Houston Texans NFL Energy Rankings: Divisional Spherical

We’ve obtained one other week of the Energy Rankings! I’ve to confess, I wrote final week’s energy rankings article considering it was going to be my final of the season. Being underdogs at dwelling and welcoming in a (seemingly) red-hot Los Angeles Chargers workforce did uninteresting my optimism within the days previous that recreation, and boy, was I incorrect!

The Houston Texans fully silenced the Chargers’ offense, sacked quarterback Justin Herbert 4 instances, and nabbed FOUR interceptions off of him throughout their wildcard recreation. Their offense, albeit dormant within the first quarter, wakened following an unimaginable play made by Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud, throwing deep downfield to extensive receiver Xavier Hutchinson whereas scrambling away from stress to transform a 3rd & 16. This play might’ve been ripped straight out of Stroud’s rookie highlight-reel, and it was precisely what Houston wanted to get again within the recreation. A number of targets to Nico Collins later, and Houston had taken the lead 7-6, a lead they’d by no means hand over because of their protection.

It will be the understatement of the century to say it was encouraging to see how properly Stroud performed. He was nonetheless removed from excellent, however for the primary time since September, it appeared just like the Texans passing offense was one thing to be feared.

And the protection? If Stroud’s efficiency restored confidence in Texans followers, this protection will give them conceitedness. Cornerbacks Kamari Lassiter and Derek Stingley Jr. erased the sides of the sphere, forcing Justin Herbert into extra interceptions than he had throw all common season! The defensive position was instrumental in chilling the Chargers’ offense, as properly. Will Anderson Jr. turned a waking nightmare for Herbert, producing six of Houston’s 25, sure, 25, whole pressures on the quarterback that night. There was no time Justin Herbert, and that’s what spelled the Chargers’ downfall.

It have to be enjoyable to be an edge rusher within the mid-4th Q and different workforce is down a number of scores… Nightmare gasoline for OTs. Have a look at the snap timing from Will Anderson at prime of display pic.twitter.com/wXLzJmUw4D

— Ben Fennell (@BenFennell_NFL) January 13, 2025

Wins like these don’t come fairly often. Playoff wins are uncommon, attending to the divisional spherical two years in a row is uncommon, and contemplating how a lot of a rollercoaster of a season it has been for Houston this 12 months, making it again to the highest eight is a exceptional feat. As an alternative of profitable through game-winning discipline targets and heroic performs by Stroud in 2023, this Texans workforce has as an alternative received over and over because of a smothering, ball hawk protection.

The younger weapons of the protection have leapt into the upper-echelon of NFL defenses, silencing all doubters of their skills with a dominant efficiency on Wildcard Weekend. I’m positive some in Kansas Metropolis initially seemed upon this rematch with the Texans favorably, however after seeing this protection, I guess they’re feeling a pit of tension start to stir of their bellies.

Right here’s the place the Houston Texans are ranked getting into the Divisional Spherical of the 2024 NFL Playoffs:

NFL.COM:

8. Houston Texans (11-7) (Final Week: 14)

For the second 12 months in a row, DeMeco Ryans’ Texans delivered an upset on Wild Card Weekend, prevailing with one other high quality defensive exhibiting. Houston’s D performed admirably on Saturday, buoying the workforce early whereas the offense obtained its footing. It’s unusual {that a} muffed shotgun snap deep within the Texans’ personal territory on third-and-16 could be the play that jarred them out of their offensive slumber. However after that ad-libbed 34-yard acquire, C.J. Stroud was about pretty much as good as he’d been for the previous month (or longer). If he can carry out at that very same degree this Saturday in opposition to the Chiefs, Houston could have an opportunity. The final time the Texans had been coming off a very dominant defensive efficiency, in opposition to the Dolphins in Week 15, they had been humbled the next Saturday in Kansas Metropolis. So it’s not simply Stroud who wants to point out up at Arrowhead and carry over the momentum.

– Eric Edholm

SPORTS ILLUSTRATED:

8. Houston Texans [+5500] (Final Week: 14)

Houston goes to remain within the final spot regardless of a formidable defensive exhibiting within the wild card win over Los Angeles. Now, the Texans should face the back-to-back defending champs within the divisional spherical.

Kansas Metropolis is an insane 13-4 after a bye within the Andy Reid period.

– Peter Dewey

YAHOO! SPORTS:

8. Houston Texans (11-7) (Final Week: 15)

The Texans’ protection is nice. It was sixth in EPA allowed per play and fourth in success fee allowed within the common season. Saturday’s efficiency in shutting down the Chargers was practically excellent and much past Houston’s regular degree. Can the Texans replicate that on the street in opposition to the Chiefs?

– Frank Schwab

USA TODAY:

8. Houston Texans (Final Week: 12)

A workforce that so often performed to its degree of competitors this season – and typically decidedly didn’t handle that – greater than met the second Saturday in opposition to the turnover-prone Los Angeles Chargers. However now the Texans not solely have to beat the rested, top-seeded Chiefs at Arrowhead, they’ve to beat their very own underwhelming playoff historical past. Houston is 0-5 all time within the divisional spherical (the losses by a mean of 16.4 factors) and 0-5 on the street in postseason.

– Nate Davis

AVERAGE RANKING: 8 (LAST WEEK: 14.13)

Troy Taormina-Imagn Pictures

Yep, no surprises right here! Despite the fact that the Texans dominated a workforce that many had ranked within the prime ten, they weren’t going to get any favors coming into arguably the largest weekend in soccer that isn’t the Tremendous Bowl. Though, it’s satisfying to see how far all of the pundits needed to launch the Texans up their energy rankings to compensate for this upset victory. Take that, energy rankers!

They’d should lunch the Texans up a number of spots once more, as properly, if Houston is ready to slay Goliath on Saturday. Just about no one is giving Houston an opportunity in opposition to the Chiefs, who’ve solely misplaced one recreation with their starters this 12 months. This will likely be their best problem but to go the place no Texans workforce has gone earlier than – however DeMeco Ryans can do it. C.J. Stroud can do it, Nico Collins can do it, Will Anderson Jr. can do it, Danielle Hunter can do it, Derek Stingley Jr. can do it, and Kamari Lassiter can do it, too! Pin up this station-to-station Chiefs offense in opposition to the monsters Houston has absorbed the final three years, and I kinda like our probabilities! In actual fact, I welcome the Chiefs to do this Texans protection.

Regardless of the inconsistencies which have outlined this Texans’ season, the protection has remained stalwart in opposition to all opponents (Christmas recreation doesn’t depend), forcing passing offenses into horrible throws, interceptions, and sacks. Patrick Mahomes could have the Holy Arm, however the Texans flourish below the Davis moniker, and I predict one other Saturday, 3:30 PM playoff recreation will as soon as once more go Houston’s manner.

GO TEXANS!!!!