Battle Red Blog
Where are the Texans ranked after their victory over the Dolphins?
Despite all of the trials and tribulations the Houston Texans have endured this 2024 season, they are once again AFC South Champions!
With a win over the Miami Dolphins and a incredibly satisfying Indianapolis Colts loss to the Denver Broncos on Sunday, Houston has successfully won the AFC South for the second season in a row; and with three games left to play. As much as this may be a testament to how disappointing the entire AFC South division has been this year, I believe is it similarly an accolade for the Houston Texans coaching staff for getting the team back to postseason despite taking a very different road there this year.
I don’t think anyone could have expected this genuine sophomore slump from C.J. Stroud, but I think even fewer predicted this Texans defense turning into one of the premiere groups in the AFC. From the backfield manned by Calen Bullock and Derek Stingley, to the linebacking group highlighted (for better or worse) by Azeez Al-Shaair and Henry To’oTo’o, to the burly front bookended by Danielle Hunter and Will Anderson, Jr, the impact of better coaching and better drafting can be seen all over the defense. Houston had gathered a significant amount of draft capital throughout their rough 2020-2022 episode, and I think it’s safe to say now that they have spent that capital wisely. The defense has basically been completely rebuilt after just two years, and deserves the lions’ share of credit for keeping the Texans in the lead in the division race all season long. Without their improvement, the Houston Texans would have witnessed their playoff dreams fade away weeks ago.
Sunday’s win was a perfect example. In the second half, Houston had their only scoring drive with the first possession of the third quarter to take a 20-6 lead, then followed it up with three straight punts to end the game. Against a resurgent Dolphins team, a second half performance like this would normally be a death sentence. But not for the Houston Texans, who forced a fumble and snagged three interceptions (including two in the second half) from Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. Week after week, I find myself celebrating and praising the performances of defensive players instead of offensive players, and at some point, this is who they are. At some point, the defense has to be given credit for what they’ve accomplished this year: ensuring the team become back-to-back AFC South Champions.
But, what does this mean for the power rankings? Will the pundits be impressed by Houston’s resilience during an unpredictable season, or will the keep Houston outside of the top ten? Here’s where the Houston Texans are ranked entering Week 16 of the 2024 NFL Season:
11. Houston Texans (9-5) (Last Week: 12)
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