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Power rankings change too much based upon one GOOD week or one BAD week. Instead I prefer how I do them, where I rank the teams every four weeks to remove the enormous reactions that a week-to-week sixteen game season offers.
But this ain’t mine. This ain’t for me. This is how others see the Texans entering Week 16. Maybe you will get something out of it.
Sports Illustrated MMQB: 29th, down from 27th
Bleacher Report (Chris Simms): 29th, down From 26th
The Jaguars completely outclassed the Houston Texans. It was too much to ask of T.J. Yates to beat arguably the greatest defense in NFL history on the road. The Texans couldn't run the ball, and the defense let up way too many big plays.
The fact the Jaguars were without their top receivers and Leonard Fournette and still racked up 45 points should tell you all you need to know about Houston's performance.
I expected Houston to get steamrolled. That's not surprising, considering how banged up this team is. Houston is a capable team when healthy, though. Watch out for the Texans in 2018 when Deshaun Watson, J.J. Watt and Whitney Mercilus are healthy.
The blurb for this week is the player on each team with the most Pro Bowl Appearances. Shane Lechler still isn’t good, folks.
Shane Lechler (7): The Texans are the only team whose leading Pro Bowler is a special-teamer, and he could widen the gap further this year. Lechler leads the NFL in punts (81) and is averaging the third-most yards per punt (48.9).
Welp. The Texans were in it for, like, half a quarter. T.J. Yates has supplied Houston with sharp spot play before. Yeah, not against that Jags secondary. The loss in Jacksonville dropped the Texans to 4-10, and it was their seventh defeat in their last eight games. The poor record won't even help in late April, as Houston traded its 2018 first-round pick, which could be in the top five, to the Browns to move up and take Deshaun Watson. Fortunately for the Texans, the talent they have coming back from injury, including Mr. Watson, will still make 2018 promising.
Bill O'Brien's team is starting to crack badly as it gets down to its third quarterback. The rumors of a breakup with general manager Rick Smith are getting hotter.
Highest Ranking: 27th, ESPN.
Lowest Ranking: 30th, NFL.com.
Average Ranking: 29th.
Are the rankers too harsh, too easy, or just right on the Texans at this point of the 2017 season?