In Week 18, a single victory for the Houston Texans could usher in three significant achievements coveted by teams finishing in the last place each offseason. The Texans, having concluded at the bottom of the AFC South Division in the previous season, secured the No. 2 overall pick in the NFL Draft. This strategic move led to the selection of quarterback C.J. Stroud, setting the Texans on a trajectory often envisioned by teams languishing in the depths—the transformative journey from worst to first.
This opportunity mirrors a trend observed in the NFL, with teams like Atlanta, Houston, and New Orleans all vying for a worst-to-first turnaround in the season’s final week. Over the past two decades, it has become a recurrent theme that at least one team manages to clinch its division the year after occupying the last or tied-for-last spot. Notably, the 2009 New Orleans Saints and the 2017 Philadelphia Eagles not only secured division championships but went on to win the Super Bowl after languishing in last place. The Jacksonville Jaguars similarly advanced to the AFC Divisional Round last year after finishing at the bottom of the AFC South in 2021.
Drawing parallels with the Detroit Lions, who triumphantly claimed the NFC North Division crown this season after missing the playoffs the previous year, the Houston Texans could emulate this success with a win. This would mark their entry into the elite group of teams that rebounded from missing the playoffs one year to securing a postseason spot the next.
The ultimate achievement, however, hinges on a victory against the Indianapolis Colts in the upcoming match. Securing a postseason berth would be a monumental accomplishment, and should the Jacksonville Jaguars falter against the Tennessee Titans, the Texans would cap off an extraordinary season, achieving the trifecta of worst-to-first, division championship, and a playoff berth under the leadership of coach DeMeco Ryans.
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