The best reason to give the Texans time is recency bias. They have won the last two AFC South titles. Their head coach, DeMeco Ryans, is smart and resourceful and immediately turned this team into a contender upon his arrival in 2023. That defense also is still flush with talent and nasty intentions, which is something the Texans could count on last year when quarterback C.J. Stroud was dealing with a second-year slump. The Houston offense remains a work in progress, but Sunday’s win over San Francisco was impressive. Stroud passed for 318 yards and two touchdowns and took full advantage of the kind of consistent pass protection that hasn’t been so present over the last couple years. If the Texans can see more of that production in the second half of the season, they will be in contention for a playoff spot. Let’s also remember that this team started 0-3 because it was playing good teams. It lost to the Rams by five, the Buccaneers by one and the Jaguars by seven. In fact, Houston’s four losses have come by a combined 21 points. That tells you things can change in a hurry for this team. Yes, the AFC South is much better than advertised, with the Colts boasting the league’s best record and Jacksonville ranking among the most improved. That said, the Texans are the reigning champs of this division for a reason. They still have enough talent and time to remind people as to why that is.
