The Houston Texans should make the 2025 NFL playoffs. I can say that with extreme confidence. Six weeks ago, this was not the case. The Texans were 3-5, and their starting quarterback was concussed. Six weeks, six games, six wins later, they have a 95 percent chance of going to the postseason.
The first eight times the Texans have made the postseason in franchise history have all been by winning the AFC South, As of right now, the 2025 trip to the postseason would be via wild card berth, which means going on the road to advance in the playoffs.
A division title is still a possibility. The Texans trail the Jaguars by a game in the AFC South, with a very favorable outlook on tiebreakers, if the two teams finish with the same record. With that in mind, let’s look at the schedule this weekend, and provide a rooting guide for the diligent Houston Texans fan!
First, here are the AFC Standings heading into Week 16:
- Denver 12-2
- New England 11-3
- Jacksonville 10-4
- Pittsburgh 8-6
- L.A. Chargers 10-4
- Buffalo 10-4
- HOUSTON 9-5
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8. Indianapolis 8-6
9. Baltimore 7-7
Here is the schedule of relevant games, with the outcome we should all be seeking outlined:
THE BIG ONE — Jacksonville at Denver (-2.5)
ROOT FOR: Denver
If the Texans are going to win the division, they need Jacksonville to lose a game. This is easily the best chance for this to occur, with the Jaguars closing the season against the Colts and Titans.
Buffalo at Cleveland (+10)
ROOT FOR: Cleveland
The Texans trail the Bills by a game in the standings. A Browns upset would pull the Texans into a tie record wise with the Bills (assuming the Texans beat the Raiders), and the Texans have the tiebreaker, with their Week 12 head to head win over the Bills.
L.A. Chargers at Dallas (-1.5)
ROOT FOR: Dallas
Same scenario as the Bills game above, as a Dallas win would drop the Chargers to 10-5. The Texans play the Chargers in Week 17.
Pittsburgh at Detroit (-6.5)
ROOT FOR: Pittsburgh
Right now, the Steelers, at 8-6, have a one game lead over the Ravens in the AFC North. Someone has to make the playoffs from that division, and I’d rather it’d be the Steelers than take the chance that Lamar Jackson could resurrect his season come January.
New England at Baltimore (-2.5)
ROOT FOR: New England
I’m torn on this one, because the Texans could still catch the Patriots for the 2-seed. However, let’s put a stake through the heart of the Ravens once and for all.
San Francisco at Indianapolis (+5.5)
ROOT FOR: San Francisco
We get to see another Philip Rivers start! A loss here for the Colts would essentially end their season, as they’d fall to 8-7, with games against the Jaguars and Texans remaining. Crazy to think that the Colts were 7-1 a little over a month ago.
This article appears in Jan 1 – Dec 31, 2025.