Houston Texans: Week Seventeen NFL Power Rankings
By Yoni Pollak
Week Seventeen NFL Power Rankings
Brandon Weeden is now 2-0 and the Texans are on the verge of clinching the playoffs. But are they a top 12 team in this week’s NFL Power Rankings?
This week’s average power ranking: 13.167
Last week’s average power ranking: 13.5 (Click here to view)
ESPN.com
Ranked – 14 | Last Week – 13
"Despite starting four different quarterbacks this season, the Texans have thrown for 28 touchdowns and only 11 interceptions. One more touchdown ties the franchise high for a season."
NFL.com (Elliot Harrison)
Ranked – 15 | Last Week – 16
"Raise your hand if you thought Brandon Weeden would win these last two road games for theTexans … Anyone? Anyone? Oh, go ahead Mrs. Weeden, what data were you going on?Big ups to Brandon, who surprised a few folks in leading Houston to the much-needed Week 15 victory in Indy. Some of us did see the win in Nashville coming, but not necessarily Weeden spinning the ball as well as he did. Sure, Jerry Jones let us know he, uh, could throw that footbawl, but in Nashville, Weeden posted only the third 100-plus passer rating start of his career. He threw for just 200 yards, but that’s because the Texans were up five scores in the third quarter. Raise your hand if you thought Houston would be up five scores on anyone after being down five scores in Miami in October …"
Sports Illustrated
Ranked – 11 | Last Week – 13
"The Texans’ opponents are running just 5.2 plays per drive, per Pro Football Reference, the lowest number in the league. Only the Panthers and Broncos are coughing up fewer yards per possession than Houston (25.6) and it is giving up scores on just 28% of drives, fifth-best. The Texans may be the worst AFC playoff team, in theory, but matching up with their defense does not make for a fun proposition."
ProFootballTalk (Mike Florio)
Ranked – 13 | Last Week – 13
"The only thing standing in the way of a playoff berth is a chain of events that would end up being far more memorable that the inevitable one-and-done that’s looming."
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CBSSports (Pete Prisco)
Ranked – 13 | Last Week – 13
"Bill O’Brien deserves a ton of credit for turning the season around. The defense has really come on strong."
Yahoo Sports! (Frank Schwab)
Ranked – 13 | Last Week – 13
"It’s not totally crazy to think of DeAndre Hopkins as a dark horse MVP candidate. We all know the Texans’ quarterback issues this season. Yet, Hopkins has caught at least one touchdown in six of Houston’s eight wins, and had at least 94 yards in six of the Texans’ eight wins. The Texans finished Sunday on the verge of an AFC South title. There are a few reasons for that, and Hopkins is one of the main ones."
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