Countdown To Kickoff: Texans vs. Eagles

A win and they’re in.

While the Texans are currently in position to clinch a first-round bye, the team could still miss the NFL Playoffs entirely. In a bitterly close AFC Playoff Picture, the Texans rank as the No. 2 seed in the AFC and can move one step closer to clinching that bye with a win against the defending Super Bowl champions this afternoon.

A win today would also clinch the AFC South for the Texans. A loss today could force the team to win in Week 17 at home against the Jaguars.

When the NFL schedule was first released, seeing the Eagles late in the season was not something the Texans wanted. The Eagles ranked at the top of the NFL last season. However, things have gone different this season for Philly, thanks to a struggling offense and a banged-up secondary. The Eagles are 7-7 but are coming off an impressive road win against the Rams last week that gave the team some life following a potentially season-ending injury to Carson Wentz.

The Eagles are riding that momentum and are in more of a desperate position than the Texans, as a loss could knock them out of playoff contention entirely. The Eagles also benefit from playing at home in a cold environment, something the Texans dealt with last week in the Meadowlands.

It should be a very competitive game and a big test for the Texans. A win will confirm their slot in the playoffs and prove to the league that the Texans are not a team that you want to face in the postseason.

How do you think this will play out? What are you doing in the meantime until the game begins? Anything we need to be focusing on?

This is where we count down until the action. The Inactives List will be available around 90 minutes before kickoff, and the first quarter thread will post about 15 minutes before the game starts. Until then, chat here.