Fansided

Believe it or not, Texans still have shot at playoffs

By Corey Leahy

Dec 1, 2013; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Texans running back Ben Tate (44) is congratulated by tackle Derek Newton (75) after scoring a touchdown during the second quarter against the New England Patriots at Reliant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 1, 2013; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Texans running back Ben Tate (44) is congratulated by tackle Derek Newton (75) after scoring a touchdown during the second quarter against the New England Patriots at Reliant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports /
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Whether you want to believe it or not, the Houston Texans are not mathematically eliminated from the playoffs. Even more surprising, neither are the Jacksonville Jaguars. Clearly, both teams need a lot of help to reach the playoffs, but one of the teams’ hopes will be shattered as they will play each other on Thursday.

Win and stay alive, lose and get eliminated.

The teams are still alive right not because of the AFC’s lack of great records. A 6-10 team has just a chance as anyone to make the playoffs, despite needin so much help the likelihood of making the postseason is improbable.

Tania Ganguli of ESPN broke down the Texans’ chances, and boy do they look slim. But slim chances are better than non-existent.

"Week 14Vikings beat Ravens in Baltimore (good luck with that)Bengals beat Colts in CincinnatiPatriots beat Browns in New EnglandRaiders beat Jets in New York (the Raiders have to lose out after winning this game because at 6-10 they would win a tiebreaker with the Texans because of their head-to-head win)Steelers beat Dolphins in Pittsburgh (the Dolphins have to lose out, but the Steelers will have to lose the rest of their games after beating the Dolphins, lest they rise to 7-9)Buccaneers beat Bills in TampaBroncos beat Titans in DenverGiants beat Chargers in San Diego (the Texans will need a win over the Raiders out of San Diego later, so they need a loss this week)Week 15Broncos beat Chargers in DenverBears beat Browns in ClevelandPatriots beat Dolphins in MiamiChiefs beat Raiders in OaklandPanthers beat Jets in CharlotteBengals beat Steelers in PittsburghLions beat Ravens in DetroitWeek 16Bills beat Dolphins in BuffaloBrowns beat Jets in New YorkPackers beat Steelers in Green BayRaiders beat Chargers in San DiegoNew England beat Ravens in BaltimoreWeek 17Bengals beat Ravens in CincinnatiJets beat Dolphins in MiamiPatriots beat Bills in New England (the good news for Houston is home-field advantage will still be contested at this point)Browns beat Steelers in PittsburghBroncos beat Raiders in OaklandChiefs beat Chargers in San Diego"

If all of this happens, plus the team wins the rest of their games, then the Houston Texans will make the playoffs as the 3 seed.

For Jacksonville to have a shot at making the postseason, they need a lot of help themselves.

Michael DiRocco of ESPN breaks down what has to happen for Jacksonville to have a shot of their own.

"Week 14 (* denotes home team)Denver* beats TennesseeNew England* beats ClevelandOakland beats New York Jets*New York Giants beat San Diego*Miami beats Pittsburgh*Tampa Bay* beats BuffaloWeek 15Denver* beats San DiegoKansas City beats Oakland*Chicago beats Cleveland*Carolina* beats JetsNew England beats Miami*Arizona beats Tennessee*Cincinnati beats Pittsburgh*Detroit* beats BaltimoreWeek 16Buffalo* beats MiamiMinnesota beats Cincinnati*Jets* beat ClevelandGreen Bay* beats PittsburghOakland beats San Diego*New England beats Baltimore*Week 17Cincinnati* beats BaltimoreCleveland beats Pittsburgh*Denver beats Oakland*Houston beats Tennessee*Jets beat Miami*Kansas City beats San Diego*"

The Jags also need to win out, which doesn’t seem too far-fetched, as they have Houston, Buffalo, Tennessee, and Indianapolis left on their plates.

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