Texans get off the mat and stand at No. 28 in Touchdown Wire NFL power rankings

The Houston Texans finally got a win, which means they can’t possibly be the worst team in the NFL anymore — especially not with all the other terrible teams that took losses and a team that fired its coach.

According to Mark Lane from the Touchdown Wire, the Texans improved to No. 28 in the latest power rankings to conclude Week 16.

The Texans got the benefit of winning and also a few teams ahead of them taking a tumble. Nevertheless the ranking feels about right for a team that took playoff qualifiers two weeks prior down to the wire, and finally got a win over a division leader. The Texans may have some influential words to say about the fate of the AFC South with their showdown with the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 17, but any further wins could impact their chances to secure the No. 1 overall pick.

The Texans beat the Titans 19-14 on the road at Nissan Stadium. Even though the Texans haven’t won the AFC South since 2019, their effect on the division was nevertheless felt in Tennessee. As the Titans’ losing streak extends to five games, there are concerns as to whether Tennessee can even keep control of the division by the end of the season.

Across the rest of the AFC South, the Indianapolis Colts stayed at No. 31, but only because the Denver Broncos are worse after having fired their rookie coach. The Titans tumbled to No. 18 thanks to their loss at the hands of the Texans. The Jacksonville Jaguars improved to No. 9 thanks to their three-game winning streak.

Jacksonville visits NRG Stadium in Week 17 to finish up the season series. The Jaguars have not beaten the Texans since 2017. A win from Houston would be another effect on the AFC South title race, and also a reminder that there is one last hurdle Trevor Lawrence can’t bound.