It’s simple: beat the Indianapolis Colts on Saturday and the Houston Texans make the playoffs. Period. Regardless of what happens with other teams the final weekend of the 2023-(24) NFL season.

If they win, and depending how other games shake out this weekend, the Texans could find themselves either AFC South Division winners and host a playoff game, or a wild card team on the road.

But if the Texans lose or tie, they will not be a playoff team. End of story.

No matter what happens Saturday night, though, this has been a remarkable, joyful, improbable Texans season that restored a city’s faith and favor in a team that frankly had abandoned its fans in recent years.

Consider the run of events that has led the Texans to its current 9-7 mark and guaranteed winning season – most notably drafting C.J. Stroud and hiring head coach DeMeco Ryans. Despite those additions, coming off two seasons with seven wins combined, Vegas oddsmakers put the Texans’ preseason win total at 5-1/2.

The Texans exceeded that number by beating the Arizona Cardinals way back on Nov. 19. Rules say that win total bets aren’t paid until the end of the season. So Texans backers need to keep their betting slips in a safe place for another week.

While their 9-7 record has Texans fans giddy and gobbling up tickets again, the season coulda shoulda been even better. The Texans lost three games to losing teams – the Atlanta Falcons (7-9), plus disappointing performances against the awful New York Jets (6-10) and positively pathetic Panthers (2-14).

The Texans do hold wins against winning teams Pittsburgh Steelers (9-7) and AFC South leaders Jacksonville Jaguars (9-7).

Here’s something nobody could have predicted. Secondary markets already are selling advance tickets in case things break the Texans’ way and they host a wild card game at NRG Stadium. Tickets currently start at $169 for Row E in nosebleed Sec. 643, all the way up to $1,969 for Row Q in lower bowl Sec. 137. Prices will skyrocket if the Texans win the AFC South this weekend. Refunds will be made if the Texans lose Saturday or find themselves on the road.

Everything depends on the Texans defeating the Colts on Saturday night. The Texans currently are 1-point underdogs.

Here’s one early victory, though. Because the game has landed on ABC, thousands of DirecTV and Uverse subscribers in Houston will get to watch, unaffected by Tegna’s squabble with AT&T stations including local Channel 11.