The Texans entered DeMeco Ryans' first season as head coach with low expectations, but the team has vastly exceeded them.
Ryans has done an excellent job helping transform Houston into a playoff contender. His work on defense has been notable, but his empowerment of first-time offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik and the development of rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud have been among his best achievements.
Stroud is widely expected to be the NFL's Offensive Rookie of the Year after leading Houston to an 8-6 record in his 14 starts with 3,844 passing yards, 21 touchdowns, and just five interceptions. He has been every bit as good as those numbers indicate and has done well to elevate playmakers like Nico Collins and Tank Dell around him.
Thanks in part to Stroud's success, Houston is sitting at 10-7 on the year, securing a playoff spot by beating the Colts 23-19 on Saturday. It marks the team's first winning season since 2019 when Bill O'Brien took a Deshaun Watson-led squad to the divisional round of the playoffs.
LIVE: Updated NFL standings, clinching scenarios for Week 18
The Texans' win punched Houston's ticket to the playoffs. Now, they wait to see whether their ticket is as a wild-card team or as a division winner.
Here's what to know about the Texans' playoff picture and what they need to do to win the AFC South.
Texans playoff picture for Week 18
The Texans had a simple formula for making the playoffs: beat the Colts. They did exactly that, hanging on for a victory on the road against the Colts.
The only question now will be whether the Texans can win the AFC South for the first time since 2019, when the team went 10-6 in the final full season under O'Brien.
How the Texans can win the AFC South
The Texans are about to be the big Titans fans. They need the Jaguars to lose or tie against the Titans to win the AFC South, which would mean landing the AFC's No. 4 seed and facing the Browns.
POWER RANKINGS: Cowboys, Browns, Steelers climb as Dolphins, Eagles, Seahawks drop for Week 18
Texans clinching scenarios
Below is a clearer look at Houston's clinching scenarios in Week 18 of the 2023 NFL season:
Houston Texans (10-7)
Houston clinches the AFC South division title with:
- Texans win AND Jaguars loss or tie