Houston Texans can still clinch No. 3 seed in AFC Playoffs

The Houston Texans have a chance to move up in the AFC Playoff seedings if two things occur this Sunday in Week 17.

Having a 10-5 overall record entering Week 17, the reigning AFC South champion Houston Texans have a final opportunity to add to what has been a wild season of really good times, and some really bad times.

One more good moment could occur on Sunday for the Texans, and that is going from their current No. 4 playoff seeding in the AFC Playoff bracket up to the No. 3 spot. That can happen if the Texans win at home against the Tennessee Titans, who are still in playoff contention for the No. 6 seed, and the Kansas City Chiefs lose to the Los Angeles Chargers.

Granted, if the Chargers defeat the Chiefs in Week 17 that would be a very big upset, because earlier in the season the Chargers lost to the Chiefs, 24-17. In the Texans game, when they face the Titans, just a couple of weeks ago (Week 15) the Texans defeated the Titans, 24-21 in Nashville.

Most likely if the games goes how they look on paper, the Chargers will lose to the Chiefs for a second time this season, and the Texans vs. Titans game should be close. If the Texans play everyone the entire game, they should gain the victory, but nothing is guaranteed in the NFL, and who really knows how long the starters of the Texans will actually play this Sunday?

In an article at TitansOnline.com by Jim Wyatt, Houston Texans head coach Bill O’Brien is quoted saying he will play his starters:

"“It’s all about the game, trying to win games. We realize all those things that you just said are very important factors to take into relative to where we’re at, but we need to play to win the game.”"

The thing about the Texans game for Sunday at 4:25 p.m. ET (3:25 p.m. CT) is the fact they will know if a win will improve their playoff seeding, because the Chiefs and Chargers play at 1 p.m. ET.

My guess is the Chiefs win on Sunday in the early afternoon game, and the Texans will play their top players for a good amount of the game. The Texans can’t afford to go into the playoffs rusty as they will be facing the Buffalo Bills in the Wild Card round if they Chiefs win their afternoon game.

Even in playing their best players on Sunday, that doesn’t mean Houston will be playing them for the entire game. If the Texans already know they can’t move up in the playoff rankings there is no point of playing their top guys for all four quarters.