Texans Playoff Scenarios: Houston Needs Help To Clinch AFC South In Week 15

The Houston Texans (9-4) suffered something of a setback in Week 14 by losing at home to the Indianapolis Colts (7-6). It ended a nine-game winning streak that put the Texans in solid position to win the AFC South and maybe even get a playoff bye.

The Texans can get win the division in Week 15 or, failing that, earn a playoff berth, but they need several things to go right for that to happen. The full list of clinching scenarios is complicated, but the easiest way for the Texans to win the division is to win and hope the Colts and Tennessee Titans (7-6) lose.

The Colts host the resurgent Dallas Cowboys (8-5) and the Titans travel to New Jersey to play the New York Giants (5-8). Neither game will be a cakewalk, as the Cowboys are on a five-game winning streak and the Giants have won their last two.

The Colts are slight home favorites and the Titans are slight road underdogs.

If that does not come to fruition, the Texans can at least earn a playoff berth by winning and hoping Miami Dolphins (7-6) and either the Baltimore Ravens (7-6) or Pittsburgh Steelers (7-5-1) lose.

The Ravens host the lowly Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-8) while the Steelers have a home contest against the New England Patriots (9-4). Given the circumstances, it is possible Houston walks away from Week 15 empty handed, but they are still favorites to win the AFC South eventually.