Houston Texans Clinch AFC South Title, Marking Remarkable Turnaround

Rookie Quarterback C.J. Stroud's Stellar Performance Pivotal in Texans' Success

The Houston Texans clinched the AFC South title for the first time since 2019 after Tennessee beat Jacksonville, eliminating the Jaguars from playoff contention.
First-year coach DeMeco Ryans and rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud led the Texans to a remarkable turnaround, going from a 3-13-1 record last season to a 10-7 record this season.
C.J. Stroud, the No. 2 pick in the draft, threw for 264 yards in the final game, bringing his season total to 4,108 yards passing, the third-most by a rookie in NFL history.
The Texans will host the fifth-seeded Cleveland Browns in the Super Wild Card Round.
Prior to drafting Stroud, the Texans had struggled to find a replacement for quarterback Deshaun Watson, who was traded to Cleveland before last season.