Houston Texans: 5 most important games in 2015

Nov 23, 2014; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Texans defensive end

J.J. Watt

(99) and outside linebacker

(90) in action against the Cincinnati Bengals at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

Week 10: at the Cincinnati Bengals

Coming off of their Week 9 Bye, the Houston Texans travel to Cincinnati to face the Bengals. This game will kick off the second half of the team’s season, and once again be a set-the-tone kind of game.

It is always important to win a game after a Bye Week, as this is huge for a team’s morale. If the team spends a full two weeks preparing for this game against the Bengals only to lose, then it will be hard for them to feel confident during the second half of the season. However, a solid victory against a playoff contender would be a great confidence booster.

The Bengals are likely to be competing for a playoff spot, and so will be equally eager to pick up a win, and that’s another reason this game is so important. If Houston can’t win their division then they will need the advantage over the Bengals in both the record and tie-breaker departments.

Picking up this victory in mid-November will give the Texans a great start to the second half of their season, as well as put them in a good position in the playoff race. However, if they can’t get a win here then they will need to push hard in the final seven games of the season to ensure they finish out the season strong.

Next: Week 11