Nine down eight to go. Meaning nine games played with eight remaining in the Texans’ regular season after their Halloween night second half collapse at the Jets. Most will clobber the Texans’ offense for mustering only 13 points, just two field goals after halftime. Most will be right. Eight sacks of C.J. Stroud merits credit for the Jets, and embarrassment for the Texans’ offensive line. Ka’imi Fairbairn botching a 27 yard field goal attempt that would have cut the Jets’ lead to 14-13 with 6:54 to play was a crusher as well. However, in the second half the Texans’ efense (no typo, there was no d to be found) also went down in flames. Excluding one game-ending kneel down, the Jets had three second half possessions. They resulted in touchdown drives of 70, 70, and 80 yards. The Texans should have called their uniform choice for the night “surrender white.” That after in the first half Aaron Rodgers played as if he was 70 years old rather than his actual 40. It was an inept showing dropping the Texans to 6-3. With the 17-game schedule there is no exact halfway point, so let’s take stock at the 52.9% completed point of the Texans’ schedule.

At 6-3 the AFC South remains clearly under the Texans’ control unless they fall apart. The Colts benching quarterback Anthony Richardson for 73-year-old Joe Flacco shouldn't change that. The carrot still dangling in front of the Texans for the balance of the regular season is securing the second seed for the AFC playoffs. Falling on their faces in New Jersey doesn’t preclude that possibility. The two seed would mean a Wild Card round home game against the last team in the conference to get into the postseason, with a win in it making a second home game all that stands between the Texans and a first ever AFC Championship game appearance. Of course they could lose to the seven seed, the point is who would turn down the two seed right now? There is virtually no chance that the Texans overtake the Kansas City Chiefs for the top seed and bye into the second round.

That two of the Texan’ three losses have come outside the AFC could be a difference maker come playoff seeding time. Intra-conference record follows head-to-head on the tiebreakers list. Heading into this week the two other AFC teams at 6-2 like the Texans were/are Buffalo and Pittsburgh. The Texans have banked a win over the Bills. The Steelers have an AFC loss to the Colts. The Texans and Steelers do not meet. The 5-3 Ravens clearly could overtake the Steelers and win the North. If so, the Christmas Day Texans-Ravens tilt at NRG Stadium could have massive ramifications.

Let's make a deal!

The NFL trade deadline arrives at 3PM Houston time Tuesday. General Manager Nick Caserio should be working the phones hard. With Stefon Diggs’s season finished courtesy of a torn anterior cruciate ligament, adding a wide receiver is the higher profile area that could use fortification. But the most glaring weakness on offense has been left guard Kenyon Green. He’s in way over his head. No one should have been happy that he left Thursday night’s game because of injury, but playing anyone else in his spot is an upgrade. Between injuries and poor performance, the third-year turnstile out of Texas A&M has done so little good it’s indisputable at this point to say Caserio busted with the first first round pick he made for the Texans. Fortunately his overall body of work is vastly better. While by no means should he be considered a bust, it is disappointing that rookie second round pick Blake Fisher has done nothing to suggest that moving him inside to guard might help. It’s not as if the bar is high.

Looking ahead

After enjoying (?) a long weekend off the Texans next start preparing for a Sunday night matchup with the Detroit Lions. Only four of the 32 existing NFL franchises have never reached a Super Bowl: the Texans, Lions, Cleveland Browns, and Jacksonville Jaguars. The Texans are zero for their 22 seasons, but have being the newest franchise as a partial alibi. The Lions have no such defense. 58 Super Bowls have been played with the Lions in none. After blowing a 17 point lead in last season’s NFC Championship game in Santa Clara against the 49ers, this might be the Lions’ season. They absorbed a huge blow with pass rushing beast Aidan Hutchinson suffering a season-ending fracture of both the tibia and fibula in his left leg. Hutchinson was hurt two Sundays ago while the Lions were stomping the Cowboys 34-6. It was early in the third quarter, and with just 53 men active on gameday rosters teams can only sit so many guys. Whether the Lions fortify their d-line by the trade deadline is a big question, the answer to which could play a role in Texans-Lions next week.

For Texans’ conversation, catch Brandon Strange, Josh Jordan, and me on our Texans On Tap podcasts. Thursdays feature a preview of the upcoming game, and then we go live (then available on demand) after the final gun of the game: Texans on Tap - YouTube

The Astros are always in season for discussion. Our Stone Cold ‘Stros podcasts drop Mondays: Click here to watch!

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