Texans playoff picture: Updated chances for Houston to make 2025 NFL postseason after Week 16 win over Raiders originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Houston Texans don’t always make it look pretty, but that’s par for the course for a team driven by its defense.

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After falling behind in the second half of Sunday’s game against the Las Vegas Raiders, the Texans held on and won for the 10th time in their last 12 games after starting the season 0-3.

A seven-game win streak has the Texans dreaming of a deep playoff run, but have they clinched their spot in the postseason yet?

Here’s what you need to know about the Texans’ playoff chances and how they can punch their ticket.

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AFC South standings

Rank

Team

Record

GB

1

Jaguars

11-4

—

2

Texans

10-5

1.0

3

Colts

8-6

2.5

4

Titans

3-12

8.0

The Texans couldn’t catch the Jacksonville Jaguars in the AFC South on Sunday with Jacksonville winning in Denver, but Houston’s win ensures the race will remain a tight one entering the final two weeks of the season.

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The Indianapolis Colts would be eliminated from AFC South contention with a loss to the San Francisco 49ers on Monday.

AFC wild-card standings

Seed

Team

Record

GB

5

Chargers

11-4

+1.0

6

Bills

11-4

+1.0

7

Texans

10-5

—

8

Colts

8-6

1.5

9

Ravens

7-7

2.5

The Texans cannot clinch a playoff berth in Week 16, but the victory did bring them one major step closer to punching their ticket.

A Colts loss on Monday would make Houston’s path to clinching in Week 17 much simpler, but the Texans are in control of their fate when it comes to getting into the playoffs.

Elsewhere, Sunday’s results were not ideal for the Texans. Houston missed an opportunity to jump higher than the No. 7 seed because the Los Angeles Chargers and Buffalo Bills both won and the Jaguars maintained their lead in the AFC South.

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Texans remaining schedule

Date

Matchup

Time (ET)

Dec. 27

at Chargers

4:30 p.m.

Jan. 4

vs. Colts

TBD

The Texans have a tough test against the Chargers in Week 17, going out to the West Coast to play a critical Saturday game against a likely playoff team.

Houston closes its season against the Colts, though it’s unclear whether Indianapolis will still be in playoff contention by Week 18.