Fansided

Texans need improvements to stay atop AFC South

By Stephen Forsha

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - DECEMBER 15: Houston Texans Wide Receiver DeAndre Hopkins (10) after a play during the second half of the Houston Texans versus the New York Jets game on December 15, 2018, at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ. (Photo by Gregory Fisher/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - DECEMBER 15: Houston Texans Wide Receiver DeAndre Hopkins (10) after a play during the second half of the Houston Texans versus the New York Jets game on December 15, 2018, at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ. (Photo by Gregory Fisher/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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The Houston Texans are attempting to defend their AFC South crown and suddenly find themselves as favorites.

Best-case scenario

Not only repeat as AFC South champions, but win games in the playoffs. In short, get to the first AFC Championship Game in franchise history.

This can only happen if the offensive line bounces back from a very poor season after allowing 62 sacks in ’18. Adding Laremy Tunsil is obviously huge in this regard. The offense must stay healthy, unlike last season when injuries to wide receivers hampered the Texans’ chances to advance in the playoffs. Quarterback Deshaun Watson will play the biggest role of all for the Texans in ’19 because if he plays up to his potential, the Texans will be a very dangerous offense.

Worst-case scenario

Houston is playing on the edge because it must have improvement to the offensive line. Watson can’t take the hits he took a year ago and expect to stay on the field. If there is no improvement from the front five the Texans won’t make the playoffs. This likely would include Tunsil either dealing with injuries or struggling to grasp the offense.

Losing Will Fuller midway through last season changed the outlook of the Texans’ offense. A repeat would be crushing. Fuller needs to stay on the field, as does DeAndre Hopkins. If either gets hurt, it’s a huge issue.

Confidence level (Low, medium or high)

Medium.

The main concern outside of a shuffled offensive line is how the defense plays without Jadeveon Clowney. Without him, this group is basically J.J. Watt, Whitney Mercilus and a ton of questions. Clowney was the second-best player on the defense behind Watt, a generational talent. His absence is concerning.

X-Factor

DeAndre Hopkins.

He’s the most special player on the team. Hopkins is arguably the best wide receiver in the NFL, and he makes others on the team better by his presencealone. Hopkins didn’t have a dropped pass all last season, and this offseason he still looks like he’s in rare form. A year ago, Hopkins caught for 1,572 yards and 11 touchdowns. Hopkins is the go-to player for Watson, and without the star wide receiver, the offense is average at best.

Turning point

When the Texans face the Indianapolis Colts in Week 7.

The Texans have lost their last two games against the Colts, including a playoff loss in the Wild Card game. Even without Andrew Luck, Indianapolis might be Houston’s biggest competition for the AFC South.

The Texans have to prove they are able to defeat the Colts in high-pressure games. When this meeting arrives on the calendar there will be much at stake as to which direction the Texans’ season will take.

Best moment in team history

When they Texans made their debut in 2002 the city of Houston not only regained an NFL franchise, but they did so by defeating their in-state counterpart, the Dallas Cowboys. Plus, winning the game by a 19-10 score made Cowboys owner Jerry Jones “shed some tears,” as he later admitted.