Houston Texans: Peter King doesn’t include Deshaun Watson, J.J. Watt in AFC playoffs

The Houston Texans can add another national media reporter not including them in the AFC Playoffs this season.

It has become very apparent many believe that the Houston Texans aren’t a bad team, but many on the national spectrum don’t believe in the Texans enough to include them as one of the seven teams making the AFC Playoffs in 2020. In fact, many seem high on the AFC South, but all the love seems to be going to the Indianapolis Colts and the Tennessee Titans.

It is understandable to see why many believe in the Colts with their offense having Philip Rivers leading the team this season as he is entering his 16th season in the league, his first with the Colts. The Titans are another strong contender because they are coming off a very strong playoff performance last year that saw them reach the AFC Championship game.

While the Colts and Titans deserve to have their names mentioned in the teams that will be very good this season, but the Texans — who are two-time defending AFC South champions — can’t be overlooked either.

Granted, in his Football Morning in America column, veteran NFL reporter Peter King did say the battle for the final four playoff spots “will be fierce” in the AFC while mentioning the Houston Texans, but the team has seen this movie for the past two seasons as most believe they won’t make the playoffs, only to prove the doubters wrong.

The reason the Texans can’t be overlooked this year is even though they no longer have DeAndre Hopkins to take all of the pressure off fellow offensive players, the Texans still aren’t that bad as they do have Deshaun Watson under center. The offensive line will be improved too as all five starters are back, and if they can all stay healthy, that will be a big difference maker.

Houston Texans defense might be underrated in 2020 NFL season

On defense, King mentioned he didn’t see that unit being much better than last season, but also remember J.J. Watt missed half the season, and if he stays on the field, there is no doubt he’s going to be playing with a chip on his shoulder as well. Also, the emergence of rookie Ross Blacklock at defensive end and at times as the defensive tackle this season will be a great thing to watch.

King in his aforementioned FMIA column said this about the Houston Texans defense on Monday when referencing them before unveiling his playoff predictions:

"“Why are these numbers significant for Houston: 41, 38, 35, 51? Point totals for foes in four of the Texans’ last nine games, and I don’t see how their defense is much better.”"

Maybe the optimism about the Houston Texans on the pages of the Toro Times is a little excited at the start of the season — and for the record, King’s column is the best in the business — and yes the first four games of 2020, plus the AFC South schedule, are going to be very tough on Houston. However, if they can get through that with some success, they will once again get to prove many in the national media wrong.

This isn’t saying the Houston Texans will make the playoffs, but many just seem to be overlooking the Houston Texans having a chance at all to be one of the seven playoff teams in the AFC. For all that the franchise has accomplished the past two seasons with Watson as the starting quarterback, all this is saying is please don’t overlook the team in 2020.