Texans' playoff chances nearly cut in half after Browns loss

The Houston Texans suffered a devastating loss to the Cleveland Browns in Week 16 that muddies the water for their playoff chances entering the final two games of the 2023 season. Houston entered into Week 16 with a 55 percent chance of making the playoffs, a number that has now been nearly cut in half.

The Texans are very much still alive in the AFC playoff race entering a pivotal Week 17 matchup but there is no margin for error for the young team.

Luckily for the Texans, the team is optimistic that rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud will return this weekend against the Tennessee Titans after missing the last two games with a concussion he suffered back in Week 14.

As it stands going into Week 17, the Texans will have a 33 percent chance of making the playoffs. The Texans (8-7) have the same record has five other teams in the AFC playoff race. However, the Texans currently hold the 8th seed in the conference and would be the first team out if the season ended today.

If the Texans can win out, they will all but be guaranteed a spot in the 2023 Playoffs.

Heading into Week 17, here's the AFC Wild Card standings:

5th Seed: Cleveland Browns (10-5)
6th Seed: Buffalo Bills (9-6)
7th Seed: Indianapolis Colts (8-7)
8th Seed: Houston Texans (8-7)
9th Seed: Pittsburgh Steelers (8-7)
10th Seed: Cincinnati Bengals (8-7)

The Texans are even still in contention to potentially host a game in the 2023 Playoffs. According to The New York Times playoff picture, the Texans still have a 15 percent chance of winning the AFC South.

The odds are certainly not in their favor to snatch the division crown but who knows what could happen over the final two weeks of the season. The Texans haven’t won the AFC South since 2019, the last time the team reached the postseason. In fact, the only seasons Houston reached the playoffs came from winning their division, they have never made the playoffs as a wild card team.

That should give the team even more incentive to make a late push for a lead in the division. 

Here's the current AFC South standings entering Week 17:

1. Jacksonville Jaguars 8-7 (final two games: vs CAR and at TEN)
2. Indianapolis Colts 8-7 (final two games: vs LV and vs HOU)
3. Houston Texans 8-7 (final two games: vs TEN and at IND)
4. Tennessee Titans 5-10 (final two games: at HOU and vs JAX)

The Texans have two critical divisional games remaining on their 2023 schedule but they'll also need help from the Panthers (2-13) or Titans (5-10) to make it happen. This scenario looks more grim but it's one that is still in play.

If the Texans manage to win-out and reach the postseason, first-year head coach DeMeco Ryans will be the third head coach in Texans history to reach the playoffs and the first to do so during his first-year on the job. Let's see if the players can help make it happen for him.