Houston Texans NFL Power Rankings: Divisional Round

Where do they Texans land after their win over the Chargers in the wildcard round?

We’ve got another week of the Power Rankings! I have to admit, I wrote last week’s power rankings article thinking it was going to be my last of the season. Being underdogs at home and welcoming in a (seemingly) red-hot Los Angeles Chargers team did dull my optimism in the days preceding that game, and boy, was I wrong!

The Houston Texans completely silenced the Chargers’ offense, sacked quarterback Justin Herbert four times, and nabbed FOUR interceptions off of him during their wildcard game. Their offense, albeit dormant in the first quarter, woke up following an incredible play made by Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud, throwing deep downfield to wide receiver Xavier Hutchinson while scrambling away from pressure to convert a third & 16. This play could’ve been ripped directly out of Stroud’s rookie highlight-reel, and it was exactly what Houston needed to get back in the game. A few targets to Nico Collins later, and Houston had taken the lead 7-6, a lead they would never give up thanks to their defense.

It would be the understatement of the century to say it was encouraging to see how well Stroud played. He was still far from perfect, but for the first time since September, it seemed like the Texans passing offense was something to be feared.

And the defense? If Stroud’s performance restored confidence in Texans fans, this defense will give them arrogance. Cornerbacks Kamari Lassiter and Derek Stingley Jr. erased the edges of the field, forcing Justin Herbert into more interceptions than he had throw all regular season! The defensive line was instrumental in chilling the Chargers’ offense, as well. Will Anderson Jr. became a waking nightmare for Herbert, generating six of Houston’s 25, yes, 25, total pressures on the quarterback that evening. There was no time Justin Herbert, and that is what spelled the Chargers’ downfall.

Wins like these don’t come very often. Playoff wins are rare, getting to the divisional round two years in a row is rare, and considering how much of a rollercoaster of a season it has been for Houston this year, making it back to the top eight is a remarkable feat. Instead of winning via game-winning field goals and heroic plays by Stroud in 2023, this Texans team has instead won over and over again thanks to a smothering, ball hawk defense.

The young guns of the defense have leapt into the upper-echelon of NFL defenses, silencing all doubters of their abilities with a dominant performance on Wildcard Weekend. I’m sure some in Kansas City originally looked upon this rematch with the Texans favorably, but after seeing this defense, I bet they’re feeling a pit of anxiety begin to stir in their bellies.

Here’s where the Houston Texans are ranked entering the Divisional Round of the 2024 NFL Playoffs:

NFL.COM:

8. Houston Texans (11-7) (Last Week: 14)

For the second year in a row, DeMeco Ryans’ Texans delivered an upset on Wild Card Weekend, prevailing with another fine defensive showing. Houston’s D played admirably on Saturday, buoying the team early while the offense got its footing. It’s strange that a muffed shotgun snap deep in the Texans’ own territory on third-and-16 would be the play that jarred them out of their offensive slumber. But after that ad-libbed 34-yard gain, C.J. Stroud was about as good as he’d been for the past month (or longer). If he can perform at that same level this Saturday against the Chiefs, Houston will have a chance. The last time the Texans were coming off a truly dominant defensive performance, against the Dolphins in Week 15, they were humbled the following Saturday in Kansas City. So it’s not just Stroud who needs to show up at Arrowhead and carry over the momentum.

– Eric Edholm

SPORTS ILLUSTRATED:

8. Houston Texans [+5500] (Last Week: 14)

Houston is going to stay in the last spot despite an impressive defensive showing in the wild card win over Los Angeles. Now, the Texans have to face the back-to-back defending champs in the divisional round.

Kansas City is an insane 13-4 after a bye in the Andy Reid era.

– Peter Dewey

YAHOO! SPORTS:

8. Houston Texans (11-7) (Last Week: 15)

The Texans’ defense is good. It was sixth in EPA allowed per play and fourth in success rate allowed in the regular season. Saturday’s performance in shutting down the Chargers was nearly perfect and far beyond Houston’s normal level. Can the Texans replicate that on the road against the Chiefs?

– Frank Schwab

USA TODAY:

8. Houston Texans (Last Week: 12)

A team that so frequently played to its level of competition this season – and sometimes decidedly failed to manage that – more than met the moment Saturday against the turnover-prone Los Angeles Chargers. But now the Texans not only have to overcome the rested, top-seeded Chiefs at Arrowhead, they have to overcome their own underwhelming playoff history. Houston is 0-5 all time in the divisional round (the losses by an average of 16.4 points) and 0-5 on the road in postseason.

– Nate Davis

AVERAGE RANKING: 8 (LAST WEEK: 14.13)

Troy Taormina-Imagn Images

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Yep, no surprises here! Even though the Texans dominated a team that many had ranked in the top ten, they weren’t going to get any favors coming into arguably the biggest weekend in football that isn’t the Super Bowl. Although, it is satisfying to see how far all the pundits had to launch the Texans up their power rankings to compensate for this upset victory. Take that, power rankers!

They’d have to lunch the Texans up several spots again, as well, if Houston is able to slay Goliath on Saturday. Virtually nobody is giving Houston a chance against the Chiefs, who have only lost one game with their starters this year. This will be their greatest challenge yet to go where no Texans team has gone before – but DeMeco Ryans can do it. C.J. Stroud can do it, Nico Collins can do it, Will Anderson Jr. can do it, Danielle Hunter can do it, Derek Stingley Jr. can do it, and Kamari Lassiter can do it, too! Pin up this station-to-station Chiefs offense against the monsters Houston has absorbed the last three years, and I kinda like our chances! In fact, I welcome the Chiefs to try this Texans defense.

Despite the inconsistencies that have defined this Texans’ season, the defense has remained stalwart against all opponents (Christmas game doesn’t count), forcing passing offenses into terrible throws, interceptions, and sacks. Patrick Mahomes may have the Holy Arm, but the Texans flourish under the Davis moniker, and I predict another Saturday, 3:30 PM playoff game will once again go Houston’s way.

GO TEXANS!!!!