Houston Texans’ playoff aspirations in Week 12

The Houston Texans have the opportunity to continue to move up the playoff seeding.

The playoff picture is getting clearer with the Houston Texans and the other 31 NFL teams. The Texans are currently ranked as the third seed in the AFC as the Pittsburgh Steelers are now the fourth seed after losing against the Denver Broncos. The Steelers now have an inferior record than the Texans at 7-3-1. Texans currently are 7-3, but they have to win or tie tonight against the Tennessee Titans to stay with the third seed in the AFC.

The Texans not only have the opportunity to keep the third seed this week with a victory, but they could put themselves in prime position to contend for the second seed in the AFC that is currently occupied by the New England Patriots. The Patriots have an 8-3 record after defeating the New York Jets in Week 12, and the Texans would have an identical record with a win tonight.

The Texans would still be in the third seed with a win tonight since the Patriots have the head to head tiebreaker over them with a win in Week 1, but the Texans have an easier schedule down the stretch. The Patriots will still have to play the Minnesota Vikings (5-4-1), Miami Dolphins (5-6), Steelers (7-3-1), Buffalo Bills (4-7), and Jets (3-8) in the next few weeks. After the Titans game, the Texans would only have to play the Cleveland Browns (4-6-1),  Indianapolis Colts (6-5), Jets (3-8), Philadelphia Eagles (5-6), and Jacksonville Jaguars (3-8).

With the Texans having an easier schedule than the Patriots towards the end of the regular season, they would have the chance to earn the second seed in the AFC and have a valuable bye week during the wildcard round.