(SportsRadio 610) - Coaches hate it when they’re involved in a playoff race, and their players look ahead at the standings, schedule and tie-breaking procedures.
DeMeco Ryans is no different than any NFL head coach. The Texans are coming off a thrilling 19-16 overtime victory at Tennessee, increasing their record to 8-6 and moving them into a three-way tie with Jacksonville and Indianapolis for first place in the AFC South.
In their attempt to win a first division title since 2019, Ryans wants his players to focus on Sunday’s game against Cleveland at NRG Stadium, not looking beyond the Browns (9-5) at the last two games against the Titans and Colts and trying to figure out the playoff race.
“The only thing we can be concerned about is the Browns -- nothing else matters,” Ryans said Monday. “All of our focus -- all of our attention – is geared toward a tough opponent in the Browns, who’re playing some really good football.”
That’s what Ryans, the coach, is supposed to do, right? That’s the message he’ll deliver to his players every day this week and again on Sunday morning. But what did Ryans, the player, do in 2011 when the Texans were trying to win their first playoff berth? Was he able to avoid looking at the playoff picture?
“I can’t remember,” Ryans said with a laugh. “Such a long time ago.”
No need to jog Ryans’ memory because he speaks from experience. In Gary Kubiak’s sixth season as coach, the Texans were 10-4 after 14 games. Rookie quarterback T.J. Yates, who had replaced the injured Matt Schaub and Matt Leinart, led them to a victory at Cincinnati that clinched the first playoff berth and division title.
The Texans must have started looking ahead. They had a chance to earn home-field advantage in the playoffs, but they lost their last three games to finish 10-6. Fortunately, they recovered in time to defeat the Bengals 31-10 in the wild card round at NRG Stadium before losing 20-13 at Baltimore in the next game.
Ryans knows it’s impossible to keep his players from looking at playoff possibilities, but he wants them to make sure the Browns are their top priority because Cleveland represents another crucial game with serious playoff ramifications.
“It’s a great position we’re in as a team, and it’s a credit to our guys and the work they put in to put us in this position,” he said. “When it comes to first place and all those things, we just focus on the moment. Focus on the day. Every man in the room, just focus on continuing to improve their game, continue to do the best they can for the team and focus on helping the team any way they can. The standings and all those (other) things with playoff implications will take care of themselves.”
The Texans, who are 5-2 over their last seven games, have proved they won’t wilt under the pressure of a playoff race. Eight of their last nine games have been decided in the last 30 seconds. When Ka’imi Fairbairn kicked the 54-yard field in overtime, it was the fourth time a game was decided on a field goal as time expired.
The Texans are 6-3 in the last 30 seconds and 2-2 with no time left. And those nine games have been decided by seven or fewer points: 2, 7, 2, 2, 3, 5, 3, 5 and 3 points.
“That shows there's no quit in our team,” Ryans said. “It shows that no matter what the situation is, no matter what the clock says, we have an opportunity to win the game.”
Ryans’ players and coaches know how to win, and they’ve showed it time and again. And they need to keep showing it over the last three games.
Looking at the AFC South playoff race and the three-way tie for first place, the Texans host the Browns and Titans and close at the Colts. They split with Jacksonville and are 0-1 against Indianapolis and 1-0 against Tennessee. The Texans have the toughest remaining schedule (22-20). Rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud is in concussion protocol, and if he’s unable to play on Sunday, Case Keenum will replace him for a second consecutive game. They’re 5-2 at home, 3-4 on the road, 2-2 in the AFC South and 5-4 in the AFC.
The Jaguars play at Tampa Bay, host Carolina and visit Tennessee. They have the easiest remaining schedule (14-28). They swept the Colts and split with the Texans. They’re 1-0 against the Titans. The Jaguars are 2-4 in their last six games, including their current three-game losing streak. Quarterback Trevor Lawrence is in the concussion protocol and is also nursing a sprained ankle. If he can’t play Sunday, he’ll be replaced by C.J. Beathard. The Jaguars are 3-5 at home, 5-1 on the road, 4-1 in the division and 6-5 in the conference.
The Colts travel to Atlanta before finishing at home against the Raiders and Texans. They have the second-easiest schedule (20-22). They lost twice to the Jaguars and are 1-0 against the Texans and Titans. Their quarterback, Gardner Minshew, has played well since replacing rookie Anthony Richardson early in the season. The Colts are 5-1 in their last six games. They’re 3-4 at home, 5-2 on the road, 3-2 in the division and 6-4 in the conference.
If the playoffs started today, tiebreakers would make the Jaguars the AFC South champions who would host a wild card game. The Colts would be a wild card team and play on the road. The Texans would be the first team on the outside looking in, but that can change if they continue to win.
“It’s exciting to be playing meaningful football around this time,” Ryans said about the crunch time of December. “Anytime you have the opportunity to make the playoffs -- that’s the goal every year – we want to make sure we achieve that goal. But you focus on what you can control.”
And the Texans are focused on the Browns. If you don’t believe it, just ask Ryans.
John McClain can be heard Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday on SportsRadio 610 and Monday, Thursday and Sunday on Texans Radio, also on SportsRadio 610. He writes five columns a week and does three Houtopia Football Podcasts for SportsRadio610.com.