After not being seen in the playoffs since 2019, the Houston Texans are in for the second consecutive season. This can mainly be credited to the Texans' elite defensive unit.
The Texans' offense is middle of the pack in almost every offensive statistic. However, your offense is allowed to struggle when you also possess one of the best defenses in the entire NFL.
Entering Week 18, the Texans' defense allows the fewest points and total yards per game. Behind the pass rush of Will Anderson Jr. And Danielle Hunter, this defense has suffocated teams all season.
There's little doubt that no one wants to see the Texans in the Wild-Card round of the playoffs. However, who that might be remains up in the air as the NFL enters the final week of the season.
The Texans have several potential playoff opponents. AllSportsPeople breaks down all of the scenarios.
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Who will the Texans play in the playoffs?
While the Texans have secured a spot in the postseason, their final seeding is yet to be determined. This would ultimately decide who Houston would face in the Wild-Card round.
Heading into Week 18, the Texans have a chance at the No. 3, No. 4, No. 5, No. 6 and No. 7 seeds in the AFC. So there are quite a few scenarios that could play out.
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Winner of the AFC North
The AFC North is up for grabs as the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers will face each other for it in Week 18.
If the Texans stay at the No. 5 seed, they'd face the AFC North champion in the Wild-Card round.
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Los Angeles Chargers
If the Texans manage to win the AFC South over the Jacksonville Jaguars, and the Los Angeles Chargers stay put at the No. 6 seed, they would play one another in the Wild-Card round.
For this to happen, the Texans would need to win and see the Jags lose in Week 18.
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Jacksonville Jaguars
There are a couple of ways the Jags and Texans could match up in the Wild-Card round; it depends on who is the home team.
If the Jags manage to secure the AFC South and retain the No. 3 seed, the Texans would need to fall a spot to the No. 6 seed to face the Jags in Jacksonville. However, there is also a chance that the Texans win the AFC South, and the Jags fall to No. 6, in which case they'd play in Houston.
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Buffalo Bills
If the Texans win the AFC South and get the No. 3 seed, along with Buffalo moving up one spot to the No. 6 seed, they would face each other in the Wild-Card round.
These two organizations played back in Week 12, where the Texans' defense was too much for Josh Allen.
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Denver Broncos / New England Patriots
If the Texans manage to fall to the last spot in the playoffs as the No. 7 seed, they would play whoever claims the top seed in the AFC.
This would mean either traveling to Foxborough to play the Patriots or Mile High to face the Broncos.
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Eliminated opponents
Indianapolis Colts
After starting the season as Super Bowl contenders, the Colts have been eliminated from the playoffs.
Once starting quarterback Daniel Jones went down with a season-ending injury, the team struggled to grab wins down the stretch.
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Loser of Baltimore Ravens vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Whoever loses this game in Week 18 will not only lose the division title but also a playoff spot.
There is a strong chance that the winner of Ravens vs. Steelers will face the Bills in the Wild-Card round, while the loser stays home.
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