Battle Red Blog
This Sunday, the Houston Texans end their regular season with a tilt against the Indianapolis Colts. For a good bit of the season, this game seemed like it would hold the key to the Texans’ season. However, by virtue of Houston’s victory in LA last week, the Texans are in the playoffs and the Colts look to avoid a losing season after starting the year 8-2. While the Texans have a playoff spot locked up, they do not know who, or even where they will play. Depending on the actions on Sunday, they could play anywhere from Pittsburgh, Baltimore, Jacksonville, New England, Denver or maybe…Houston. So much is still up in the air for the Texans.
For one, the AFC South is still unsettled. Houston is looking to be the 1st team to win the AFC South three straight times since the Peyton Manning Colts of the 2000s. Historically, Houston wins back-to-back titles, but then craters and misses the playoffs. Houston has always entered the playoffs as a division champion, with the subsequent home game that tends to always be that Saturday afternoon to open the NFL playoffs. Their current 8-game win streak has the Texans back in the AFC South discussion.
However, Houston does not control its own destiny as far as the division goes. They sit one game back of Jacksonville, who has also locked up a playoff berth. If the Jags take care of business against the Titans in Nashville this Sunday, they lock up the AFC South and will be no worse than the 3 seed. Potentially, the Jags could end up as the 1 seed if the Broncos and Patriots both lose Sunday. Even if the Jags tie the Titans, the AFC South is theirs. Yet, if Jacksonville loses and Houston wins, Houston gets the division crown, the 3-seed and at least one home playoff game (probably again on Saturday afternoon).
Thus, you have an interesting predicament. The Texans have already indicated that they will play their starters this Sunday, even if the chances for winning the AFC South are only 20% (depending on which source you read). Yes, Jacksonville has derped a division crown before in Nashville (remember 2023). Of course, that Jacksonville team was in the midst of an all-time gag job, while this variation of the Glitter Kitties might be the strongest Jacksonville squad since their 1999 team. Still, by mere percentages, Houston doesn’t figure to end up any better than the 5th seed, unless the Titans play out of their minds and Jacksonville reverts to their classic form.
Not that any team wants to deliberately lose a game, but Houston might have some considerations for resting starters for the playoff run. In their last game against the Chargers, Lassiter, Al-Shaair and Stingley all had to miss time in the game due to injury concerns. Al-Shaair missed the Raiders game due to injury and Lassiter has fought various leg ailments in the latter part of the season. Any significant injury, especially to...
