One of many pivotal video games from Week 12 kicked off within the early slate on Sunday, because the Indianapolis Colts hosted the Houston Texans in a important recreation within the AFC South.
And with the Texans’ 20- 16 win over the Colts the race within the AFC South — in addition to the convention general — simply received tighter.
Houston moved to 7-5 with the victory, and the Texans are actually only one recreation the Colts (8-4). The win was not sufficient to push Houston right into a playoff spot but, however by the tip of the evening the Texans could possibly be the No. 7 seed within the AFC. If the Pittsburgh Steelers defeat the Buffalo Payments within the late-afternoon window, Buffalo would fall out of a playoff spot, and the Texans would slide into the No. 7 spot.
Wanting on the huge image, not solely are the Texans now 4-1 in AFC South play, they’re 6-2 in AFC play. That could possibly be important for tiebreakers later this season. The Texans play the Chiefs subsequent week, adopted by video games towards Arizona, Las Vegas, the Chargers, and the Colts to shut out the season. Houston cut up their season collection with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
As for the Colts, after their sizzling begin Indianapolis is now in peril of falling out of first place within the AFC South. Whereas the Colts have been shedding to Houston, the Jaguars have been cruising towards the Tennessee Titans. If Jacksonville holds on and wins, that will put each the Colts and the Jaguars at 8-4 general, and 2-1 within the division. Since they’ve but to play one another, and so they have matching division data, Jacksonville has a tiebreaker benefit primarily based on widespread opponents, placing them into the division lead proper now because the No. 3 seed within the AFC.
The Colts nonetheless must play the Jaguars twice, together with one recreation subsequent week, in addition to the Seahawks, the 49ers, and the Texans once more in Week 18.
Replace: With Jacksonville’s win, the Jaguars are actually in first place within the AFC South.
Replace 2: Issues have gotten even worse for the Colts, who are actually the No. 6 crew within the AFC due to wins from the Chargers and the Payments. All three groups have matching 8-4 data, and the Chargers slot in because the No. 5 crew due to having the very best convention document (7-2 for Los Angeles, 6-3 for Indianapolis, and 5-3 for Buffalo).
The Colts slide in at No. 6, whereas the Payments are actually at No. 7.
