Perfect opportunity awaits
4-0 Texans have a chance to run the table in the AFC South
The Texans have a chance to finish 6-0 in the AFC South for the first time in the franchise’s 15year history.
If the Texans defeat Jacksonville on Sunday at NRG Stadium, they will have a 5-0 division record, and they’ll have a 10-game division winning streak.
After playing the Jaguars, the Texans’ last two games are at home against Cincinnati and at Tennessee for the last AFC South game of the season.
Since Bill O’Brien became their coach in 2014, the Texans have dominated their division with a 13-3 record. They’re 5-0 against Jacksonville and Tennessee and 3-3 against Indianapolis, including a sweep this season.
“I think our guys understand how important the division is,” O’Brien said during preparation for Jacksonville. “We’ve had a lot of tough games in this division. None of them have been easy. Every game seems like it comes down to the fourth quarter.” Emphasis on division
The Texans have defeated their AFC South opponents by an average score of 26-17. They’ve beaten the Jaguars by an average of 27-15.
Quarterback Brock Osweiler is playing his first season with the Texans. He has helped them win four games in the division. He sees the emphasis O’Brien places on winning division games.
“We understand how important it is to take care of business in our division,” Osweiler said. “I think when it comes to our division games, not that we put more emphasis on them, but there’s a sense of extra importance to those games.”
In his four AFC South games this season, Osweiler has completed 78-of-127 (61.4 percent) for 769 yards and six touchdowns. He has four interceptions.
“When we step into the building on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, there’s great focus,” Osweiler said. “There’s great energy because, ultimately, to get into the playoffs, one way to do that is to win your division.
“Coach has done a great job of explaining that to us.”
O’Brien has tried to make sure that the focus and energy have been di- rected at the Jaguars, not at Tennessee’s game at Kansas City or the Texans’ last two games against the Bengals and Titans. Jags 0-5 vs. O’Brien
Jacksonville (2-11) brings an eight-game losing streak to NRG Stadium. Jaguars coach Gus Bradley is 0-5 against O’Brien, including 0-3 in Jacksonville.
The Jaguars’ last three games are against AFC South teams. It goes without saying they would love to win and damage the Texans’ playoff hopes.
“Anytime it’s an AFC South opponent, I think every team in our division is looking at that saying, ‘We all want to own the AFCSouth,’ ” Bradley said. “When you have three opponents like we do the next three games, it’s a great opportunity.
“The first one is Houston. We know we’re going into a big-time environment. We know they’re a playoff-contending team. These games are very important, and we’ve got to match that.
“We’re excited to come in and play in that environment with an AFC South opponent. We need these wins.”
Bradley isn’t surprised the Texans (7-6) are tied with the Titans for first place in the division, one game ahead of the Colts.
“I think it starts off (with) they’re a very good defensive team,” Bradley said. “You have a very good defensive unit that puts you in the mix right away.
“Offensively, (O’Brien) really knows who they are. He can adjust. If he wants to throw the ball or if he wants to run the ball. He has his strong convictions, but he’ll go into a game knowing what to do, and he’ll stick with it.’’
After everything this team has been through, especially with injuries, the players are excited to have a chance to win another AFC South title.
“It means a lot, especially looking at the things we’ve been through this year,” left tackle Duane Brown said. “It’s been a long season, had a lot of adversity, lost some close games that we think we should have won.
“To still be in this position means a lot, being undefeated in our division and knowing what lies ahead if we handle our business. It’s a great feeling. I think no matter what’s happened this year, guys are very optimistic and very excited to be right here at this point.”