Houston Texans Can Earn 3 Significant Achievements in Week 18
The Houston Texans finished last place in the AFC South Division last season earning the No. 2 overall pick in the NFL Draft in the process.
Drafting quarterback C.J. Stroud with that pick the Texans have put themselves back on track and on a path every last-place team dreams of. The path that directs a team from worst to first.
Houston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans on the field before the game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at NRG Stadium.
Mandatory Credit Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
"Atlanta, Houston, and New Orleans enter the season’s final week with an opportunity to complete a worst-to-first turnaround," wrote NFL.com. "Those clubs finished last or tied for last in their respective divisions last season. In 18 of the previous 20 seasons (2003-22), at least one team has won its division the year after finishing last or tied for last. Two division champions during that span, the 2009 New Orleans Saints and the 2017 Philadelphia Eagles, rebounded to win the Super Bowl after finishing in last place. Last year, the Jacksonville Jaguars advanced to the AFC Divisional round after finishing last in the AFC South in 2021."
One team this season has already won their division after missing the playoffs last season as the Detroit Lions clinched the NFC North Division after sitting out last postseason.
With a win this weekend, the Texans will join them as another team to achieve that goal with Atlanta, New Orleans, and Indianapolis also fighting for that distinction.
Finally, making the playoffs this year puts Houston in another distinguished club, putting them In the group of teams that made the playoffs after missing out the year prior.
Achieving these three things all in one season would put quite the bow on what has already been a rather impressive first season under coach DeMeco Ryans.
A Texans win over the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday would clinch the postseason trip. Adding a loss or tie for the Jacksonville Jaguars at the hands of the Tennessee Titans would give Houston the trifecta.
