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After a potential division-altering win over the Colts in Indianapolis this past Sunday, the Texans are riding high and in control of their own destiny. If they can hold on for three more weeks (including a potentially crucial Week 17 matchup against the Titans), NRG Stadium will host a playoff game for the fourth time in the last six years. As unlikely as it is that we will get to see the Texans challenge for a Super Bowl berth in their home stadium, punching their ticket to the tournament is the first step in accomplishing the impossible.
Here is what the media had to say about where the Texans stand relative to the rest of the league as we enter Week 15:
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Website
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Rank
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Last Week
|
Comments
|
| SB Nation |
25
|
25
|
N/A.
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| ESPN |
17
|
22
|
The Texans are 4-0 in division games this season, one of three teams undefeated in division play, which gives them a nice leg up in the AFC South race. Another division foe in the Jaguars awaits them Sunday.
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| NFL.com |
16
|
22
|
The Texans defied the odds on Sunday in Indy -- and in the process, defied nearly every analyst I know. Given the state of Brock Osweiler's play, and the Texans' history versus the Colts, it was sooooo easy to take Indy in Week 14. What Bill O'Brien's club proved, for the 500th time (at least) in NFL history, is that running the football and playing solid team defense will never go out of style. The Broncos won the Super Bowl last year with similar schematics. Houston might have won the AFC South behind Lamar Miller's 107 rushing yards and the defense's three takeaways.
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| Bleacher Report |
16
|
17
|
Bravo, Bill O’Brien.
Houston’s head coach finally figured out the best way to circumnavigate his terrible quarterback is to ignore him completely. The end result? A 147-yard passing day from ol’ Brock, coupled with a dominant outing from Lamar Miller and Alfred Blue.
These Texans need to play like the 2000 Baltimore Ravens on offense to win: run it three times, let the defense turn Andrew Luck over (three times) and run it again.
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| Fox Sports |
16
|
20
|
The Texans surprisingly came away with a much-needed victory against the Colts, separating themselves from Indianapolis in the division. They still have to stave off the resilient Titans, who are coming off of a big win over the Broncos. Brock Osweiler still has to improve in order for the Texans to make noise in the playoffs, but Sunday’s win was a step in the right direction.
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| USA Today |
17
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17
|
They're assured of having better AFC South record than both Indianapolis and Tennessee, a huge advantage in Houston's bid to keep division crown.
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| Yahoo Sports |
19
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20
|
The Texans still aren’t good, but the division is there for the taking. They have Jacksonville and Cincinnati at home the next two weeks, while the Titans have a tough game at the Chiefs in Week 15. So there’s a good chance Houston will have a shot to clinch in Week 16. Even if that doesn’t happen, they’ll have a Week 17 game at Tennessee and have already clinched the tiebreaker over the Titans and the Colts. It would be a big upset if they don’t win the South.
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| CBS Sports (Prisco) |
15
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16
|
By winning at Indianapolis, they are the division leaders. I think they can stay there.
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AVERAGE
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17.6
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19.9
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N/A
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Jaguars vs Texans coverage