Behind a surging defense that intercepted rookie Baker Mayfield three times during Houston’s 29-13 victory over the Cleveland Browns on Sunday, the Texans sit atop the AFC South at 9-3.
The team is riding a nine-game winning streak after starting out the season with three straight losses.
If the playoffs were to begin today, the Texans would be the third seed in the AFC and would be hosting a home game in Houston over Wildcard Weekend.
They are also only a game behind the Kansas City Chiefs for the top spot and are tied with the Patriots, record-wise, for the No. 2 seed (New England owns the tiebreaker). Given that the Texans do not have an opponent remaining on their schedule with a winning record, there’s a solid chance they could catch either the Pats or Chiefs and earn a first-round bye.
Whether they do or not, do the Texans have a shot at making the Super Bowl?
They actually might as defensive playmakers J.J. Watt, Jadeveon Clowney, and Zach Cunningham are all dominating and quarterback Deshaun Watson, although not spectacular, has been playing much better than he did at the start of the season.
Watson has playmakers to throw to in DeAndre Hopkins and Lamar Miller, and is also recovered enough from an ACL tear that he is back to making plays with his legs.
However, if the Texans are going to make a run to February, it’s is Watson’s arms, not his legs, that will get them there, according to Sports Illustrated.
“An asset as powerful as his legs must be used – but only as a Plan B, rarely a Plan A,” SI writes. “In the NFL, where you’re facing fast, complex defenses that each week are tailored to stop you, sustained success can come only from being a passer first and a runner second. How effectively Watson finds this balance down the stretch will decide how far the Texans go.”
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