Heading into Sunday’s season finale against the Jaguars, the Texans knew that if they took care of business and won, they would win the division and host a playoff game. The Texans did their part, beating the Jaguars 30-6, locking in their spot in the playoffs.
Pick 1: Division Champs
As JJ Watt pointed out last week, all the Texans needed to do was take care of their business and worry about themselves, and no one could take their division title and playoff spot away from them. Not only did they take care of business, they dominated.
While many people see the Jaguars as a bit of a joke, their offense is nothing to hang your hat on. Blake Bortles ranked in the top five this season in touchdown passes, and Allen Robinson ended the season tied for the most touchdown catches in the league. Holding that offense to six points means that the Texans aren’t exactly backing into the playoffs; they’re storming into the playoffs.
Pick 2: Defense Wins Championships?
It may be too soon to jump to that conclusion, but the Texans are certainly boasting a championship-caliber defense right now. Houston held the dynamic Jacksonville offense to just six 
points, 215 total yards, and 11 first downs.
That’s impressive enough on its own, but the fact that they were able to make big plays at big times is what takes this defense to a different caliber. When Jacksonville was deep in Houston territory after a bad interception by Hoyer with a chance to make it a one possession game, JJ Watt was able to come up with a strip sack that the Texans recovered. Then, to seal the game, Kareem Jackson picked off Bortles and returned it for a touchdown. These are the defensive efforts that make Houston a scary team to face in the playoffs.
Pick 3: Have Mercy, Mercilus and Watt!
The tag team on defense of JJ Watt and Whitney Mercilus has become a force to be reckoned with in the NFL. Watt needed that one extra player to step on defense in the pass rush game to 
give him some more freedom, and Mercilus has stepped up to be that guy.
Watt and Mercilus combined for 6.5 sacks on Sunday, with many of those sacks coming at critical times in the game, and they each finished the regular season with at least 10 sacks. If this pass rush combo can keep it going and keep improving every week, this Houston team will have a real shot.
Pick 4: Ground and Pound
Brian Hoyer is one of those quarterbacks that needs a solid running game alongside him. 
He absolutely got that on Sunday against the Jaguars, as Houston rushed for 160 yards as a team.
Alfred Blue no longer made me feel blue this week, since he decided he wanted to drop the boom on the Jaguars linebackers, rushing for 102 yards on 21 carries, and that’s not counting the 50-plus-yard run that got called back because of a “hold” on Newton. The Texans need to find a way to continue to compliment their stellar defense with a strong running game.
Pick 5: Turnover Margin
One of the big knocks on the Houston defense early in the season was that they weren’t forcing enough turnovers, or making enough big plays. Well, they’ve been on fire at the end of the season, and are heading into the playoffs on a high after forcing four turnovers, and sacking Bortles eight times.
The fact that the defense was able to make these big plays at clutch times is very promising. Not only are the Texans forcing turnovers and getting pressure on the quarterback, they’re making it happen consistently throughout the game, and at big times late in the game. This Houston defense is starting to look like the one that only needs the offense to score 14 points for them to have a chance.
Pick 6: Bring on the Chiefs!
Ladies and gentlemen, the Houston Texans will be hosting a playoff game, and the visitors will be the Kansas City Chiefs. The Chiefs are arguably the hottest team in football, winning their last 10 games to get to an 11-5 record.
Alex Smith has looked solid for them at the quarterback position, and that pass rush is one of the best in the league. But this Houston team will be at home, with amazing fans, riding some serious momentum. If the Texans can play the way they have most of these last seven weeks, there’s no reason to believe they can’t top the Chiefs in Houston. It won’t be an easy game, but with the defense playing in top form, I’m saying there’s a chance!
