Houston Texans NFL Energy Rankings: Week 16

Regardless of all the trials and tribulations the Houston Texans have endured this 2024 season, they’re as soon as once more AFC South Champions!

With a win over the Miami Dolphins and a extremely satisfying Indianapolis Colts loss to the Denver Broncos on Sunday, Houston has efficiently gained the AFC South for the second season in a row; and with three video games left to play. As a lot as this can be a testomony to how disappointing the whole AFC South division has been this yr, I imagine is it equally an accolade for the Houston Texans teaching employees for getting the staff again to postseason regardless of taking a really totally different street there this yr.

I don’t assume anybody may have anticipated this real sophomore droop from C.J. Stroud, however I believe even fewer predicted this Texans protection turning into one of many premiere teams within the AFC. From the backfield manned by Calen Bullock and Derek Stingley, to the linebacking group highlighted (for higher or worse) by Azeez Al-Shaair and Henry To’oTo’o, to the burly entrance bookended by Danielle Hunter and Will Anderson, Jr, the influence of higher teaching and higher drafting will be seen everywhere in the protection. Houston had gathered a big quantity of draft capital all through their tough 2020-2022 episode, and I believe it’s protected to say now that they’ve spent that capital correctly. The protection has principally been utterly rebuilt after simply two years, and deserves the lions’ share of credit score for preserving the Texans within the lead within the division race all season lengthy. With out their enchancment, the Houston Texans would have witnessed their playoff desires fade away weeks in the past.

Sunday’s win was an ideal instance. Within the second half, Houston had their solely scoring drive with the primary possession of the third quarter to take a 20-6 lead, then adopted it up with three straight punts to finish the sport. In opposition to a resurgent Dolphins staff, a second half efficiency like this is able to usually be a loss of life sentence. However not for the Houston Texans, who compelled a fumble and snagged three interceptions (together with two within the second half) from Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. Week after week, I discover myself celebrating and praising the performances of defensive gamers as a substitute of offensive gamers, and sooner or later, that is who they’re. In some unspecified time in the future, the protection needs to be given credit score for what they’ve completed this yr: guaranteeing the staff change into back-to-back AFC South Champions.

However, what does this imply for the facility rankings? Will the pundits be impressed by Houston’s resilience throughout an unpredictable season, or will the maintain Houston exterior of the highest ten? Right here’s the place the Houston Texans are ranked coming into Week 16 of the 2024 NFL Season:

NFL.COM:

11. Houston Texans (9-5) (Final Week: 12)

The run recreation has seemingly been a boom-or-bust element this season, and Sunday was the latter, as Joe Mixon was bottled up. The 2 longest runs got here from Dare Ogunbowale on a pretend punt and Tank Dell on an end-around. Nonetheless, the pretend was an enormous momentum-turner, and the protection took care of enterprise by forcing 4 Tua Tagovailoa turnovers (say that 5 occasions quick). That was sufficient to carry off a determined Dolphins staff and clinch the AFC South title. Meaning a house playoff recreation, however ideally, the Texans would attempt to maintain successful to keep away from the No. 4 seed, which might at the moment pit them in opposition to the Ravens within the opening spherical. The issue is, the Texans go to Kansas Metropolis after which host Baltimore within the subsequent two video games. Not solely can they not afford to take the foot off the gasoline, however the street is a reasonably darned robust one.

– Eric Edholm

ESPN:

9. Houston Texans (9-5)

Week 15 outcome: Beat the Dolphins 20-12

Week 15 rating: 11

Greatest enchancment: Forcing interceptions

The Texans had three interceptions by means of the primary 5 weeks, which was center of the pack. They’ve now led the NFL with 16 since Week 6. They caught eight interceptions mixed in opposition to quarterbacks Tua Tagovailoa (three) and Jared Goff (5), who each had solely 4 interceptions coming into their matchup in opposition to Houston. The Texans have 19 interceptions on the season, second solely to the Vikings (20).

– DJ Bien-Aime

SPORTS ILLUSTRATED:

12. Houston Texans (9–5)

Final week’s rating: No. 15

Final week’s outcome: beat Miami, 20–12

This week: at Kansas Metropolis

Going again by means of and watching all of Derek Stingley’s snaps in opposition to Tyreek Hill, one can’t assist however imagine this can be a form of baton-passing second. I keep in mind feeling this manner whereas watching Darrelle Revis and Calvin Johnson throughout the 2010 season and, whereas I’m certain Hill can be a helpful participant for years to return, this was the form of recreation that we use as a foundational instance of why Stingley will end the season as a top-10 participant on the place and start to rise into the highest 5.

– Conor Orr

THE ATHLETIC:

13. Houston Texans (9-5)

Final week: 13

Sunday: Beat Miami Dolphins 20-12

MVP: Defensive finish Danielle Hunter

Quarterback C.J. Stroud will get graded on a more durable curve this yr due to how good he was final season. That’s what permits Hunter to earn this spot. The ninth-year defensive finish had 1 1/2 sacks in opposition to Miami and is second within the league with 12 for the season. Since 2022, he’s second within the league with 39 sacks, and Houston most likely is fairly proud of its choice to signal him to a two-year, $49 million free-agency deal this previous offseason.

