Texans Surge in Wild-Card Race

The Houston Texans took a significant step towards securing a wild-card position in the AFC with their impressive victory against the Buffalo Bills on Thursday night. With this win, the Texans improved their record to 6-5, positioning themselves just a half-game behind the No. 7 seed currently held by the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Houston is now riding a three-game winning streak, which puts them in a strong position as they enter the final stretch of the regular season. The upcoming schedule is challenging but also presents an opportunity for the Texans to shake up the standings. They still have to face formidable opponents, including the Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Chargers, and the Indianapolis Colts twice.

AFC Playoff Picture: Texans and Bills

While the Bills maintain a playoff position at 7-4, their postseason spot is not guaranteed. Houston's recent success against key rivals, including a split with the Jaguars and victories over the Bills and Baltimore Ravens, has set the stage for potential tiebreakers. In their best-case scenario, the Texans could finish 4-1 against some of their closest competitors for the wild-card spots.

As the divisional race heats up, the Texans also have a legitimate shot at claiming the AFC South, especially with two games against the Colts in the coming weeks. Meanwhile, a victory by the Chiefs against the Colts this Sunday could bolster Houston's chances of taking the divisional title.

For Buffalo, the road ahead includes crucial matchups against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 13 and the New England Patriots in Week 15. A win in either of these contests could solidify their playoff aspirations, especially with a less daunting schedule ahead.