Getty IMages Deshaun Watson and DeAndre Hopkins.
The Houston Texans went on the road for a tough divisional battle they needed to win against the Tennessee Titans Sunday afternoon. They got the job done and remain leaders of the AFC South, moving to 9-5 on the season after a huge road win.
What did the Texans’ big win in Nashville mean for them and the entire AFC playoff picture? Here’s a look the way the AFC playoff race is shaping up after the first round of Sunday games. We will make any necessary updates after the second round of afternoon games.
Note: All percentages and numbers included below are courtesy of Playoff Status.
Current AFC Playoff Picture After Texans Win and Titans Loss:
GettyTom Brady #12 and the New England Patriots are currently the second seed in the AFC. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
The Baltimore Ravens (12-2) have the top seed in the conference, with the New England Patriots sitting in the #2 spot after their win in Cincinnati today. The Kansas City Chiefs (10-4) have the 3rd seed in the AFC after taking care of the Broncos, and the Texans remain in the 4th spot with their win today.
The two Wild Card slots in the conference are held by the Buffalo Bills (10-4) and the Pittsburgh Steelers (8-6). After beating the Steelers Sunday night, the Bills clinched a playoff spot and sit firm in the #5 slot in the AFC. The Steelers’ loss leaves them tied with the Tennessee Titans record-wise (both teams are 8-6), but the Steelers have the better conference record (Pittsburgh is 6-4, whereas the Titans are 6-5) so they currently hold the #6 spot.
Updated Houston Texans Playoff Outlook After Huge Win vs Titans
GettyDeshaun Watson and the Houston Texans are the 4th seed in the NFC after their huge win against the Tennessee Titans Sunday.
After their big win against the Titans today, Houston has a 1% chance at the #2 seed in the AFC, a 25% shot at the #3 spot, and a 64% chance to end up with the #4 overall seed in the conference. While it’s unlikely they will usurp the Ravens for the top spot, they’re still sitting in a very good position.
Houston also has a less than 1% chance to be the #5 seed, along with a 5% chance at nabbing the #6 seed and final Wild Card slot. The Texans set themselves up nicely with their win today. The team now has just a 4% chance at missing the playoffs entirely.
Had they lost to the Titans today, Houston would have had a less than 1% shot at snagging the #2 seed, a 5% chance at getting the #3 slot, and a 46% chance of winning their division and getting the #4 spot in the conference–and they also would have had a 33% chance to miss the playoffs entirely.
Thus, a win against divisional rival Tennessee was huge for them.
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