On a six-game win streak with victories over four potential playoff rosters, are the Houston Texans among the top five teams in the NFL entering their triumphant return to NRG Stadium to take on the Las Vegas Raiders?
Fresh off a 40-20 win over the Arizona Cardinals, the Texans sit at 9-5 entering Week 16’s battle against the Las Vegas Raiders. They’re still a half-game out of first place, but bolstering a No. 1 defense in total yards and scoring has made the case for them as perhaps the most complete roster in the AFC South.
The Jacksonville Jaguars still own the AFC South division title and could clinch home-field advantage with a sweep to close out the season, but their defense has been an eye sore at times. As for the Texans, even though they remain in second place for the division lost a bit of traction in Nate Davis’ latest NFL power rankings for USA TODAY Sports, moving up two spots from No. 6 to No. 4.
The reason? C.J. Stroud’s growth with a three-touchdown outing against the Cardinals, including two red zone scores.
“Will the real C.J. Stroud please stand up?” Davis wrote. “But if that was you Sunday against Arizona, then the Texans are truly a legitimate Super Bowl threat.
Houston recorded three red zone touchdowns, but was forced to settle for three field goals on eight trips. The defense did allow three scores, but 123 yards came behind an All-Pro performance by tight end Trey McBride.
As for the Raiders, an eighth loss now has them out of the playoff conversation, dropped down from No. 31 to No. 32 after losing back-to-back games by 31 points.
“They lost 31-0 and had fewer than 100 yards of total offense,” Daivs wrote. “Remarkably, that’s happened twice this season.”
Across the AFC South, the Colts took a jump forward behind 44-year-old quarterback Philip Rivers. Even in a loss, having stability at the most important position proved to be enough to move Indianapolis from No. 22 to No. 18.
“You’re telling us they’re about to host a Monday night game in their ‘Indiana Nights” uniforms with 44-year-old Philip Rivers at the controls, but there’s no NFL script?” Davis wrote. “The jig’s up.”
Much like Houston, Jacksonville moved up two spots, going from No. 9 to No. 7 after a six-touchdown day from Trevor Lawrence.
“Everyone expected Trevor Lawrence to be a generational performer … it just took until Sunday for him to remind us,” Davis wrote.
As for the Titans, they moved up one spot, not because they won over the San Francisco 49ers, but rather because of an underwhelming performance from Las Vegas over the past two weeks.
“Jeffery Simmons is just the fifth player since 1982, when sacks were first officially tracked, to have a TD reception, forced fumble and sack in the same game,” Davis wrote. “He might (currently) be the best two-way player in the AFC South.”
Elsewhere around the league, the Los Angeles Rams are ranked No. 1 and the Seattle Seahawks are ranked No. 2 as the two leaders toward a Super Bowl run. To view the complete NFL power rankings going into Week 16, visit USATODAY.com.
Kickoff for Sunday is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. CT on CBS.
This article originally appeared on Texans Wire: NFL power rankings: Texans inch closer to top-four team by USA Today
Reporting by Cole Thompson, Texans Wire / Texans Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
