Houston Texans Roundup: Everything comes down to Week 17

The Houston Texans wild and whirlwind season all comes down to one game on Sunday where they can win the AFC South championship.

If there is anything that can be said about the 2018 season of the Houston Texans it is the fact that nothing is guaranteed and most games will most likely come down to a few plays in the fourth quarter. That has seemly been the story of the Texans this season and they have one final game to win in the regular season to complete part one of their wild ride.

The Texans (10-5) need to defeat the Jacksonville Jaguars (5-10) in Week 17 to become the AFC South champions for the fifth time in franchise history, and for the third time in the past four seasons. The Jaguars have won just five games this season, but if we know anything about the Texans it is that no win is a given on paper.

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Should the Texans win the Week 17 game against Jacksonville? The answer is yes, but what is worrisome entering this game is the fact that too many wide receivers the team needs to depend on are injured. There is also the play of the offensive line which isn’t great and the Jaguars would probably like nothing else better than to ruin the celebration plans of the Texans in Week 17.

Houston is still a -7 point favorite according to OddsShark.com and looking back to their previous meeting on Oct. 21 the Texans won by 13 points at 20-7. Also remember, the Texans were playing a little better level of football and had more options at wide receiver than they do going into the final week of the the regular season.

The Texans all-time are 20-13 against the Jaguars, and since Nov. 2016 in their three wins against Jacksonville, the Texans have won with scores of 24-21, 21-20 and the aforementioned 20-7 score. Their two losses to Jacksonville last season saw the Texans lose by scored of 29-7 and 45-7.

Speaking of wide receivers for the Texans, DeAndre Carter is really going to have to help take some of the pressure off of DeAndre Hopkins in this game. The past two games have seen Carter gain more playing time and he’s not played too bad when given the opportunity. Two weeks ago against the New York Jets he caught two passes for 55 yards, and last Sunday against the Philadelphia Eagles, Carter caught six passes for 61 yards. For the season, Carter has played in parts of 13 games with 18 receptions for 183 yards, averaging 10.2 yards per reception.

All of this is very simple for the Texans on Sunday, win and they will be the AFC South champions. Lose and they will become a Wild Card team (unless the Tennessee Titans and Indianapolis Colts tie on Sunday Night Football) and have to play on the road. No team wants to go from being the No. 2 seeded team a couple weeks ago to the No. 6 seeded team to begin the playoffs.

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• Deshaun Watson and Hopkins were having some fun before the College Football Playoff Semifinals as they are products of Clemson, who eventually won over Notre Dame on Saturday. Jordan Goodwin of ESPN.com quoted Hopkins on Clemson and what it means to him:

"“Born and raised in Clemson — it’s more than a school, man,” Hopkins said. “That’s where my whole family lives. I love that place.”"

The Texans need to send a gift basket every year to Clemson this time of the year, to not only wish them good luck in their bowl game, but as a thank you for players like Watson and Hopkins being on their roster.

• John McClain of the Houston Chronicle gave some keys to victory on Sunday against the Jaguars:

"“Protect Deshaun Watson and give him time to find his receivers down the field. He throws under more pressure than any quarterback in the NFL.”"

This is a key that could be said each and every game for the Texans quarterback. It is very simple for the Texans and their quarterback Watson, keep the Jaguars away from him and the Texans can win this game.

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Is there anything else that needs to be said? The Texans need to treat this game like a playoff game and realize if a win happens everything else sorts itself out for the positive. Houston also still can obtain the No. 2 spot of the AFC Playoffs, but that is a long shot as the New England Patriots would have to lose to the New York Jets.