up the fewest points per game (16.3). So, the pressure falls squarely on Caley to get a complementary offense better than the one they currently have. The Texans offense is averaging 22.0 points, which ranks 21st. If the offense doesn’t show improvement over the rest of...
