Texans Still Favored to Make Playoffs After Week 7 Loss; Do Raiders or Jaguars Present Value to Get in?

• The Houston Texans have -180 odds to make the AFC playoffs
• Those are the the second-lowest odds currently offered on any AFC team that isn’t a division leader
• Houston has qualified for postseason play three times in the last four years

With the Astros currently trailing in the World Series, it’s fair to say that Houston has bigger problems at the moment than whether the Texans will make the NFL playoffs.

The good news for Houston’s NFL fans is that odds doesn’t believe the Texans have anything to worry about.

The current #6 seed in the AFC, is at -180 in the NFL playoff odds. That’s the second-best odds for any AFC team that isn’t currently a division leader.

AFC Teams Odds To Make NFL Playoffs

Odds taken Oct. 23

The Buffalo Bills, second in the AFC East at 5-1 and currently the fifth seed in the conference, are at -450.

A Texans-Sized Headache

The seasons change, the years pass on by, but the Texans continue to confound the experts.

Pencil them in and they will punt prosperity away. Write them off and they will march downfield and write a completely new chapter.

The #Texans lead the NFL with 12 comeback wins over the last two seasons.

Houston was down 14 points to the Chiefs in Week 6, which marks the 10th time in team history Houston has come back from down 14+ points to win. It also tied for the 4th-largest comeback in Texans history. pic.twitter.com/Xhhz2I9olI

— Houston Texans PR (@TexansPR) October 17, 2019

Following their impressive 31-24 win over the Chiefs in Kansas City two weeks ago, Houston’s average odds to make the NFL playoffs were a stellar -450. Then last week, with first place in the AFC South on the line, the Texans stumbled in a 30-23 road loss to the Indianapolis Colts.

On the one hand, there’s lots to like about this team. Since the start of the 2018 season, Houston leads the NFL with 12 come-from-behind victories. Quarterback Deshaun Watson is an NFL MVP contender.

The Texans reenacted José Altuve’s walkoff homer, and it was incredible. 😂

We’re equally impressed at the notion of hitting a football with a pylon ~25 yards.

(via @HoustonTexans)pic.twitter.com/fdrzW443y4

— Cut4 (@Cut4) October 20, 2019

The Texans’ offense is fourth overall in the NFL (396 yards per game). They’re ranked in the top 11 in both passing (11th, 261.9 ypg) and rushing (8th, 134.1 ypg).

On the other hand, Watson’s been sacked 21 times. Houston ranks 25th in the NFL in sacks allowed per game (3.0). That’s the highest number of any team that currently holds a playoff position.

The Texans are an even-steven 6-6 in their last 12 games.

Buffalo Talking Proud

Six games into the season, the Bills have lost just once, and that was to the New England Patriots, who haven’t lost to anybody. At 5-1, it’s their best start since 2008.

But there is cause for, if not alarm, most certainly concern. Four of the five teams beaten by Buffalo thus far have won two or fewer games.

#Bills 5-1, 2nd in the AFC. #Sabres 7-1-1, 1st in the Eastern Conference.

Buffalo: pic.twitter.com/OeK4uQFdo1

— Bradley Gelber (@BradleyGelber) October 20, 2019

The Bills required a fourth-quarter rally last week to overcome the 0-6 Miami Dolphins. They also needed a comeback to beat the 1-5 New York Jets in their season opener.

Buffalo has turned the ball over 11 times, tied for the most among current playoff teams.

Raiders Of A Lost Cause?

Perhaps the Antonio Brown fiasco strengthened the resolve of this team that went an AFC-worst 4-12 last season. At 3-3, the Raiders are already a win away from equaling last season’s output.

They looked legit in beating the Chicago Bears but came off their bye week and were manhandled by Green Bay. Josh Jacobs leads all NFL rookies in rushing (554 yards). QB David Carr took Oakland to the playoffs two seasons ago.

Oakland gets the Texans this week. The Raiders could make a real statement and prove they belong in the postseason discussion.

Jags About To Be Canceled?

The Gardner Minshew narrative was romantic but as the weeks pass, it’s not proving realistic.

The rookie QB took over for the injured Nick Foles and won two of his first three starts. People started making parallels to Tom Brady.

Lately, comparisons between Minshew and Brady Quinn look more appropriate. He’s 1-2 in his last three starts, his only victory against the winless Cincinnati Bengals.

Gardner Minshew, we are not worthy. (via @Jaguars) pic.twitter.com/zkkjwRgkB4

— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) October 20, 2019

Minshew has thrown one TD pass over the past two games. He’s been sacked 16 times and fumbled eight times.

The Jags’ defense, usually the rock of this club, is rocky. They’re ranked 19th in the NFL, allowing 361 ypg.

Houston Shouldn’t Have Any Problems

The 4-3 Texans could truly take the wind out of the sails of their pursuers by beating the Raiders and the 3-4 Jaguars in their next two games. As long as Watson stays healthy, Houston is a playoff team.

AFC playoff snapshot, complete with current seedings and opponents' combined winning percentage the rest of the way. #Patriots #Chiefs #Ravens #Colts #Bills #Texans pic.twitter.com/Ne4ejO3hFz

— Christopher Price (@cpriceglobe) October 22, 2019

Of the two current Wild Card clubs, Buffalo has to most to fear. Three of the Bills’ last five games are against Dallas (4-3), Baltimore (5-2) and the 7-0 Patriots. But they also get Miami, the Jets, Denver, Washington, Pittsburgh and Cleveland, so 9-10 wins is attainable.

The six teams in the AFC playoffs right now look to be solid bets to be the six still standing at the end of the regular season.