Up subsequent: at Kansas Metropolis Chiefs, Saturday, 1 p.m. ET

– Josh Kendall

BLEACHER REPORT:

9. Houston Texans (9-5)

Final Week: 9

Week 15 Consequence: Received vs. Miami 20-12

The Houston Texans are the champions of the AFC South, and whereas totally different gamers have stepped up from one week to the subsequent, on Sunday it was younger cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. who shined, selecting off Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa twice within the fourth quarter to seal an eight-point win.

Whereas talking to reporters after the sport, head coach DeMeco Ryans was doing somewhat AFC Defensive Participant of the Week lobbying.

“Not a lot of players can do that,” Ryans stated. “I know all the games aren’t over, but I think he’s very deserving of player of the week. There’s not a better play I’ve seen than that play he made today.”

Apparently, Stingley has the vote of teammate C.J. Stroud.

“‘Sting is one of a kind,” Stroud said. “His ball skills and how he can play the ball in the air is the best I’ve ever seen in my life.”

If the Houston offense can recapture its early-season kind and play on the similar degree the protection did Sunday, Hoston may very well be a troublesome out within the playoffs.

Analyst’s Take

With Sunday’s victory over the Dolphins and the Indianapolis Colts’ loss to the Denver Broncos, the Texans are actually back-to-back AFC South champions. Apparently, the newest consequence wasn’t outlined by C.J. Stroud or any of the proficient talent positions performers on Houston’s roster. As a substitute, the protection actually got here to play and clinched the victory, with two fourth-quarter interceptions by cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. The Texans now area the league’s fourth-best protection, which may play complementary soccer and probably propel the whole squad. — Sobleski

– Gary Davenport, Maurice Moton, Kristopher Knox, Brent Sobleski

CBS SPORTS:

14. Texans (9-5) (Final Week: 15)

They’ve clinched the AFC South, however the subsequent three weeks should be about getting proper for the playoffs. It’s nonetheless not like we anticipated thus far for his or her offense.

– Pete Prisco

YAHOO! SPORTS:

14. Houston Texans (9-5) (Final Week: 15)

The Texans appear to be the worst of the division winners, assuming Tampa Bay wins the NFC South. Houston had 181 yards at residence in opposition to the Dolphins on Sunday. The protection got here up with some big turnovers for the win, however the Texans nonetheless haven’t been spectacular all season.

– Frank Schwab

USA TODAY:

13. Houston Texans (15): RB Joe Mixon has averaged fewer than 2 yards per carry in three of the previous 5 video games – with 51 makes an attempt unfold over these three contests. Simply another excuse that it’s exhausting to imagine the two-time-defending AFC South champs will do a lot injury in January.

– Nate Davis

PRO FOOTBALL TALK:

12. Texans (No. 14; 9-5): With the Chiefs and Ravens arising, we’ll discover out in the event that they’re able to win video games they’re alleged to lose.

– Mike Florio

Common Rating: 11.89 (Final Week: 13.22)

Picture by Cooper Neill/Getty Pictures

Houston appears to have gotten a modest bump from the facility rankings division after their win over the Dolphins, and are actually cracking again into the highest ten after a midseason absence. Houston has been a singular staff this yr, in that their surprisingly mediocre offense has compelled followers and analysts alike to reassess their beliefs within the Texans, however the equally stunning rise of their protection has additionally factored into pundits’ opinions on the Texans. These adjustments in performances on either side of the ball has prompted extra number of opinion on the Texans over the course of the season than you may anticipate to see for a standard NFL staff. Some analysts have remained bullish on the Texans regardless of their struggles within the second half, whereas others, like Sports activities Illustrated’s Conor Orr, accurately known as out the Texans weeks in the past and sunk them to the center of the facility rankings. I suppose even with a brand new head coach, we must always by no means underestimate the Texans’ capacity to subvert our expectations.

Though, no matter the place they might be ranked now, Houston’s victory over Miami will inevitably trigger them to rise. Points with pass-blocking and working a clear passing offense proceed, however week after week, the Texans maintain successful. No matter what number of issues there are with this staff, they only carry on successful, and successful solves every part. They had been capable of depend on their protection to drag out a win within the first of those massive 4 video games to shut out the season, however issues will get much more difficult this Saturday as they head north to face the defending champion Kansas Metropolis Chiefs at Arrowhead.

If Houston is ready to maintain the momentum on protection, stacking extra wins on this remaining slate will go a great distance in proving to everybody that the Texans are simply as official of contenders as marketed within the offseason, simply from a special perspective than many had been anticipating. Sure, these wins aren’t fairly, however they’re nonetheless wins nonetheless, and I don’t see any staff doing nicely in opposition to the protection that has Will Anderson Jr., Derek Stingley Jr., and Calen Bullock on all the sphere on the similar time!

What do you assume, although? Is that this Houston Texans protection able to taking the staff to the Tremendous Bowl, or will the offense allow us to down ultimately? Tell us down within the feedback beneath!

GO TEXANS!!!!