Statement Game

The Houston Texans have quietly won three games in a row and improved their season record to 5-3, putting themselves in contention for a playoff berth. Over the past decade the AFC South has been consistent in two regards. First, the Indianapolis Colts will be a playoff team and win double digit games. Second, either the Jacksonville Jaguars or the Tennessee Titans will be in serious contention for a playoff berth along with the Colts. However, this season the Houston Texans are making a run at being in the yearly preseason discussion of “who will win the AFC South?” Over the past 5-10 years the AFC South has almost annually been represented by not only a division champion, but usually the second place team will earn a wild card spot in the playoffs. 2007 marked in especially standout year for the AFC South when the Indianapolis Colts won the division at 13-3, and both the Jaguars (11-5) and Titans (10-6) earned wild card bids. Although the Colts are still on top in the division, neither the Titans nor the Jaguars appear to be playoff worthy teams this season. Instead the AFC South may be represented by the Colts, and the Houston Texans. 

Granted the season is still very young, and with 8 games still left on their schedule the Texans are anything but a sure bet. However, it appears that the Houston Texans are finally coming into their own, and the AFC South may have another serious contender for years to come. Not only is this team talented, but they are loaded with youth. Players, such as, Mario Williams, Demeco Ryans, and Brian Cushing add talent and youth to a defense that is beginning to click this season, while on offense Matt Schaub, Andre Johnson, Owen Daniels, and Steve Slaton seem to be the foundation of one of the most potent offenses in the NFL. 

Although all AFC South games are important and crucial, this one seems to be bigger than usual. For the Texans, this game provides a way to send a message to the rest of the league that the Texans are for real. A victory would also leave the door open for the Texans to possibly win the AFC South, with the Colts facing the hardest part of their schedule and with the Texans and Colts facing each other once again in a few weeks, the Texans can easily be in contention for the conference title at the end of the season. On the other hand the Colts need to come out and make a statement to the entire league. The injuries sustained in the secondary have many quarterbacks and receivers around the league licking their chops, and many Colts fans are now sick to their stomachs wondering how this team will react to the injuries. Not only will a victory tomorrow send a message to the Texans, that the Colts are still the gold standard in the AFC South, but it will also send a message to the rest of the league that the Colts are still serious contenders. I hate to make any single game this important in a season, however, I feel that tomorrow is more than just a divisional game between two AFC foes.