The Houston Texans have established a commanding presence in the AFC South, but they needed a critical win on Monday to preserve their lead following the Indianapolis Colts' victory over the New York Jets. The Texans delivered by defeating the Dallas Cowboys 34-10 at AT&T Stadium. With this victory, Houston remains two games ahead of the Colts and possesses the tiebreaker after sweeping the season series. It would require a significant downfall for quarterback C.J. Stroud and his team to fall short in the division, which would guarantee them a home playoff game at the very least.
Week 11 has concluded with the Texans' latest win, prompting a review of the current standings across both conferences as they prepare for Week 12. In the AFC, the division leaders are as follows: 1. Kansas City Chiefs (9-1), 2. Buffalo Bills (9-2), 3. Pittsburgh Steelers (8-2), and 4. Houston Texans (7-4). The wild-card race includes teams such as the Los Angeles Chargers (7-3), Baltimore Ravens (7-4), Denver Broncos (6-5), and Indianapolis Colts (5-6), among others.
A significant development emerged in the AFC during Week 11 when the Buffalo Bills triumphed over the Kansas City Chiefs, thus ending the two-time reigning champions' undefeated start to the season. This outcome has intensified the competition for the conference's No. 1 overall seed, which includes the advantages of home-field playoff decisions and a first-round bye. Kansas City had been navigating tight contests throughout the season but could not escape their latest matchup. After a touchdown pass from quarterback Patrick Mahomes to Noah Gray narrowed the deficit to two points in the fourth quarter, Josh Allen spearheaded a decisive 12-play, 70-yard drive, concluding with a 26-yard touchdown run that secured the win for Buffalo. The Bills' victory also provides them with a crucial tiebreaker against the Chiefs, should they manage to catch up in the loss column. The Pittsburgh Steelers remain a formidable presence in the race for the No. 1 seed after a pivotal win over the Baltimore Ravens. Although the Steelers did not score a touchdown, their staunch defensive efforts and six field goals from Chris Boswell were sufficient for an 18-16 victory. The Steelers' defense successfully stopped Lamar Jackson on a critical two-point conversion attempt in the closing moments of the game, preserving their lead and preventing the Ravens from gaining possession again.
