'Fun And Frisky' Houston Texans In Thick Of AFC Playoff Race

The Houston Texans haven't been to the playoffs since winning the AFC South in 2019. After a complete 180-degree turn from last year to now, both those droughts could be snapped.

Barstool Sports is obviously a satirical outlook on the sporting world, but with that, you get fun NFL tiers lists like the one Dan "Big Cat" Katz publishes on X every week.

Following the Houston Texans' 30-6 thrashing of the Pittsburgh Steelers Sunday, Katz placed them in the "Frisky and Fun" category along with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Washington Commanders, Indianapolis Colts, Arizona Cardinals and Los Angeles Rams. The category was the fifth highest of the 12-tier list, and was designated for teams who were not expected to be good coming into the season but are now competing and could potentially throw a wrinkle in the NFL playoff picture.

That's the perfect descriptor for the Texans, who have had a turnaround for the ages from weeks 1 and 2 to weeks 3 and 4. Houston has posted 30 points in back-to-back games for the first time since weeks 15 and 16 of 2021 and has planted their foot firmly in the ground of the AFC playoff picture.

"I think DeMeco Ryans is a hell of a coach," CBS Sports' Pete Prisco said. "You can pop on the tape and watch his team. They play hard, tough, physical, nasty. They run the football. And the fact that they played without four offensive linemen down — in fact, five because the backup left tackle didn't play either — and they held up. The quarterback is real, at least it looks like it. When he's good, it elevates everybody else's play."

Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud (7) and wide receiver Nico Collins (12) celebrate after a touchdown against the Pittsburgh Steelers at NRG Stadium Sunday. The Texans won 30-6 / USA TODAY Sports

Quarterback C.J. Stroud certainly does look the part. He's currently fourth in the NFL with 1,212 passing yards — the third time ever, after Peyton Manning and Cam Newton, that a rookie has ranked in the top five after his first four career games — ninth in passer rating and is tied for 10th with six touchdowns. That's all while being one of three quarterbacks to have thrown at least 100 passes this year without an interception.

In terms of elevating others' play, Stroud has taken a liking to wide receiver Nico Collins. Through four games, Collins has 22 catches, 428 yards and three touchdowns, which are all top 20 in the NFL.

Collins is on pace for 93 receptions, 1,819 yards and 12 touchdowns this season. For reference, through 24 games across the last two seasons, Collins racked up 70 catches for 927 yards and three touchdowns.

But, it doesn't start without great coaching, and DeMeco Ryans is just that.

"DeMeco Ryans was the exact right call," CBS Sports' Ryan Wilson said. "Typically, offensive-minded coaches are where you want to go unless you have a leader. DeMeco Ryans feels like that. Credit to him for going out and getting Bobby Slowik. He was with him in San Francisco.

"Slowik has answers for the quarterback. The quarterback has answers if the play is out of structure. He's throwing on time. He's throwing accurately, and he makes it look easy."

The Texans brought in defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins, linebacker Denzel Perryman, cornerback Shaquill Griffin and safety Jimmie Ward, who — when all fully healthy — can be staples of Houston's defense that complement the young core of defensive end Will Anderson Jr., linebacker Christian Harris and safety Jalen Pitre.

Those moves caused CBS Sports' Will Brinson to cast some similarities between the current Texans and the early 2000s New England Patriots.

"It reminds me a little bit of like — I don't want to give it the full Patriots 2001 thing — but (Bill) Belichick, he rebooted the Pats on defense by going out and getting veteran guys that he believed could make an impact and raise the floor of that defense," Brinson said. "And they sort of did the same thing, it felt like, in Houston."

Houston currently has the third-best odds, according to SI Sportsbook, to win the AFC South, but it has proven it can run with the front-running Jaguars.

Can the Texans maintain their current momentum over the course of a full 17-game season? If so, they are capable of taking home their first division crown since 2019.