Here we are, at the end of the 2024 regular season! Its beenone heck of a regular season! I guess! In one of the final power rankings of this big season, the Houston Texans find themselves in the most precarious position on all of the rankings. Despite their guaranteed spot in the wildcard round as AFC South champions, Houston is being treated as the most fringe of all fringe playoff teams, and after that embarrassing showing against Baltimore, theyve earned that stigma. Houston has spent several weeks in the top five and in the top ten this season where they were considered a challenger for the Super Bowl the moment the previous season ended, but they now find themselves in the mid teens, clinging on to the coattails of teams like the Pittsburgh Steelers and Los Angeles Rams, who are finally realizing their playoff clinching dreams. This wasnt how it was supposed to go for the Texans this year, but after two losses to the Kansas City Chiefs and Baltimore Ravens and more debilitating injuries to the offense, 9-7 seems just about s where the Houston Texans are ranked entering Week 18 of the 2024 NFL Season::14. Houston TexansThings feel desperate because they are. The Texans have seemingly lost their mojo, along with several key contributors to injury, with the defeat to the Ravens on Christmas appearing to be a new low for the team this season. C.J. Stroud has fallen into a slump, even if he cant be blamed for how those around him are playing. His receivers are thinning rapidly, and the offensive line is a mess. Its to the point where, fairly or not, the once-beloved Bobby Slowik has gone from being a savior in 2023 to taking heat from fans over his play-calling. Houston is now 1-5 vs. teams with winning records. If there is a saving grace to be found, its that the Texans have clinched a home playoff game and can afford to rest starters in Week 18 against the Titans. But when you start looking at potential first-round matchups, each one brings questions over how the Texans can match up and actually win. Do they have one final gasp left in them? Well find out in two weeks.- Eric EdholmESPN:14. Houston Texansthrough Week 17. The Texans need answers at wideout since Tank Dellwill most likely miss all of 2025 C.J. Stroud Jersey, and they cant go into next season with just Nico Collins. That increases Diggs value, but hes also 31 coming off a major knee injury.- DJ Bien-AimeSPORTS ILLUSTRATED:15. Houston Texansand Lamar Jackson was allowed to spend more time from snap to throw than at any other point this season with no punishment. Barring a major identity shift Tommy Townsend Jersey, the Texans are looking like a prime candidate to get boat raced just as their playoff journey begins. - Conor OrrTHE ATHLETIC:15. Houston Texansand 15th in EPA per playa year ago to 24thand 25th this yeardespite having C.J. Stroud at quarterback and the fifth-best turnover margin in the leagueThey got rocked by the Ravens on Christmas Day and seem to be limping into the playoffs. They are locked in as the fourth seed, but they dont look like one.- Pete PriscoYAHOO! SPORTS:15. Houston TexansThe Texans might be the least impressive playoff team of the 14 to make the field, regardless of who the final two spots go to. Houston has looked bad for weeks. The No. 5 seed will be the Steelers, Chargers or Ravens, and Houston shouldnt be favored against any of them, even at home.- Frank SchwabUSA TODAY:16. Houston Texanscratered this year, leading to a cascade of mistakes and ruined plays from positioning in the middle of the pack is reminiscent of the vibe surrounding last years Texans team, but this year has one big difference - momentum. Despite still needing a victory in the season finale to make the playoffs last year, the vast majority of Texans fans probably had more confidence in that team than they currently do for this years 9-7 squad. Why? Because last years team proved week after week that they were up for whatever challenge their opponent placed on them. Every week, it felt like Derek Stingley Jr. was making a play, or Will Anderson Jr. was making some big tackle, or CJ Stroud was saving the game with some otherworldly pass. This season, I can only think of one game where Houston truly rose above the odds and beat a team few were expecting them to - the Buffalo Bills in Week 5. Thats the only great victory I can think of for this years Texans team, where every other win was been underwhelming or worrying. They have a long way to go to restoring the confidence we collectively held for this team just one year do you think, though? Will Houston use these last two weeks to rally and become the juggernaut everyone expected, or will they continue to be one of the biggest disappointments of the 2024 season? Let us know down in the comments below!
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