How Did the AFC South Perform During Houston Texans' Bye Week?

Two of the Houston Texans' division rivals took the field this week in the NFL.

The Houston Texans may have been idle this week, but that doesn't mean that there were no games that affected their race for a playoff spot.

Two of the four teams in the AFC South participated in games during Week 7 of the NFL season with the Tennessee Titans joining the Texans with a bye week. The Indianapolis Colts and Jacksonville Jaguars, however, did take the field while the rest of the division rested at home.

How did these two games play out? Let's take a look.

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce (14) goes up to make a catch in front of Cleveland Browns cornerback Martin Emerson Jr. (23) on Sunday, Oct. 22, 2023, during a game against the Cleveland Browns at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis :: © Robert Scheer/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK

Jacksonville Jaguars 31, New Orleans Saints 24

It appeared that Jacksonville had this game well in-hand in the second half, at one point holding a 24-9 lead in the Big Easy against a Saints offense that, for lack of a better term, has appeared anemic in the early portions of the season. New Orleans, however, rallied late and managed to tie the game at 24 before quarterback Trevor Lawrence found Christian Kirk for a 44 yard touchdown to put the Jags on top.

Jacksonville now holds a record of 5-2, and it will travel to face the Pittsburgh Steelers next Sunday.

Cleveland Browns 39, Indianapolis Colts 38

The NFL is a league of inches (and narrow point differentials). Indianapolis held a 38-33 lead in this one until the 15-second mark of the fourth quarter when Browns running back Kareem Hunt found the end zone from a yard out. The ensuing two-point conversion failed, but Cleveland hung on for the win on the road. 

The Colts are now 3-4, and they will host the aforementioned Saints next week in Indy.