The Texans registered as legitimate playoff contenders with Monday night’s stunning 10-6 win over the previously unbeaten Bengals in Cincinnati.
It’s no longer a given that the Colts can just meander their way to the AFC South title and the home playoff game that goes with it. They now have some company atop the division. The Texans (4-5) have moved into a first-place tie.
Texans are 4-5 and tied for first place with Indy. Home games against Jets and Saints coming up.
— John McClain (@McClain_on_NFL) November 17, 2015
Monday night’s win sure was a head-turner. Backup quarterback T.J. Yates entered the game after Brian Hoyer went to the locker room to be evaluated for a concussion and threw the game-winning touchdown pass to DeAndre Hopkins early in the fourth quarter.
Yates also led the Texans to a 31-10 AFC wild-card victory over the Bengals at Cincinnati in 2011. The Texans ousted the Bengals again in the 2012 wild-card game. Perhaps it was fitting that the Texans foiled the Bengals’ perfect record Monday. They’re responsible for the first two of the Bengals’ four straight one-and-dones in the playoffs.
If the Texans win the AFC South, they’d get a home playoff game in the first round and likely wouldn’t face the Bengals until at least the divisional round. That would require that the Texans win a game or two in the playoffs, but it’s too early to anoint the Texans as a team that can go far in the playoffs.
The Texans gave up six touchdowns in the first half against the Dolphins. They’ve given up zero touchdowns in 10 quarters since.
— Michael David Smith (@MichaelDavSmith) November 17, 2015
The Texans have come a long way since allowing 41 points in the first half of a 44-26 loss at Miami three weeks ago. They’ve allowed six points in each of their last two games. But that was against the Titans’ 30th-ranked offense in Week 8 and vintage Prime Time Dumpster Fire Andy Dalton Monday night.
Dalton completed 22 of 38 passes for 197 yards and an interception. It didn’t help that tight end Tyler Eifert dropped three passes, but many of Dalton’s downfield throws were off the mark.
The Texans’ defense deserves much of the credit for Dalton’s woes, and the unit can win some games for the team down the stretch. J.J. Watt has 5.5 sacks in the last three games and can change a game by himself.
However, the Texans don’t have the offensive firepower to make a deep playoff run. They’re 26th in the league with 20.4 points per game. Hopkins is third in the league with 71 receptions, but he doesn’t have much of a supporting cast. Cecil Shorts, the Texans’ second-leading receiver, has just 29 receptions. Nate Washington has 28. If an opponent can shut down Hopkins, the Texans would be in trouble.
Furthermore, Arian Foster’s absence is being felt in the backfield. Alfred Blue leads the team with 295 rushing yards but is averaging just 3.4 yards per carry.
The Texans are legitimate contenders to overtake the Colts in the AFC South, especially if Andrew Luck misses a significant amount of time. But Monday night’s upset victory doesn’t prove that they have the stuff for a deep playoff run.