Crown Texans as Kings of the AFC South: division title, playoff berth clinched as Broncos beat Colts

HOUSTON – Inside the Texans’ locker room, veteran offensive guard Shaq Mason knew immediately the implications of a gritty victory over the Miami Dolphins combined with an Indianapolis Colts defeat to the Denver Broncos hours later Sunday.

“It’s hats and T-shirts time,” Mason told KPRC 2. “We knew we needed this win. Good team win. December football. Every win is going to be a tough one. It shows how much it means to the guys in this locker room.

“That’s what you need on championship football teams, you need tough guys. You need guys who fight through things for their brothers. That speaks volumes.”

Indeed, it is for the Texans. They are crowned as the kings of the AFC South for the second year in a row, clinching the division title and an automatic playoff berth and a home playoff game hours after their 20-12 win over the Dolphins keyed by four turnovers the defense forced on Miami quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, including two interceptions by standout cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. and a pair of Stroud touchdown passes to star wide receiver Nico Collins in the red zone.

The Colts lost to the Broncos, and the Texans won the AFC South by virtue of the playoff clinching scenario that unfolded Sunday.

The Texans swept the Colts for the head-to-head tiebreaker and are three games ahead of the 6-8 Colts. And the Texans hold the fourth seed in the AFC ranking one game behind the 10-4 Steelers for the third seed and behind the top-seeded, defending Super Bowl champion, 13-1 Kansas City Chiefs and the second-seeded, 11-3 Buffalo Bills. The Texans will host at least one playoff game at NRG Stadium.

Texans coach DeMeco Ryans is the first coach in franchise history to make the playoffs in each of his first two seasons. Ryans is the sixth coach in the NFL to win the division in each of his first two seasons since the 2000 season.

And Ryans and quarterback C.J. Stroud are the first coach-quarterback combination to win a division title together in each of their first two seasons.

“It means a lot,” Collins said before the Colts’ loss. “You always want to win your division. The most important thing is we got the W today and handled business.”

The Texans are 9-5 and have won two games in a row after hitting a rough patch following a 5-1 start.

Although the Texans have dealt with injuries, including the loss of Pro Bowl wide receiver Stefon Diggs for the season due to a torn anterior cruciate ligament, multiple offensive line configurations due to injuries and substandard performances, a bad penalty bug earlier in the season and playing without Collins for five games due to a pulled hamstring, they are nonetheless headed to the playoffs

The Texans have managed to deliver some gritty wins and overcome adversity, including veteran linebacker and team captain Azeez Al-Shaair serving the first game of his three-game suspension for a controversial, concussion-causing tackle on Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence.

“Keep on grinding,” Pro Bowl defensive end Danielle Hunter said. “We’re doing our part.”

Now, the Texans have two games within a five-day span starting with a Saturday road game against the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium on Saturday followed by a Christmas Day game broadcast on Netflix against the Baltimore Ravens, a playoff rematch against former NFL MVP quarterback Lamar Jackson, at NRG Stadium.

“We’re at where we’re at,” Stroud said. “I think we worked really hard to get to this point. You know, one thing that I’m learning is not to dwell on is the past. Of course, we wish that we won some closer games that we were in, but, at the same time, those are the adversities that will take us over the hump.

‘I feel like today we took another step. To play for the division this early in December is kind of cool, and not have to wait until the very back end. Yeah, man, of course want to win the division today, but, if not, we go back next week and chop some more wood and carry some more water.”

Instead, the Texans clinched the division with three games remaining the regular season one year after winning the division in Ryans’ first season as head coach.

“I felt our team throughout this week, getting back from the bye and just throughout this game, I felt like our team was calm and confident,” Ryans said. “That’s what we have to be. We don’t panic or we don’t lose our minds in the chaos that is in front of us. For us, if we remain calm and play together and focus on what we can control we’ll be at a good spot. That desperation is every week in the NFL. Everyone is desperate to win. Even though you’re in desperation mode, you still have to go out and execute and remain calm.”

Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com.