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AFC South
Houston Texans Playoff Chances?
Week 10 of the NFL season has the Texans on a BYE. They entered that week with a win over the Raiders in Oakland! So lets check the Standings, see where the Texans stand in the Playoff chase and assess their chances of getting into the Playoffs for the first time in their history.
1. The Standings in the AFC
Right now the only real 'locks' for the Playoffs would be the Patriots, Colts and Steelers. The Browns, Jaguars, and Titans are hard on these teams heels, trying for Wild Card slots essentially. In the AFC West the Chiefs and Chargers are tied at 4-4, ultimately the Chargers will probably win out. In addition, the Bills are also at 4-4 going into week 10. That makes 9 team ahead of the Texans, vying for those Playoff spots. The Texans are in undoubtedly the toughest AFC Divsion-all the other teams in this Division have winning records at this stage of the season!
What this boils down to is that the Texans have to win at least 5 but more likely 6, of their remaining seven games. That will be a tough chore!
2. For the Texans to achieve this they will need to do the following:
a. find a running game somewhere! Ahman Green is injured and cannot seem to get well. Ron Dayne is not the long term answer-teams know he isn't quick enough to get to the edge so they stack the inside. Another runner will have to show up somewhere- Darius Walker?
b. Get WR Andre Johnson back on the field. He should return for week 11. He will provide a presence that defensive coordinators will have to game plan for. That should open up other opportunities for TE Owen Daniels, and WR's Andre Davis and Kevin Walter. It may actually help the run game too!
c. Overcome injuries, particularly to QB Matt Schaub and CB D Robinson. Schaub has missed two games with effects of concussions, but he is due back for Week 11 also. Robinson is lost for the year with torn ACL and hamstring. A competent CB needs to be found, but frankly there isn't one waiting in the wings. So the defense will suffer as a result.
d. Get rookie WR Jacoby Jones involved in the offense. He provides speed and quickness. Unfortunately injuries have stunted his growth this season.
e. Somehow generate more pressure on opposing QB's from the Defensive Line. DE Mario Williams and DT Amobi Okoye are productive, but their cohorts have not been.
It is definitely a long shot, but if the Texans can defeat 5 or more of their remaining opponents (Saints, Titans, Bucs, Colts, Jaguars, Broncos and Browns) then they could just sneak into the Playoffs for the first time ever!!
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