5 NFL playoff teams most likely to flame out in 2019

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - JANUARY 06: Quarterback Lamar Jackson #8 of the Baltimore Ravens in action against the Los Angeles Chargers during the AFC Wild Card Playoff game at M&T Bank Stadium on January 06, 2019 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /

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HOUSTON, TX – AUGUST 01: Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) looks to pass downfield during the Houston Texans Training Camp at the Houston Methodist Training Center on August 1, 2019 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Ken Murray/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

4. Houston Texans

The next team that could find themselves in a bit of hot water this season is the Houston Texans. The Texans got hot down the stretch behind Deshaun Watson to capture the AFC South title only to get bounced out in the wild card round by their divisional rivals, the Indianapolis Colts, at home.

The Colts will make life difficult again for the Texans in the division, and many pundits assume that Indianapolis will end up claiming the AFC South title this year. If that ends up being the case, which is likely, the Texans would be dumped into the wild card picture.

Houston has a very big Achilles’ heel, and that is their suspect offensive line. Deshaun Watson was sacked a whopping 65 times last season and was the most pressured quarterback in the league a year ago, getting heat on 41.1% of his drop backs.

The Texans were able to get away it due to the creativity of Watson, but they failed to bring in substantial upgrades outside of their first round pick, right tackle Tytus Howard and veteran Matt Kahlil, who is supposed to start on the left side but missed 2018 due to injury.

If the offensive line continues to be a sieve, it could be problematic in a division with talented pass rushers in Jacksonville, Tennessee, and Indianapolis. Watson could take a pounding, and if he ends up missing time that will all but sink the Texans’ chances of returning to the postseason.

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