The 8-3 Houston Texans are in the zone. They’re currently on a winning stretch that goes back to September 30 and they have every chance to maintain their form until the end of the regular season.
The Texans top the AFC South, two games ahead of the Indianapolis Colts. September was a rough month for Bill O’Brien who saw his team lose three straight. Houston‘s record puts them as the third seed in the AFC playoff race. If the season was to conclude today, they would face the Baltimore Ravens on home soil. A winning record breeds confidence but it‘s not all been plain sailing for the Texans who have won five of their games by five points or fewer. A record eight straight wins have got people talking about an accomplished football team.
The 8-3 Houston Texans Are Legitimate
Paying Respects
It’s been an emotional time for those associated with the Houston Texans. Their late owner and founder Robert McNair passed away last week. J.J. Watt addressed the media after Monday night’s win.
“The one thing Mr. McNair wanted was a winner. All he wanted was a winner. He wanted to win every week. He wanted a team that could win and bring a championship to this city. So to be able to win eight straight and to be able to win tonight for him was good, and we’re going to try to keep doing that for him.” (via cbssports.com)
Offensive Presence
Primetime football has been great in 2018. Monday Night Football in Week 12 was no exception. Deshaun Watson threw two touchdown passes and also ran the ball into the end zone for another score. Watson has been proving his worth this season. His commitment has yielded 345 rushing yards.
George Godsey is seeing plenty of production from his offense. Lamar Miller has been a real threat on the ground. Miller had a monumental game in Week 12, carrying the football for 162 yards including a 97-yard touchdown run, a new franchise record.
Lamar Miller is the only player in NFL history with two 95+ yard rushing TD in a career#Texans @millertime_6
— NFL Research (@NFLResearch) November 27, 2018
DeAndre Hopkins is the ‘go-to’ wideout for Watson. Hopkins has 1,024 yards and eight touchdowns from 73 receptions. Demaryius Thomas is also getting in on the act. The veteran scored his first touchdown since moving from Denver. Thomas finished Monday night‘s game with four catches for 38 yards and two touchdowns.
The @HoustonTexans' offense was ROLLING in Week 12! #HaveADay #Texans#TENvsHOU pic.twitter.com/oSf0NswSNW
— NFL (@NFL) November 27, 2018
There‘s always room for improvement, especially for pass protection. The Texans offensive line has allowed 37 sacks, the second highest total in the league. A clean pocket might be the key to a deep postseason run.
Defensive Capabilities
The previous two seasons have been forgettable for J.J. Watt. The elite pass rusher is playing his best football since 2015 where he had 17.5 sacks. Watt sacked Marcus Mariota in Monday night’s 34-17 win. Number 99 isn’t the only one capable of making plays on defense. Jadeveon Clowney is two sacks adrift of a career-high 9.5 sacks in a single season. Just Reid has three picks and is the team leader when it comes to interceptions. The rookie safety picked Alex Smith for a 101-yard return in Week 11.
The Texans are on a roll and their remaining schedule looks favorable. The 6-5 Indianapolis Colts arrive in Houston in week 14. Colts quarterback Andrew Luck is playing some of his best football. Luck has already surpassed 32 touchdowns on the season. It promises to be an outstanding game of football between two improving teams.
The AFC playoff race is going right down to the wire. Don’t take your eye off a football team capable of picking up a bye in the postseason, the Texans mean business.
