Even though the Texans didn't mathematically clinch the playoffs last week, for all intents and purposes they are in. If the Texans lose the final five games and end up at 10-6, they would still make the playoffs under most scenarios. There are so few instances where they don't make the postseason that I put the Texans chances at 99% for making the playoffs. Here are the ways the Texans can clinch a playoff berth next week: They can clinch at least the #6 seed if the Patriots beat the Dolphins. They can also clinch the #6 seed if the Chargers beat the Bengals and the Ravens beat the Steelers. The Texans can clinch at least the #5 seed if they beat the Titans. They can also clinch at least the #5 seed if the Patriots beat the Dolphins, the Chargers beat the Bengals and the Ravens beat the Steelers. The goal this season is not just to clinch a wildcard spot. It is to get home field advantage with the #1 seed. Therefore, it would be best if the Patriots lose to the Dolphins and the Ravens lose to the Steelers. We also want the Buccaneers to beat the Broncos. The Texans cannot win the division this week. The magic number for clinching the division is three. Any combination of wins by the Texans and losses by the Colts that total 3 means the Texans win the AFC South. The earliest the Texans can clinch the division is in week 14. If the Texans beat the Titans and the Colts lose to the Lions this week, and the Colts lose to the Titans the following week, the Texans would be AFC South champs before they play the Patriots on MNF in week 14. It's funny, even though the Texans currently have the #1 seed in the AFC they cannot win the division this week. However, all three other AFC division leaders (Patriots, Ravens and Broncos) can win their division this week. All the Patriots and Broncos need to do is win their game and they win their division. The Ravens need to win their game and hope the Bengals lose their game against the Chargers and they are AFC North champs.
This week Houston clinches a playoff spot with: 1) HOU win or tie OR 2) MIA loss or tie + PIT loss or tie OR 3) MIA loss or tie + CIN loss or tie OR 4) PIT loss + CIN loss
^ Week 13 scenarios: http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap10...enarios-week-13?icampaign=Playoffpicture_news Thanks, man.
Texans already clinched playoffs Pittsburgh and Cincinnati play each other so one of those teams will end up with at least one more loss for the year. Neither one of them can end up with a better conference record than the Texans so the Texans have the tiebreaker over both these teams. Plus Texans have tiebreaker over Miami by beating them earlier in the year. Playoffs are clinched.
From my count, we pretty much clinch it if we go 12-1 due to tie breakers (the 12th win coming from the Patriots). "Pretty much" meaning barring Texans lose out and one of the other teams win out. Even if we lose to the Patriots, there are more scenarios of us getting the #1 seed than not.
There are only two scenarios out there where the Texans could miss the playoffs. 1) The Texans would need to lose all their remaining games and finish up at 10-6. The Steelers and Bengals would need to win all their remaining games and tie each other when they play in week 16. That would give them both 10.5 wins and knock the Texans out of the playoffs. 2) The Texans would need to lose all their remaining games and finish up at 10-6. If either the Steelers or Bengals are at 10.5 (or 11) wins and Miami sweeps New England with both teams ending up at 10-6, Miami wins the division. New England would then own the tiebreaker over the Texans knocking them out of the playoffs. Very unlikely any of the above will occur, especially the part where the Texans would lose all their remaining games.
I want the defensive unit return to form and go back to its ferocious, take no prisoners, suffocating best and destroying opposing teams. The results will take care of itself.
I think I predicted 13 - 3 way back when. But I don't see us losing 2 more games. Maybe just to new england. I guess we will see.