The issues are both on and off the field.
Six. Six AFC Divisional round games, zero wins. Zero appearances. It’s been a grueling 24 seasons and the Houston Texans have yet to get over the hump of winning a divisional round game. The Houston Texans are the only team in the NFL to never make their conference championship. It’s going to stay that way until the organization matures on and off the field.
Whether it’s the Schaub, Watson, or now Stroud era, the Texans have been stymied at the divisional round. It’s not about the players anymore, it’s about an organizational expectation for excellence. The Texans, and for a large part the fanbase, has been satisfied making it to the playoffs. When an organization has so often experienced the woes of mediocrity, being merely viable quenches the third of the fans and leadership. The semblance of being competitive outweighs the pursuit of greater aspirations.
Look, I’m not here to exclaim that making the divisional round is something to be dissatisfied at accomplishing. 24 other teams would have embraced what Houston achieved in 2024. The difference is, at least in the AFC, there’s three elite teams; the Buffalo Bills, Kansas City Chiefs, and Baltimore Ravens…then there’s everyone else. It’s going to be that way for at least another half decade, and the Texans can either choose to join the triumvirate at the top of the AFC or submit to being the best of the rest.
Fortunately and unfortunately, the AFC South permits systemic mediocrity. A singular game above .500 seals one’s ticket to the playoffs. Houston has twice won the division by going one game above .500 and could have done so again this season. The franchise has risen to the level of competition within the division but never quite in reach of the elite teams in the conference.
The team is at a turning point in this C.J. Stroud-based window; elevate the standard to contend or maintain status quo.
First, Houston must outgrow the mental lapses which stymies good teams becoming great. The Texans committed the seventh most penalties this season. They are in the top third of penalties in almost every category. That’s a coaching problem. It’s also on our best players to elevate the expectations. Laremy Tunsil’s holdings and false starts leak into the rest of the offense’s issues. If the leader is making mental errors, the rest of the group will too.
Next, Houston as a whole must rethink the offensive line. The investment has yet to pay off.
- Two first round picks for Laremy Tunsil
- First round pick in Kenyon Green
- First round pick in Tytus Howard
- Second round pick in Blake Fisher
- Second round pick in Juice Scruggs
- Sixth round pick in Jarrett Patterson
- Top-tier free agency money in Shaq Mason
That’s not just insane, it’s the definition of insanity. Throwing more cash or draft picks at the problem doesn’t feel like the answer, but there aren’t many other options in today’s NFL. The talent gap is so large for the Texans that there’s no other
Throughout the season, the Texans impaled themselves with negative plays. The Texans had 119 penalties this season which is tied for fifth most in the league. It’s a system that is doomed to fail.
Fans hate on the NFL refs for their bias because the Chiefs culture of zero-mistakes is so distinct that opposing fans can’t find anything else to hang on.
Elite teams and organizations evolve.
Elite teams lean into their strengths.
Elite team score touchdowns, not field goals.
Elite teams don’t let the refs decide the game.
Elite teams protect their quarterback.
Even the Baltimore Ravens, a team with immense talent and wholly crushed the Texans this season. That’s because they suffer from many of the same issues with penalties and inconsistency. But what separates them a part is a QB who has an exceptional skill unlike any in the league. As of now, C.J. Stroud looks like every other above average QB. What does Stroud do that is truly unique and exceptional?
Mistakes is probably a broader term, but it’s the immaturity factor of how Houston lost many of its games this season. Being up 23-7 against the Lions, missing key field goals and allowing eight sacks to the Jets, and completely forgetting to leave appear against the Tennessee Titans. That’s three clear losses this season which all were easily avoidable. Self-imploding losses have to be a thing of the past. Part of that comes down to putting opponents away and part of that includes not getting in our own way.
When it comes down to it, the 2024 Texans weren’t ready. Talent-wise, sure a Stefon Diggs-led offense had enough caliber to make an AFC Conference game. But that wasn’t the problem and isn’t the solution. The Texans must spend the offense not getting better, but getting more mature. Round out the rough edges because the elite teams in the AFC will turn a wrinkle into a crevice and turn a crevice into a canyon on their way to another Super Bowl appearance. The bar is high, but what’s the point of being a fan of a team if they don’t aspire to the highest levels of achievement?