Week 14 AFC South playoff scenarios: Where do Colts, Texans stand?

The Houston Texans rallied to record a hard-fought win over the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 13. That win has improved their record to 8-5 on the season, and it essentially keeps them atop the AFC South standings and two games and a head-to-head tiebreaker over the Indianapolis Colts.

Here is where the Texans and the other AFC South teams stand in the latest AFC playoff picture. We have also looked at these teams' chances of making it to the postseason.

Houston Texans playoff chances

After a 5-1 start to the season, the Houston Texans have struggled with inconsistent offensive play and shocking losses to teams like the Tennessee Titans in recent weeks.

The Texans still control their own postseason prospects with an 8-5 record. The team holds a head-to-head tiebreaker advantage and a two-game lead over the AFC South's second-place Indianapolis Colts. Should the two sides finish the regular season with the same records, the Texans will win the AFC South and go to the postseason.

As they enter their Week 14 bye, the Texans, who hold the No. 4 seed place in the AFC, are aware that they only need to keep winning to qualify for the playoffs.

According to the Sportskeeda Playoff Predictor tool, Houston will win one of its remaining four regular season games and end with a 9-8 record. The Texans will secure a No. 4 seed and earn a spot in the postseason's opening round.

The tool also predicts that the Texans will face the Los Angeles Chargers (No. 5 seed) in the wildcard round of the playoffs.

Sportkeeda's Playoff Predictor

Indianapolis Colts playoff chances

The Indianapolis Colts, who defeated the New England Patriots in Week 13, are now two games behind the Texans in the AFC South division competition with a record of 6-7.

They are outside the AFC playoff spots, but they still have a chance to qualify for the postseason as the third wildcard team.

The Colts are the No. 8 seed in the AFC, and they hope the No. 7 seed, currently held by the Broncos, slips up going forward.

The two teams have their bye scheduled for Week 14. Indianapolis will get a chance to hold a head-to-head advantage over Denver in Week 15 when the two sides face off, which could eventually be very crucial at the end of the regular season.

The Colts are predicted by Sportkeeda's Playoff Predictor tool to end the season with a 7-10 record. As a result, Indianapolis would finish ninth in the AFC Conference standings and lose out on postseason football again this season.

Sportkeeda's Playoff Predictor

Tennessee Titans playoff chances

After losing to the Washington Commanders in Week 13, the Tennessee Titans are now 3-9 and essentially eliminated from postseason contention.

The Titans' 2024 season has been a disaster; they are just one loss away from having at least 10 losses for the third consecutive season

Jacksonville Jaguars playoff chances

To maintain their faint hopes of making the playoffs, the Jacksonville Jaguars needed the Denver Broncos to lose on Monday Night Football to the Cleveland Browns following their Week 13 loss to the Houston Texans.

However, Denver's win on Monday has confirmed that the Jaguars will now miss the playoffs.

The Jaguars have a 2-10 record after Week 13, which ties them with the New York Giants and the Las Vegas Raiders for this season's poorest NFL record.