Houston Texans Daily Roundup: Time to clinch the AFC South

The Houston Texans have the AFC South championship waiting for them on Sunday afternoon, and all they need to do is just win.

It has been an incredible season for the Houston Texans up to this point. There was the very slow, snail’s-paced start at the beginning of the season where the Texans couldn’t buy a win in the first three games of the season. That was followed by a nine-game winning streak where the Texans won in a variety of ways, many of which brought too much stress, and since then the franchise has split their past two games.

All of that has brought them to a Week 16 game against the Philadelphia Eagles where a win would not only gain the Texans a fifth AFC South title, but keep them in the No. 2 spot of the AFC Playoff standings with one week left in the regular season.

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The Texans are in a great position because they control their own playoff destiny, and if they do what they are capable of doing and win on Sunday, they will make their football lives much easier.

According to OddsShark.com, Houston is still a -1.5 underdog entering their Week 16 game at Philadelphia as of Saturday afternoon, so it seems the experts in Las Vegas don’t see either team that much better than the other, which is fine because the Eagles have been playing inspired football as of late.

As Sunday is now just one day away, the Texans have a chance to prove doubters wrong yet again and add to their 10 wins this season with a division championship, and even better, a possible playoff bye as well.

Here are headlines for Saturday, Dec. 22:

• Here is a fun article on DeAndre Carter of the Texans. Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle wrote about how Carter went from being a substitute teacher to playing for the Texans, with the article stating:

"“Carter took up work as a substitute teacher in Hayward, Calif., giving back to kids while staying available for NFL auditions.”"

The path Carter has taken to the NFL is stuff dreams are made of, and along the way he’s not only worked hard on improving his game, but he’s helped those who need some extra guidance in life, which is the most important thing in the grand scheme of everything.

• Nathan Jahkne of Pro Football Focus wrote about the Eagles’ defensive duo of Fletcher Cox and Michael Bennett and how they have the most QB hits in the NFL, with the article stating:

"“Philadelphia Eagles: Fletcher Cox has four or more pressures in 12 games this season. That is the most for all defensive players, regardless of position.”"

This is not the best of news for the Texans offensive line and quarterback Deshaun Watson because he’s been sacked 52 times this season, the most in the NFL. So that is something that will cause great concern in Week 16.

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This official news isn’t great for the Texans, so we’ll all get to see the team battle adversity on Sunday, but what makes good teams great is being able to overcome these type of injury situations, which is what will separate the best of the best for the rest of the regular season and in the playoffs.

Time will tell if the Texans can overcome the injuries and take on the adversity thrown at them head-on this Sunday afternoon.