Don’t look now, Houston fans, but we’ve got ourselves a legitimate playoff contender. That’s right, I said it: playoff contender. The Texans took care of business at home against the Saints, 24-6.
Pick 1: Good Playoff Position
Sunday’s win over the Saints doesn’t just keep the Texans tied atop the AFC South, it moves them into wild card playoff position. With the Steelers loss to the Seahawks, the 
Texans officially moved into the number six spot in the AFC playoff picture.
This position is huge for the Texans, because now they find themselves in a position where they can control their own destiny. Of course, a win against the Patriots won’t be easy, but the Texans have proved the last couple of weeks that they can compete in big games and win. How, you ask?
Pick 2: That Defense, Though
Seriously, this defense is ridiculous, and hopefully we all gave thanks for them this past week. It took them a while to get going, but since week eight, Houston’s defense has 
led the NFL in almost every major defensive category.
During their four-game win streak, the Texans defense has ranked first in the NFL in points per game (8.8), yards per game (251), passing touchdowns allowed (1), and sacks per game (4). This is a defense that turns this Texans team into a playoff contender.
Pick 3: They Call Him The Brees
Just to put into perspective how impressive this Texans defense, let’s take a look at what they did to Drew Brees. Houston held Brees to just 228 yards through the air, sacked him twice, hurried him countless times, and picked him off in the red zone.
Here’s the kicker in this whole “stopping Drew Brees” thing: they held him and his offense from getting a single touchdown. In the entire time that Sean Payton and Drew Brees era in New Orleans, they’ve never been held without a touchdown…until Sunday. This defense is the real deal.
Pick 4: Watt Making History
With his two sacks against the Saints on Sunday, JJ Watt maintained his spot as the NFL’s sack leader this season with 13.5. They also put Watt at 70.5 sacks for his career, making him the second-fastest to reach 70 career sacks in NFL history.
Slow season? Yeah, right. JJ Watt has been a dominant force in this league from the moment he entered it, and his game continues to evolve. That’s horrifying for offenses in the NFL, because this guy’s got a whole heck of a lot of football left in him.
Pick 5: Hoyer Getting It Done
I know what you’re thinking. “That interception was horrible.” Yes, it was a really bad decision on Hoyer’s part 
that led to the pick. But other than that one bad decision with the ball on Hoyer’s part, he was on point the whole game.
Before the interception, Hoyer started the game by completing his first 11 passes, with two of them going for touchdowns. He finished the game with a QBR of 79.6, and continues to manage games incredibly well. He’s also managed to take good care of the football, make smart decisions, and lead some solid drives that allow his defense to stay fresh and rested. So long as he keeps doing this, the Texans can keep winning.
Pick 6: Now A Contender
Not long ago, I said that I thought the Texans could absolutely make the playoffs, but that they weren’t contenders in my book. I’m happy to say they have proved me wrong these last couple of weeks.
This is a playoff contender, and don’t let anyone tell you differently. With so many offenses in the NFL being hit-or-miss from game-to-game this season, defenses have made all the difference. Right now, it would be tough to say that any defense is playing better than Houston’s right about now.
In the midst of their toughest stretch of games, this team has been playing its best football, and that’s the mark of a true playoff contender.
